Sabre Ejection Seat Help

[sdennison]

So WIX Brain, here is the challenge. There is a mod to the canopy breaker on F-86 Sabres that saw duty in South Africa (I think). The mod consists of an angle steel extension that holds a spring loaded mortar. Does anyone have any more information on this mod?



Here pictured in a group of SAAF Sabres. Ours was #381.



Here is something from the maint manual.





Challenge is, who can lead us to the mortar assembly with cables, etc.? Game on!

[quemerford]

Same/similar mod on RAAF Sabres: I suspect this was the originator.

[BAJ]

The mod I believe started with the RAAF after the partial decapitation of 3 pilots when the front hoop of the sliding canopy would move down as the canopy slide back during the ejection sequence, taking the top of the pilots head off.

The bolt was designed to smash the canopy with the canopy now remaining in place and the pilot ejecting straight through the now fractured canopy.

The mod at least in the local RAAF version was effective but pretty basis and said to comprise a 40mm Bofors cannon return spring and a stainless steel bolt with cabling connected to the ejection handles .

The Luftwaffe F86 Sabres of the same era had modified guide rails to lift the canopy up and over the pilots head. Believe the Canadair Sabres had something similar.

[quemerford]

The Luftwaffe F86 Sabres of the same era had modified guide rails to lift the canopy up and over the pilots head. Believe the Canadair Sabres had something similar.

The Luftwaffe (or more accurately, Martin-Baker) mod was to clear the seat (headrest pack) when the canopy was opened, rather than being related to ejection.

As far as I know, no RCAF Sabres featured this mod.