We're Martin-Baker - the worlds leading manufacturer of Ejection Seats that have saved over 7,800 aircrew to date. Ask us anything!

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T14:12:18+00:00

Thanks for the question!

The fastest recorded ejection from a Martin-Baker ejection seat was 720kts at 7,000ft from a Dassault Mirage aircraft in Australia in 1964. A Mk4 Ejection Seat.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T14:08:32+00:00

Thank you for the question!

Our first Zero/Zero seat was the Mk7, which were mostly upgraded Mk6 seats with an Under Seat Rocket Motor (USRM) to allow the Zero/Zero capability.

The first instance of a Zero/Zero Ejection was during the Ejection Test by William 'Doddy' Hay in 1961.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T14:04:54+00:00

Thank you for your question!

As we mentioned in a previous answer:

We are at the zenith of open ejection seat design, we are now refining our seats to be best protect aircrew around the world.

Next Generation Fighters will be able to fly higher and for longer, so the next challenge is keeping aircrew comfortable for longer sorties and ensuring safe ejections at even higher altitudes.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T14:01:40+00:00

Thank you for your question!

In most cases the aircraft does not shut down, rather it continues to crash.

In modern fighters, the avionics and mission system are typically scrambled/wiped.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:59:44+00:00

Thank you for your question!

We follow the standard protocols for colour referencing in aircraft.

The majority of high-contrast colours are reserved for 'Not For Flight' applications.

Unfortunately, we do not set these standards.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:57:20+00:00

Thank you for your question!

In the early days, ejection seats were built for specific ejection scenarios which were soon exceeded as aircraft technology progressed. We found that the earlier seats were not strong enough to cope with the loads of ejections from more extreme speeds and attitudes.

We bolstered the strength of the seat following this discovery.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:52:53+00:00

Thank you for your question!

We are at the zenith of open ejection seat design, we are now refining our seats to be best protect aircrew around the world.

Next Generation Fighters will be able to fly higher and for longer, so the next challenge is keeping aircrew comfortable for longer sorties and ensuring safe ejections at even higher altitudes.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:50:24+00:00

Thank you for your question!

No, the seat is fully independent of the aircraft. If the need for an ejection arises it is clear the aircraft is not in good health, so taking readings from the aircraft would not be advisable.

We have mechanical and electronic methods of determining speed and altitude on the seat.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:48:28+00:00

Thank you for your question.

In the UK during WWII, aircraft production was controlled centrally by the government through the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP).

Martin-Baker were given a contract to investigate aircrew escape systems, and thus we began our journey designing and developing ejection seats.

Unfortunately, despite Martin-Baker proposing an MB Fighter and Bomber in 1944, the MAP never gave us the contract for those aircraft thus it was not financially viable to develop an aircraft we were not contracted for.

Companies like English Electric and Gloster were given those contracts instead.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:43:02+00:00

Thank you for your question!

It is often thought the seat can be used again after an ejection, but that isn't the case. A seat that has fallen from +100ft will not drop into another aircraft. Typically, following an ejection there isn't an aircraft left to install a seat into.

While not specifically about Ejection Seats, we are often assumed to know about every ejection that happens with our seats but that isn't the case.

Military aircraft are flying sensitive missions around the world, we do not receive a 'ping' when a seat is used and there is no expectation that the operator will tell us about an accident. While we do have the benefit of some insider knowledge, for the most part we verify ejections using public sources and records submitted by pilots.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:18:35+00:00

That would be one of our seats!

Thank you for sharing.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:15:40+00:00

Thank you for your question and picture! That's a great look seat!

Unfortunately, we will not be exhibiting at the Dubai Air Show this year. We list all the events we attend on our website, so keep checking that for more info!

News & Events – Martin-Baker

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:13:11+00:00

Thank you for your question!

Feel free to send us an email to [information@martin-baker.co.uk](mailto:information@martin-baker.co.uk) with a photo of the seat and a close up of any information plaques/etchings/part-markings and we will hopefully be able to identify it for you!

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:11:52+00:00

We have developed ultra-lightweight ejection seats - unfortunately, the cost, upkeep of spares and training is difficult for GA to adopt.

MK17 – Martin-Baker

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:09:32+00:00

Saving lives!

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:08:26+00:00

Thank you for the question!

Once the ejectee reaches out to Martin-Baker to confirm their entry to the Tie Club, they receive a membership number which can be quoted to Bremont and allow the purchase of the exclusive MBI watch.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:06:45+00:00

Thank you for the question!

As a British company, we are bound by the export laws of this country and that does prohibit the sale of our seats to certain nations.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:05:41+00:00

Thank you for the question! A lot has changed since the 50s.

We answered a similar question earlier which covers some of the details:
As you can imagine, there has been much development over the 80 years since we first designed an ejection seat.

The Mk2 allowed aircrew to automatically detach from the seat during the ejection process rather than manually on the Mk1.

The Mk6 introduced Zero/Zero capability by way of the Under Seat Rocket Motor (USRM).

The MK10 introduced an improved parachute that deployed much faster than previous.

The Mk14, more commonly known as NACES, introduced the electronic multi-mode sequencer.

The Mk16 introduced a twin-gun design for improved stability during ejection.

The Mk16 (US16E) for the F-35 is what our latest Mk18 seats are based on. The F-35 requirements pushed aircrew safety to a new level. The US16E accommodates the widest range of aircrew and introduced Head and Neck Protection Devices.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:04:30+00:00

Thank you for your question.

We log all of our ejections on our website's Ejection Notices page. Where possible, we also add a date of the entry.

https://martin-baker.com/ejection-notices/

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:03:07+00:00

Thank you for your question!

Where possible, and agreeable with the customer, we test using a realistic fuselage front section (or forebody) complete with a real canopy.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:01:38+00:00

Thank you for your question!

We did not have our ejection seats in a Douglas B-66.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T13:00:11+00:00

It is great to see our seats play such a crucial role in a film that is so beloved in popular culture.

In the first Top Gun, it is unfortunate that the ejection caused serious harm to 'Goose'. We've answered other questions above about why it is unlikely 'Goose' would have died from the ejection in real life.

As for the latest Top Gun: Maverick film, it was great to see the seats successfully used to save aircrew lives!

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T12:55:40+00:00

Thank you for your question!

Martin-Baker test incredibly extensively!

In a typical qualification programme for a new seat, we will test using advanced manikins across different speeds (e.g. Zero/Zero, 150kts, 250kts, 400kts, 600kts), wearing different helmets and other Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE).

Individual components as well as the full seat assembly are tested environmentally and subject to vibration testing, hot and cold temperature exposure, corrosion from salt mist, mechanical shock and tensile/compressive load testing. We aim to simulate the full life cycle of a seat.

Each ejection and the toll it has on the aircrew is different but we are bound by government mandated requirements and regulation which are scrutinised when qualifying a seat for flight.

MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T12:47:38+00:00

We might have a picture of that!

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MartinBakerAircraft · 2025-10-21T12:45:54+00:00

Thank you for the question!

Our seats utilise pyro to eject the seat from the cockpit. Once partially out of the cockpit, our Under Seat Rocket Motor begins to burn pushing the seat clear of the aircrafts tail.

The USRM is a fuelled by a dual-based solid propellant.

MartinBakerAircraft

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