Early RNZAF Skyhawk Cockpits

[Roy]

Hi there,
I'm about to start a 1/48 Hasegawa Skyhawk, and am going to do NZ 6201 circa 1970, with the fern leaf roundel, as on the Gekko decal sheets.
Can anyone help me with a couple of early RNZAF skyhawk cockpit questions?
Firstly, did the skyhawks have an instrument gauge to the right below the radar scope in 1970? I can only find photos of the instrument panel in the late 1970s, and the gauge is missing on these images.
Also, which version of the Escapac seat was used in 1970, the IC3 or the IG3, were they painted grey or black, and what is the difference between the 2 seats?
Cheers

[phil]

I can answer part of the seat question...

They would have been IC3 seats as the change to IG3 came some years later.

The main difference in operation was the method of man/seat seperation. In the later IG3 this was achieved by a small rocket motor called a Mk82 Man/Seat separator rocket that was installed in the left hand 'shoulder' of the seat. This fired to rotate the seat rearwards away from the pilot, with mixed success.

The earlier IC3 used a 'air bag' behind the parachute that inflated and pushed the pilot clear. Although not as fast (hence why it was replaced) this may have been a safer system as the Mk82 also tended to impart a twist to the right as well as rearward, and this tended to rip away the RSSK-8A survival pack as it tried to seperate from the seat.

Visually, this absence of the Mk82 is one of the key differences between the seats.

As for colour, I'm afraid I'm not too sure. All the seats were black by the time I came into the ejection seat business for the first time in '96.

[kiwikid]

If you haven't come across it yet Calum's A-4 Alley is a great source of pics and info: www.gibstuff.net/A4-Alley/index.html

[shorty]

Have a look at some Wings magazines for the early 70's. They used to use full page pictures of the A4 cockpits for the RNZAF ads with the caption "They don't give the keys to just anyone" or something similar.
I'm in the middle of shifting house otherwise I'd find it for you.

[FlyNavy]

www.ejectionsite.com/escapacfr.htm

The above website makes a note about the colours in the photos. The Escapac 1C3 was green/grey shade (general military shade whatever that is). Same as this Don Simms photo here: (the seat is really this 'light green/grey colour')

rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=Postwar&action=display&thread=6283&page=4
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This graphic is from the A4G NATOPS which would be the same as the A4K at the time required. However you would have to add the 'Park Brake' switch. Search this forum for info on that: (I guess the missing gauge is the RADAR ALTIMETER? Always an optional extra if it was working)



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Finally from the anonymous PDF about the A4G evernever seen we have this EXCELLENT photo by 'air of much coarseness suxty sevin':

[FlyNavy]

Grotty Ejection Seat from A4G/K: (probably RNZAF Museum)

[phil]

Flynavy - the seat in the Don Sims photo is a semi-gloss black IG3. The only parts that are green grey are the NES12M, the seat cushion and the straps.

[FlyNavy]

phil, OOPS ok - I misunderstood the word 'painted' - DOH. I thought the seat cushions were painted black by all the greasy footprints of a million boots anyway. I'll check now for the metal paint. ;D

[FlyNavy]

Interesting factoid Mk.3:
www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/QWA/0/3/9/039e76ea8f0246ceae1fa0effa7ff1ca.htm

"2027 (2004). Hon Peter Dunne to the Minister of Defence (08 Mar 2004): What make and model of ejector seat is currently installed in the A-4K Skyhawk aircraft, and when were they installed?
Hon Mark Burton (Minister of Defence) replied: The ejector seat fitted in A-4K Skyhawks is the Escapac 1G3 manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. It is a modified version of the Escapac 1C3 originally fitted in the aircraft. The seat modifications were carried out in 1974 on advice from the seat manufacturer."

[Roy]

cool, thanks for the info and pics everyone, it should give me a good start point ; )