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Technical Paper

Development of Objective Test Methods for Determination of Ejection Seat Cushion

2003-06-17
2003-01-2212
Ejection seat cushions in current U.S. Air Force aircraft are not suitable for comfort during extended missions. Specific physiological problems such as buttock, leg and back pain, numbness and tingling in the extremities, and overall fatigue have been documented in past laboratory research and operational use [1,2,3,5,6]. Designing a single cushion to address the physiological problems of the entire aircrew population is a significant challenge. Cushion material selection, cockpit space restrictions, and limited ability to reposition during flight contribute to discomfort during extended missions. Ejection seat dimensions and contours are fixed in most cases, causing accommodation problems for large and small occupants. A pilot study was performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to investigate objective test methods for determining cushion comfort. Five volunteer subjects were tested with a variety of operational and prototype cushions.
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