FIGHTER COCKPIT INGRESS IN CHEMICAL WARFARE ENVIRONMENT

EXPOSURE OF PERSONNEL AND HARDWARE TO NBC CONTAMINANTS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM IN MANY WARFARE SCENARIOS. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL CURRENT NBC PROTECTION TECHNIQUES EXIST AND MAY SATISFACTORILY PROTECT PERSONNEL AND HARDWARE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, A METHOD IS REQUIRED THAT ENABLES FLIGHT CREWS TO EXPEDIENTLY INGRESS/EGRESS AN AIRCRAFT COCKPIT WHILE IN A CONTAMINATED FLIGHT LINE ENVIRONMENT. IT MUST ALLOW PROTECTION FOR BOTH THE CREW AND HARDWARE THROUGHOUT THE INGRESS/EGRESS ACTIVITY.IN ADDITION, BECAUSE OF THE STRINGENT PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS PLACED ON THE CREW, IT IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE THAT THEY BE ABLE TO PERFORM WITHIN A "SHIRT SLEEVE" ENVIRONMENT. THE USE OF A MODULAR CREW ESCAPE CPSULE, DESIGNED TO BE EASILY REMOVED AND REPLACED INTO ITS HOST AIRFRAME IS PROPOSED. THE OCCUPIED CAPSULE CAN BE INSTALLED BY ROBOTIC EQUIPMENT, NEVER EXPOSING THE CREW OR SUPPORT PERSONNEL TO THE DEADLY NBC CONTAMINANTS.