| Cockpit Layout | |
 Front Cockpit |
 Rear Cockpit |
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The SR-71's front cockpit was somewhat snug with the pressure suit on, although comfortable. Headroom between the canopy sides was tight, as the canopy narrowed upward. Front cockpit visibility was restricted slightly because of the helmet and the small window panes surrounding the canopy. The rear, RSO's cockpit was considerably roomier. In the back seat he had two small window panes on each side an the ability to also see directly beneath the aircraft through his viewsight. All the cockpit switches and buttons were easily accessible and enlarged where necessary to accommodate the pressure suit gloves. The flight control stick grip was similar to a fighter type but had various buttons located on it to suit the SR-71's needs. There were no flight controls in the rear cockpit. Most people find it amazing that all the SR-71 cockpit instrumentation was the round dial type. The YF-12s had vertical tape displays which seemed to be in vogue for modern cockpits of the time. A periscope was located directly in front of the pilot's helmet. Pushing it up extended the periscope into the air stream about four inches, giving aft vision to the pilot. Besides using the periscope for rudder alignment, it was very important to check that the aircraft was not producing a contrail when we entered sensitive airspace. |
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The SR-71 ejection seat was usable from zero speed and altitude to the maximum speed and altitude of the aircraft. The seat was a rocket-propelled, upward-ejecting unit. Most people believe and ejection at 2,200 mph would rip your body apart. However, the air is so thin at 80,000 feet that the actual forces encountered when your body first hits the air stream is a lot less than an ejection from a T-38 at 500 mph at sea level. To eject from the SR-71, you reached between your knees with both hands and gave a sharp, upward tug on the seat's large D-ring. To keep your arms tucked in tight to your body, crews were taught to hold on to the D-ring as the seat fired from the aircraft. |
| After pulling on the D-ring, there was a 0.3 second delay to remove the canopy, and then a catapult gas charge was fired to initiate seat ejection from the cockpit. The gas charge was sufficient to raise the seat above the canopy sills, at which point,a wire lanyard attached to the floor of the cockpit was pulled, igniting the seat's rocket motor. The rocket motor provided sufficient thrust and duration to eject the seat approximately 300 feet above the aircraft. | |
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| © Copyright Richard Graham | |
