U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Luke Duncan and Jeffrey Bowen, 35th Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems journeymen, and Airman 1st Class Peter Curry, aircrew egress systems apprentice, prepare an F-16 Fighting Falcon’s canopy to be installed on the aircraft’s fuselage at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2014. Attaching the canopy marks the last step of the life support and escape system maintenance process. After the seat is inserted and cockpit encapsulated, the jet is ready to be flown. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Parker Taylor, 35th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment apprentice, packs a parachute at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 31, 2014. With the parachute spread out, Taylor inspects and secures the risers and suspension lines ensuring there are no discrepancies between the canopy and harness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Parker Taylor, 35th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment apprentice, secures a parachute’s suspension lines to a harness at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 31, 2014. During this step in the packing process, Taylor separates and weighs the suspension lines and connects them to a harness positioned toward the opposite end of the chute. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Parker Taylor, 35th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment apprentice, and Senior Airman Joshua Clark-Parrick, 35 OSS AFE journeyman, untangle a parachute’s suspension lines at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 31, 2014. Before stowing the parachute into a container, the lines need to be separated and drawn taut, allowing proper folding of the chute. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Clark-Parrick, 35th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment journeyman, sews together metal buckles to a parachute harness at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 31, 2014. Among the items on the harness are survival kits, first-aid kits and holsters for weapons to be used in case of an emergency situation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Peter Curry, 35th Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems apprentice, and Senior Airman Jeffrey Bowen, 35 MXS aircrew egress systems journeyman, consult a technical order for the installation of an aircrew survival kit at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 31, 2014. After the Egress team receives the survival kit from the Aircrew Flight Equipment section, they install it into an F-16 Fighting Falcon’s ejection seat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jeffrey Bowen, 35th Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems journeyman, demonstrates the necessary action to eject from an F-16 Fighting Falcon during an emergency situation at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 31, 2014. In the ejection process, the pilot will pull the yellow handle, starting an explosive chain of events in the cockpit. This event begins with the canopy blasting off of the aircraft, giving just enough time for the seat itself to rocket out of the framework before putting the pilot through 14 g-forces. Within 2-seconds of initiation, the pilot is separated from the aircraft with the survival kit attached. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Luke Duncan and Jeffrey Bowen, 35th Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems journeymen, install an F-16 Fighting Falcon’s seat into its cockpit at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2014. After ensuring the cockpit’s seating panels are unobstructed, the egress team uses a crane to precisely lower the seat into the aircraft’s framework and then lock it into place. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

From kit to cockpit - the F-16's life support and escape system

Published Aug. 15, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The life support and escape system for a pilot has multiple facets and is maintained between two flights -- the Aircrew Flight Equipment and Aircrew Egress Section. Starting in the AFE building, a survival kit and parachute is laid out, meticulously inspected and sewn to a harness before being packed into a container and sent to the egress section. Once received, the egress team will install the survival kit into an F-16 Fighting Falcon's seat and attach the parachute container into the headrest, along with the installation of the seat's propulsion system. Upon completion, the egress team will then use an industrial crane to load both the seat and canopy into the framework of the aircraft and send it on its way to the next mission.