Moray plays part in ejector seat trials
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A surprise new sight has been spotted above RAF Lossiemouth – this tiny 72-year-old Meteor.
The jet is owned by Martin-Baker, the world-leading manufacturer of ejector seats.
The company is currently flying in and out of the base while they live test their products.
Over the past seven decades Martin-Baker seats have saved no fewer than 7646 lives around the world.
Long-standing safety restrictions mean it's been years since the company could conduct live tests near its Oxfordshire airfield.
So, normally, it sends its aircraft and support personnel to the Cazaux air base in rural France.
But due to the pandemic Martin-Baker has been using RAF Lossiemouth to help it conduct trials instead.
Mike Crutch, an aviation enthusiast who lives in Dunphail near Forres, said: "The company has been forced to find a UK option – and RAF Lossiemouth plus the military danger area at Cape Wrath in Sutherland provided the answer.
"Martin-Baker carry out lots of simulated computer modelling, but they still have to prove that they work in practice.
"And the only way to validate that is fit one in the rear cockpit, complete with a dummy in full aircrew survival gear to represent the weight of a real person.
"They've been using a helicopter to fish out the seats from the sea near Cape Wrath, then examining the data."
Mike, who has written several books on the subject of aviation, added: "Martin-Baker have remained tight-lipped about exactly what the tests are for.
"They might have an order from abroad to fit a new type of ejection seat to some Typhoons. Or maybe it could be for some Super Hornets in the USA.
"It will could even be for one of the very latest models of fighter aircraft which hasn't even flown yet.
"One thing is for sure though, a lot of local aviation enthusiasts have really been enjoying the sight of the 72-year old jet coming in and out of RAF Lossiemouth."
