PLN 27

The helicopter ejection seat, vertical propulsion coupled with spinning over blades, is currently in the top five worst inventions of all time. To most people it would obviously be a horrible idea, but this invention matters to the world to day because currently the Russian Kamov Ka-50/52 attack helicopters are equipped with this method of evacuation. The Ka-50 black shark and the Ka-52 alligator are the worlds first ever co-axel attack helicopters; co-axel helicopters have two sets of rotors instead of just one. The Ka-50 black shark has been in use by the Russian army sense 1995 and it along with the Ka-50 alligator, are the only helicopters to equip a zero-zero ejection seat. The initial idea of the ejection seat sounds ludicrous, but in the plans the Russians programmed the blades to be launched off with explosive charges in the event that the pilot pulls the ejection cord. In other words, an originally stupid idea is now the most advance helicopter safety system in the world. This ejection seat could end up saving thousands of lives, because it would allow for a quick escape, instead of having to get out of the cock pit, move to and open the door then jump out of a helicopter spinning out of control. By adding this system to helicopters everywhere, it would cut down on deaths, because most helicopter related deaths happen during impact with the ground. By ejecting out of the aircraft, fewer lives will be lost. I personally would not trust the system, because what if the explosives that blow off the rotors fail or malfunction. Or what if the rotors come off but the seat doesn't eject and you’re stuck in a falling helicopter that has no propulsion system. Even though I find some limitations with the current system, I believe it could be modified and used to save lives in the future.