Presented are the development, final qualifi cation, and production of the Rocket Catapult Mk 1 Mod O and Mk 2 Mod O (Aircraft Ejection Seat), formerly known as RAPEC I and RAPEC III. A brief summary is given of the results of the final qualification tests conducted at various facilities. The Mk 1 Mod O and Mk 2 Mod O rocket catapults permit a pilot to ejecly during the hazardous ejection conditions at take off, landing, and high speed at low altitude.

A series of cockpit environmental tests was conducted on two models of a rocket catapult used for pilot ejection to check temperature parameters. Catapults were installed in aircra t wit major results reported on the temperature environment within the cockpits of two A4D aircraft placed on the desert in two different Southern California locations. A severe high temperature was obtained by keeping the cockpits locked and sealed during the entire test period, which included the hottest part of the summer. The report includes 30 graphs. Weather parameters are touched upon, as they tended to increase maximum cockpit temperatures. Vertical temperature gradients on the rocket catapult are discussed. (Author).