Muzeum Foteli Katapultowych w Oleśnicy (Ejection Seat Museum in Oleśnica) is a unique museum located in Oleśnica, Poland. It is dedicated to the history of ejection seats, which are life-saving devices used in military aircraft, allowing pilots and crew members to safely eject from their aircraft in emergency situations.
Muzeum Foteli Katapultowych w Oleśnicy (Museum of Ejection Seats)
Ludwikowska 27
56-400 Oleśnica
+48 515 290 580
Opening times?
Admission fee?
Aircraft collection
| 1209
4244 | PZL TS-11-bis D Iskra (forward fuselage)
Sukhoi Su-20R (forward fuselage) |
Ejection Seats
| KK-1
KK-2 KS-2 KS-3 KS-4 SK KM-1 KM-1M K-36 Ejection Seat Yak-23 VS-1 BRI P-8 Martin Baker Ejection Seat TS-11 Simulator Ejection Seat TS-11 Iskra ACES II K-5MN K-7MN KT-1M Ejection Seat Ilyushin Il-28 |
Seats
| Mi-2
Mi-4 Mi-8 Mi-17 Mi-24 An-28 PZL-130 Orlik |
Muzeum Foteli Katapultowych w Oleśnicy:
1. Collection of Ejection Seats:
- The museum features a wide variety of ejection seats used in different military aircraft over the decades. The collection includes seats from Soviet, American, British, and Polish aircraft, showcasing the technological advancements in pilot safety.
- Historical Ejection Seats: The museum displays early ejection seats, some of which were designed in the mid-20th century, as well as more modern versions used in contemporary military jets. These seats highlight how ejection systems have evolved over time.
- Prototype Ejection Seats: Some exhibits include prototype ejection seats that were never put into mass production, allowing visitors to see experimental designs.
2. Models of Aircraft:
- The Muzeum Foteli Katapultowych w Oleśnicy also features models and miniatures of various military aircraft that were equipped with these ejection seats. This includes famous planes from the Cold War period, such as the MiG-21, Su-22, and F-16, along with older Soviet and NATO aircraft.
3. Ejection Seat Demonstrations and Simulations:
- In some cases, the Muzeum Foteli Katapultowych w Oleśnicy offers demonstrations or simulations to give visitors a sense of what it would be like to experience an ejection seat in action. These might include videos or reenactments of real-life ejections, showing how these life-saving devices are activated in emergencies.
4. Engineering and Technology Behind Ejection Seats:
- The museum explains the engineering and safety technology involved in designing ejection seats. Visitors can learn about the mechanisms that propel the seat out of an aircraft, the parachute system, and the way pilots are protected during the ejection process.
5. Ejection Seat-Related Artifacts:
- The Muzeum Foteli Katapultowych w Oleśnicy houses various artifacts related to the use of ejection seats, such as the flight suits, helmets, and safety gear used by pilots. These items complement the primary ejection seat displays, providing a fuller understanding of what it takes for a pilot to survive an emergency situation.
6. Ejection Seat History and Records:
- The museum highlights some of the most remarkable ejection seat stories in aviation history. This includes the tales of pilots who survived ejections at high altitudes, in difficult conditions, or from planes that were in serious trouble.
- Record Ejections: Some exhibits may focus on world records related to ejection seats, including the highest-altitude ejections or the most dangerous ejections.
The purpose of an ejection seat is pilot survival. The pilot typically experiences an acceleration of about 12–14g. Western seats usually impose lighter loads on the pilots; 1960s–70s era Soviet technology often goes up to 20–22 g (with SM-1 and KM-1 gunbarrel-type ejection seats). Compression fractures of vertebrae are a recurrent side effect of ejection.
Photo Muzeum Foteli Katapultowych w Oleśnicy