>In the USAF T-38 trainer the ejection seat handle was on
the side of the seat against your thigh. In the USAF F-4 the ejection seat
handle was between your legs. A handle very similar to the T-38 seat
handle was located on the F-4 in the identical position. This handle had
the same tactile feedback as the T-38 handle. Unfortunately, it ( the F-4
handle ) activated a cutter which severed all connections to the seat and
parachute, intended for rapid ground egress. If during an ejection from an
F-4 you reverted to your T-38 training, there was a bit of a problem.
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My last fighter assignment was F-4's and I recently completed the T-38
Instructor training program. The handle you mention in the paragraph
above did exist on the F-4 but I never used it in the 1300 hours of flying
the F-4 (except in the sim). The T-38's that I fly do not have the
survival kit installed so there is no seat kit handle.
There is, however, a potential negative transfer issue between the F-4 and
the T-38. The F-4 had a drag chute that was deployed for every landing.
It was an automatic pilot response to pull the lever upon landing. The
drag chute had a lever action handle that is similar in function and
location to the T-38 ejection seat handle.
I am not aware of any incidents or accidents involving an inadvertent T-38
ejection on landing by a previously qualified F-4 pilot. I haven't
perceived any personal tendency to touch the T-38 ejection handle on
landing.
Vince Mancuso