David “Bio” Baranek - Martin-Baker Visit

Valiant Air Command recently had the pleasure of welcoming former U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer David “Bio” Baranek, along with representatives from Martin-Baker Ejection Seats, for a special visit centered around one of the most dramatic moments of his naval aviation career.

During the visit, Bio shared the remarkable story of the day he was forced to eject from an F-14 Tomcat after a landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation went wrong.

A Routine Carrier Landing Turns Critical

On December 19, 1981, Baranek and his pilot, William “Bill” Switzer, were returning to USS Constellation while the carrier was operating in the Indian Ocean.

Their F-14 successfully caught an arresting cable during landing, but the cable had not been properly set for the weight of the aircraft. Although the arresting system initially began slowing the Tomcat, the cable ultimately failed.

The aircraft was left traveling down the flight deck at approximately 50 knots — too fast to stop before reaching the end of the carrier, but far too slow to become airborne again.

Within seconds, the F-14 went over the side of the ship.

As the aircraft left the deck, Switzer called, “Eject! Eject!”

Bio pulled the lower ejection handle, activating the F-14’s Martin-Baker GRU-7A ejection seats.

The seats fired as the Tomcat was falling from the carrier toward the ocean below, ejecting both crew members clear of the aircraft. Remarkably, both men survived. Baranek escaped without injury, while Switzer suffered only minor injuries.

Both would continue their careers in the United States Navy.

When the Ejection Seat Becomes the Last Option

For most pilots and aircrew, the ejection seat is something they hope never to use.

When every other option has disappeared, however, it becomes one of the most important pieces of equipment in the aircraft.

The incident involving Bio Baranek and Bill Switzer is a powerful example of how quickly a routine carrier operation can become an emergency — and how the engineering behind an ejection system can mean the difference between life and death.

Having Martin-Baker join Bio for his visit provided an especially meaningful connection between the person who experienced the ejection and the company whose equipment helped save his life.

Preserving More Than Aircraft

At Valiant Air Command, preserving aviation history means more than maintaining aircraft.

Every aircraft in our collection represents the experiences of the pilots, aircrew, maintainers, ground crews, and countless others who operated and supported them throughout their service lives.

Opportunities to hear those experiences directly from the people who lived them allow us to preserve another important part of that history.

Bio’s story is particularly fitting for Valiant Air Command, where visitors can see our own F-14A Tomcat, Bureau Number 161134, and gain a greater appreciation for the aircraft, the environment in which it operated, and the men and women who flew it.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to David “Bio” Baranek and Martin-Baker Ejection Seats for visiting Valiant Air Command and sharing this extraordinary piece of naval aviation history with us.

Watch the Story

Bio’s experience is featured in the video:

EJECTEES ONLY: Inside the Martin-Baker Tie Club

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AODsGL15nM

The Martin-Baker Tie Club is a unique fraternity made up of aircrew whose lives were saved by a Martin-Baker ejection seat. Bio’s story is a powerful reminder of the technology, training, and split-second decisions that can determine the outcome of an aviation emergency.

Stories such as this remind us why preserving aviation history matters. Behind every aircraft is a story — and sometimes, an extraordinary story of survival.