My Orcadian cousin goes to visit some relations in Canada. The brother of the guy he's staying with is the pilot of this F18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV_VVXucdQc&feature=related

😮

Is it me, or are a disproportionate amount of aircraft lost at airshows?

EDIT: thank **** your cousin's mate ejected 😯

He ended up in hospital, but he's ok. Luckily he didnt eject into the fireball.

I think the hospital thing is a formality, as the force of the rocket propelled ejector seat compacts your spine. Hopefully this is the case with the guy in Canadia.

My buddy is a nav at RAF Leuchars, and he tells me of a guy there who's not allowed to fly anymore. He's ejected twice, and is now 3" shorter than when he joined up.

It's better than it used to be. At one time with explosive charge ejector seats you were virtually garuanteed to end your flying career with ejection.

This guy is understandably bitter about the delay in introducing improved systems.

He's ejected twice.

Not sure the RAF would want to give him another plane 😕

That'll teach him for showing off

ox i heard the same from a raf lad, scary biscuits but then it's prob something they tell all civvies 🙁

Watched Jeremy Clarkson's "Speed" on Dave t'other week.

He did a bit on ejector seats.

Apparently 1 in 8 ejector seats fitted have been 'used in anger'

This rose to a peak off 1 in 2 during Vietnam.

They are all made by a UK company, and they issue any one who ejects with a special tie!

And the height loss is well documented : s

And the height loss is well documented : s

snow white is full of shit

Martin Baker?

A NI taxi driver told me ejector seats are made there.

what for, people who throw up in the cabs ?

Heh

Not all. The Russians (obviously) make their own, as do the yanks (aces II) I think the French do as well.

The spine compression thing is not universally true, although it does happen, My father had to bang out of a Javelin and a Lightening, and he's still the same height. He has no hearing, and Adrenalin palsy, but his back's ok… 🙄

@nick C

It's called "Lightning"

The USAF and US Navy both use Martin Baker seats.

That may be a surprise, but US aircraft contain many foreign designed components, notably Israeli built too.

I used to pack parachutes for ejection seats when I was in the RAF. It was common practice for an ejectee to bring a crate of beer each to the guys who had packed the 'chute, and serviced the ejection seat. I remained gratefully sober. It's the scariest moment of your career hearing that a jet has "gone in", waiting to hear if the crew got out, AND if the seat and 'chute had operated as planned.

I only had one set of parachutes used, but unfortunately due to altitude and a massive wave (according to the investigation the aircraft hit the wave) the crew did not survive.*doffs cap, and bows head*

The USAF and US Navy both use Martin Baker seats.

Not exclusively, The F16 uses Aces II for instance. It's a plane by plane thing rather than a policy. Although I have a suspicion that it wasn't massively popular… certainly the F22 has an ACES fitted

It's called "Lightning"

It was late, shoot me… 🙄

Apparently when you succesfully eject via a Martin Baker seat you get presented with a Martin Baker tie.

Well, you can't accuse the guy in the video of ejecting too early. Another 1/2 second and he'd have not made it out I don't think…

What on earth went wrong there?

Glad he's OK!

Reminds me of the Russian (I think) guy, who banged out at Farnborough and his 'chute was inflated by the explosion from the crashed aircraft.

@Nick C

Sorry, it was late when I replied!

You are of course correct…

It's cool. PJM, no worries

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Pilot+survives+fiery+fighter+crash+Alberta/3315220/story.html

There's a bit more footage here, ironic choice of music on the PA.
One of the engines failed. 30m above the ground when his 'chute opened. My house is nearly higher.