The Death-Defying Mechanics of Fighter Jet Ejections | Cars Insider

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  • čas přidán 12. 10. 2022
  • In TV and movies, a fighter pilot ejecting from their jet comes across as a cut-and-dry procedure. Although it occurs in only a few seconds, ejecting is a complex and violent process that relies on a lot of luck. Even for fighter pilots who successfully eject, around 20% to 30% of them suffer some sort of spinal fracture.
    We spoke with Air Force veteran Lt. Col. Pete Smith, one of the few fighter pilots who has actually had to eject, to learn what really happens.
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    The Death-Defying Mechanics of Fighter Jet Ejections | Cars Insider
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Komentáře • 1,1K

  • @quikslvr69
    @quikslvr69 Před rokem +3939

    Should have interviewed Capt Mitchell on how he survived ejection at mach 10, another ejection in combat and still managed to steal a F14

    • @gaboqse
      @gaboqse Před rokem +690

      He had the protection of plot armor

    • @wildtrex
      @wildtrex Před rokem +51

      😂😂🤣🤣🤣👍🏻

    • @qwill8254
      @qwill8254 Před rokem +105

      @@TheNotFakeBot212 no it's 10 ....

    • @_jaegerboy_
      @_jaegerboy_ Před rokem +117

      Wait mach 10? Was he flying Apollo rocket?

    • @qwill8254
      @qwill8254 Před rokem +196

      @@_jaegerboy_ yes ... Didn't you see the movie

  • @grampsinsl5232
    @grampsinsl5232 Před rokem +884

    Having worked for an ejection seat company myself, I think it's outrageous that you're claiming that ejections "leave most pilots with severe injuries." That was certainly true in the days of the Martin-Baker Mk.5 seats with their ballistic mortar charge to blast the pilot out to a very high peak altitude, which was needed because a series of parachutes had to come out and have time to inflate aerodynamically from sheer airflow - first drogue, then second drogue, then main. All of that took time, and so in order to advertise ground-level ejection capability the seat had to be kicked to a very high altitude in a very short time, which meant a brutal load on the aircrew's spine. The Mk.7 was an improvement, replacing the shock-loading mortar charge with a fast-burning rocket pack, but it still had the same aerodynamically-opening parachute train and so it still had to kick the aircrew to a high altitude in order to give enough time for everything to happen, and so spinal injuries were still pretty common. But in the 1970s a new concept came along, the Stencel SIII series of seats that dispensed with the sequentially-opening chutes, each dragging out the next in line. Instead it used a single drogue that only had to align a small rocket with the relative wind, and it was that rocket that pulled the main chute directly out of its housing on the seat as soon as the seat itself cleared the aircraft (for a ground-level ejection.) Once the main chute had reached full line stretch, a lanyard pulled a pin that fired a ballistic spreading charge, blowing out small weights that were attached to every other riser line, which completely expanded the chute in a fraction of the time needed by old-fashioned aerodynamic opening. Because this whole operation happened so quickly, the height needed to obtain a fully open chute was much less than with the Martin-Baker seats, and so a much smaller rocket impulse was needed to boost the seat up to that altitude, which meant much lower stresses on the pilot and far less potential for spinal injuries. The Stencel seat's development had been paid for by the US Navy, and so naturally the US Air Force wanted nothing to do with it. (That whole USN/USAF technology rivalry reached ridiculous levels in those days, hence the reason why one Service's decoy flares and chaff dispensers were square while the other's were round.) USAF spread all kinds of horror stories about opening shocks of ballistically-spread parachutes, which were demonstrably untrue from both test and real-world ejection data. But as soon as Stencel's patents expired, USAF immediately jumped on the bandwagon and incorporated key Stencel SIII features into its own range of seats, to the betterment of them all. And so today ejection injuries absolutely do not "leave most pilots with severe injuries" thanks to over half a century of technological refinement.

    • @mosesmuiri5938
      @mosesmuiri5938 Před rokem +154

      This is the most informative piece of information regarding a subject I've come across today. Bravo for that detailed elaboration.

    • @nexpro6118
      @nexpro6118 Před rokem +22

      I was your supervisor

    • @mdbizzarri
      @mdbizzarri Před rokem +16

      Solid information, and the Stencil was a massive improvement. I know the Hornet had the Stencil, didn't F-16's have it as well?

    • @okieboy7065
      @okieboy7065 Před rokem +4

      Which hornets had stencils? The hornets I worked on had Martin-bakers

    • @jayhache5609
      @jayhache5609 Před rokem +4

      @@nexpro6118 bot response

  • @fredjohnson9426
    @fredjohnson9426 Před rokem +1962

    My dad ejected from his Harrier once after the engine disintegrated over Scotland. Kept the plane under control, picked his moment, ejected, landed in a tree, and went for a cup of tea with the farmer whose land he ended up on. The rescuers arrived to find him still round the kitchen table, mug in hand.

    • @AJ-iu6nw
      @AJ-iu6nw Před rokem +112

      yea, THAT happened

    • @kuiper921
      @kuiper921 Před rokem +136

      @@AJ-iu6nw what makes you think it’s fake?

    • @fredjohnson9426
      @fredjohnson9426 Před rokem +218

      @@kuiper921 I guess because it’s a good story, so therefore couldn’t possibly be true!

    • @ezryder111
      @ezryder111 Před rokem +82

      Sounds perfectly plausible for true gentlemen to me...I love it

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM Před rokem +55

      @@fredjohnson9426 I was just telling my mom today that people can't even believe in themselves these days.

  • @LlamaTheory
    @LlamaTheory Před rokem +1054

    Once upon a time, I was an AMMO troop in the USAF, and we handled the storage and inspection of all of the explosive components that go into the chair and ejection system. It's honestly shocking just how many explosives of various shapes and sizes go into the cockpit of a fighter. The pilot is essentially sitting on a bomb, attached to a rocket, attached to a couple boxes of shotgun shells. In most fighter aircraft, the pilot does not sit in a position that has a direct line up and out of the cockpit without some noodley appendage being in the way. So, in addition to the explosive bolts and rockets to take the canopy off the plane, there is also an elaborate explosive train that moves most of the instrument and control panels out of the way of the ejecting pilot.

    • @dasboat64
      @dasboat64 Před rokem +60

      Exactly right. Working on & around those seats are no joke, ever!

    • @ezryder111
      @ezryder111 Před rokem +46

      Cool to hear some extra info from someone who worked on them, thank you!

    • @Tremumbus
      @Tremumbus Před rokem +38

      Didn't know the instruments get jettisoned too, but I guess you'd smash your knees on them if they didn't

    • @IGATECK
      @IGATECK Před rokem +7

      Dang I didn't know even the instrument panels were charged

    • @glxytoni
      @glxytoni Před rokem +8

      oh thats glorious, makes me think if you could "ammo wreck" an ejection seat

  • @Cars_and_adventures
    @Cars_and_adventures Před rokem +400

    My girlfriend is head of recruitment for Martin Baker. "The company that makes pretty much every ejection seat for NATO" and the passion she has for the company is amazing !

  • @johnpowe8254
    @johnpowe8254 Před rokem +35

    I was a USN AME Ejection Seat Mech. From 1972-1985. I once held the highest grade achieved in the Navy AME A school from 1972-78. I taught Navy A school from 1975-76 and the AME C (advanced) 1976-78. I have had two Ejection Seats that I installed/final inspected eject under flight conditions, both pilots survived to continue flying. The fact that the Aircrew depended on your work to save their lives was satisfying work.

  • @QuixEnd
    @QuixEnd Před rokem +140

    Gosh, the older jettison mechanics were SUPER sketchy!! Imagine being pinned to a rock shaped like a chair by these big mouse traps that'll restrain your limbs, then get blown up by a series of explosions. 50/50 chance of survival, 100% chance of bad injuries.

    • @WhuDhat
      @WhuDhat Před rokem

      better injured than dead eh? lol

    • @geelllee
      @geelllee Před rokem +13

      I guess it's a little better than 100% death :/

    • @adinprasetio
      @adinprasetio Před rokem +5

      @@geelllee right, desperate times desperate measures ? ✌️

    • @dasboat64
      @dasboat64 Před rokem +1

      Wow. Nice. Sounds like my experience. 2 F14 crews used my seats... They all got out alive! 👍

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM Před rokem +1

      @@geelllee Depends on the post survival

  • @tommynikon2283
    @tommynikon2283 Před rokem +159

    My dad had to punch out of a F-100/USAF over France, early 1960's on a trip back to the UK. Lost his engine. Helo'ed out after pickup, he was drinking martini's at the O Club that evening. Bought his parachute rigger a half gallon of his favorite; became honorary member of the Caterpillar Club. (all pilots who have ejected and lived). And still around...@92!

    • @himabimdimwim
      @himabimdimwim Před rokem +1

      Woah, incredible!

    • @koneeche
      @koneeche Před rokem +2

      Why do they call it the caterpillar club?

    • @dougdavis8986
      @dougdavis8986 Před rokem

      A good pilot can easily land without an engine

    • @genefogarty5395
      @genefogarty5395 Před rokem +5

      @@koneeche The silk threads on the chute saved their lives, silk comes from caterpillars.

    • @JoshuaTootell
      @JoshuaTootell Před rokem +3

      Grandfather also had his caterpillar pin. But ...he jumped out. That was WWII 🤣

  • @BatMan-oe2gh
    @BatMan-oe2gh Před rokem +23

    In 1991, my sister-in-law was dating an American Carrier Fighter Pilot who was based on Carriers. I can't remember the name. He was taking off and just as they left the deck the engines flamed out. No way to save the plane so he and his RIO ejected. Both survived but he was actually 2 inches shorter due to the compression from the ejection. It took him 6 months to get over his injuries, and his RIO about 8 months. They save your life but leave you with lifetime injuries.

    • @ComedyLoverGirl
      @ComedyLoverGirl Před rokem +6

      That's why the pilots have a maximum of 2 ejections, then they can't fly anymore for their own health's sake.

    • @nexpro6118
      @nexpro6118 Před rokem

      American Carrier Fighter Pilot as compared to a, non carrier fighter pilot or a, regular fighter pilot or maybe a French Carrier Fighter Pilot? lol. they are just fighter pilots....If you want to get specific, just say, naval fighter pilot or, Carrier certified fighter pilot. reads and looks weird and even can come off as a fake story when you write, "American Carrier Fighter Pilot" lol

    • @BatMan-oe2gh
      @BatMan-oe2gh Před rokem +1

      @@nexpro6118 What? American Carrier Fighter Pilot states he is an American Carrier Fighter Pilot.

  • @oksyar
    @oksyar Před rokem +12

    I had similar experience while using desktop computer when my chair was pretty low, I just forced myself to pull the lever and my hydraulic chair lifted me 15 inches per second, so many G's, I'll never forget the day!

  • @mdbizzarri
    @mdbizzarri Před rokem +195

    When you can't fly McDonnell-Douglas, fly Martin-Baker!
    I used to work on the martin-Baker GRU-7 on F-14's and have 4 successful ejections. I saw 2 on the flight deck. They are an amazing piece of engineering, and all of the steps in working on them were written in blood. I had a friend who tried to take a short cut, and he ejected himself into the hangar ceiling and died. He broke the very specific rules that were drilled into all of us from training school, and reiterated every time we worked on them. He also put others at risk, and caused several hundred thousands of dollars of damage because of his hubris, which he was always way over confident in his abilities. It's a shame, and I miss him, though his stupidity and arrogance are almost unforgivable doing what we did.

    • @felixbui9818
      @felixbui9818 Před rokem +5

      did your friend commit suicide or was it an accident?

    • @mdbizzarri
      @mdbizzarri Před rokem +38

      @@felixbui9818 It was an accident. He was removing the drogue chute by himself while the seat was still in the aircraft, and used a screwdriver as a pry bar, which then started the ejection sequence. While it would seem like you could remove a drogue chute like this, it breaks the rules of: 1, have a performer, QA, and safety person while doing maintenance (3 people), 2, any maintenance on a seat requires the seat to be removed, and 3, jets are down if explosive cartridges are out of date, which was the issue that he was trying to resolve so the training squadron could make a flight that day. The full report was about 20 pages, even covering the food he ate in the last 24 hours, his mindset with his wife, and things going on in the squadron. It was eye opening reading the report. This incident also downed all F-14's for 24 hours so AME's could review, re-train, and reiterate safety procedures.

    • @yo_itsjoshy
      @yo_itsjoshy Před rokem +3

      @@mdbizzarri Have you read the full report? May our fellow brother Rest In Peace.

    • @Cubrooski
      @Cubrooski Před rokem +5

      I worked on the MK. H-7 in the USAF F-4's for 13 years when it was the QF-4. I'm very sorry to hear about your friend. I've heard stories like this concerning the Martin Bakers. I hated working on it everyday for 13 years. I respected it but also feared it to a degree. The banana links were terrifying

    • @electoplater
      @electoplater Před rokem +2

      my friends dad was benny lynch

  • @bryanmaloy4797
    @bryanmaloy4797 Před rokem +15

    My late uncle, suffered 2 fractured neck vertebrae and broken left arm ejecting from F-4C in Oct 67.

  • @kenlanier2131
    @kenlanier2131 Před rokem +15

    Great video! I was a Parachute Survival Equipment Specialist at Nellis AFB back in 88-92. The ACESII is an amazing system.

  • @stiritup4663
    @stiritup4663 Před rokem +29

    That’s how my grandpa went to school everyday when he was a kid.

    • @pHixiq
      @pHixiq Před rokem

      Yeah same …🤣

    • @duckiiee4416
      @duckiiee4416 Před rokem

      Did he ever get to school if he kept ejecting on his way there?

  • @adilahanaf4431
    @adilahanaf4431 Před 12 dny +1

    squadron leader asim jawad Of Bangladesh Air Force was died in 9/5/24 during ejection from fighter jet YAK 130....He bravely tried to control the plane which was engulfed with fire and took the plane away from the crowded place to a river..at last moment he tried to save himself by ejection but it was too late...salute for our bravest pilot

  • @jamesdanko2915
    @jamesdanko2915 Před rokem +10

    I was the last Naval FRAMP instructor for F4 Martin Baker ejection seats; they are very precise and life savers but they can also kill you with one mistake. Can't believe that was 40 some years ago.

  • @evansheens2327
    @evansheens2327 Před rokem +5

    I’m an egress tech in the af which means I work and maintain ejection seats, I currently work on the A.C.E.S. II ejection seat that goes into the f-22 raptor, let me tell you, they barely go into the actual amount of stuff that goes into the seat itself and how it works, like there’s so much stuff and so many things that happen in under a second, it’s crazy

  • @carlparlatore294
    @carlparlatore294 Před rokem +10

    On 3 Sep 68 I was a pilot in the backseat of F-4C 64-681 flying out of Cam Ranh Bay VN to support some grunts on the ground that needed close air support. On our first pass dropping Mk -82 high drag bombs we got hit with 14.7 mm AAA. We were at 500 ft and 450 kts. The Jet started to roll violently and my front seater yelled EJECT, EJECT, EJECT! Well after the first EJECT he was talking to himself - Thank God the Martin Baker HH-7 I was strapped to worked as advertised --- it was pretty violent and I don't know how long I was in the chute but the next thing I knew I was hanging in a 100 ft tree about 30 feet off the ground. I had lost my helmet, watch and gloves from the wind blast (BTW air at 450 kts is not a gas but solid 🙂). I was busted up pretty badly and could hardly move. If it wasn't for some very brave Army aircrews (flying Hueys and a LOC) who braved some pretty heavy ground fire I wouldn't be here today.

  • @mikew735
    @mikew735 Před rokem +10

    This was really good, learning about the extremes that some humans either put them selves through or design is incredibly entertaining, or maybe a better way to say it is the extremes people put themselves through by design.

  • @carminenovellino5091
    @carminenovellino5091 Před rokem +31

    Maverick lost his best friend on ejecting manoeuvres

    • @karliejai
      @karliejai Před rokem +4

      I've seen that documentary as well. I think his name was Goose right?

    • @ntiba6059
      @ntiba6059 Před rokem +2

      @@karliejai 😅

    • @IkesPimpHand
      @IkesPimpHand Před rokem +5

      Captain Mitchell later successfully ejected at Mach 10, so it's all good

    • @crimsonsnow2469
      @crimsonsnow2469 Před rokem +1

      @@IkesPimpHand 😂

    • @kuiper921
      @kuiper921 Před rokem

      Goose’s death was modeled after an actual RIO who got hurt (died? I forgot) from hitting the canopy on the way out

  • @007mia7
    @007mia7 Před rokem +4

    This is so fascinating. I had no idea just how complex this was, amazing engineering.

  • @mj1s735
    @mj1s735 Před rokem +80

    I was in the USAF and I remember spending many hours seating in ejection seats while working on aircraft avionic systems. Yes we installed safety pins to make the seats safe, but the explosives are still armed in them. You get use to seating in the seats, but it is still a little un nerving the first few times you have to sit in one. Especially when you know that if your didn't install the safety pins and pulled the ejection handles you would activate the seat and it would eject you.

    • @johhnyytwotime510
      @johhnyytwotime510 Před rokem +3

      do you know if that ever happened before? an accidental discharge of the ejection seat?

    • @mj1s735
      @mj1s735 Před rokem +8

      @@johhnyytwotime510 This question would be better answered by someone that worked in Egress, that is the shop that maintained the ejection system on the aircraft.
      But in my 22 years in the USAF, I never experienced it, or heard of it happening. There are many safe guards in place to keep it from happening, so even though there are many explosives in the system, it is still not dangerous, say like a loaded gun could be.

    • @johhnyytwotime510
      @johhnyytwotime510 Před rokem +3

      @@mj1s735 oh I got you...thanks for the in depth explanation, I appreciate that.

    • @tonyv8925
      @tonyv8925 Před rokem +5

      @@johhnyytwotime510 1971, an airbase in the South of USA. An egress airman was working on an ejection seat of a T-37B when it fired. He was NOT in the seat but leaning over it. He did not survive. So all of us guys that worked on T-37 seats had to take a safety course, just to make sure we were on top of procedures.

    • @cj-bd3ql
      @cj-bd3ql Před rokem

      That's good those guys getting ready for Armageddon

  • @mjribes
    @mjribes Před rokem +21

    I understand the hesitation in ejecting. In my very first solo skydive my parachute didn't open correctly, and I had a debate with myself as to when and whether to cut away and use my reserve. In hindsight it's stupid, but it's what I did.

    • @Fusion991
      @Fusion991 Před rokem

      Liar

    • @darksu6947
      @darksu6947 Před rokem +2

      But did you die bro?

    • @mjribes
      @mjribes Před rokem +8

      @@darksu6947 Only a little bit...

    • @darksu6947
      @darksu6947 Před rokem +3

      @@mjribes I'm glad you didn't splatter on the ground and end up looking like a wet noodle.

    • @NASTrading
      @NASTrading Před rokem +1

      @@darksu6947 I’m hungry

  • @erikrhafer6644
    @erikrhafer6644 Před rokem +3

    When I was a kid, my neighbor and myself were in a navy jet at an airshow pushing all the buttons, the kid that got in after us got ejected out of the aircraft. It was horrible, I will never forget that day. Happened at Willow Grove Nas Pennsylvania.

    • @worldtharra
      @worldtharra Před rokem +1

      What happened to the kid?

    • @erikrhafer6644
      @erikrhafer6644 Před rokem

      @@worldtharra unfortunately he passed away almost instantly.

  • @waynesworld7804
    @waynesworld7804 Před rokem +9

    Kudos to the pilots who fly these jets.

  • @tonioyendis4464
    @tonioyendis4464 Před rokem +12

    That's got to be a scary feeling when you have to eject! Especially at night and off shore. I can't imagine what goes thru a pilot's mind on the way down; even with your training kicking in.

    • @patrickkenyon2326
      @patrickkenyon2326 Před rokem +7

      Picture the worst rollercoaster you have ever been on.
      Now imagine riding it during a hurricane. And an earthquake.
      While being shot at.
      It is great fun. Highly recommend.

    • @patrickkenyon2326
      @patrickkenyon2326 Před rokem +9

      Oh, and as for what goes thru a pilots mind on the way down?
      Its pretty much " Oh Crap oh Crap oh Crap. This is gonna hurt. "

    • @tonioyendis4464
      @tonioyendis4464 Před rokem +3

      @@patrickkenyon2326 - yeah, I'm sure the fun-meter is pegging out while all this is happening to you! Lol...

    • @427SuperSnake1
      @427SuperSnake1 Před rokem

      This exact scenario happened to man named Brian Udell, and the thing is he ejected at beyond the speed of sound, I believe over 720 knots. He tells his story on CZcams you should look it up. It was all at night over the ocean. You can hear him describe how the supersonic winds tore his body apart yet he survived.

  • @jabberwockygaming6996
    @jabberwockygaming6996 Před 11 měsíci +1

    I was involved in a rescue on Dec 2002 where 4 pilots ejected out of a B1-B at 17k feet while inverted (what pilots told us). When we got to them 3 hours later they were all alive but pretty banged up. They said it was the most violent thing they had been through. That was a crazy night for everyone.

  • @drjamespotter
    @drjamespotter Před rokem +7

    One of my school physics teachers was a retired RAF navigator. He had been grounded mid career after his second ejection from a Javelin.

  • @stevetheduck1425
    @stevetheduck1425 Před rokem +5

    Living pilots often mention that they debated whether to stay with the plane a few more seconds, some don't mention this sort of thinking.
    We don't hear from the pilots who decided badly in that sort of situation.
    I recommend the method standard for the RAF in the 1970s to 1980s when I was in: make the decision to eject, both when and why, in the safety and comfort of the crew room. Do not wait for a rapidly-developing situation to make the decision for you.

    • @ostrich67
      @ostrich67 Před rokem

      There's a USAF film called "Ejection Decision-A Second Too Late" that discusses that.

  • @NegativeROG
    @NegativeROG Před rokem +1

    Determining whether a problem is fixable or not in ONE SECOND proves that these guys are a breed apart.

  • @datdude5962
    @datdude5962 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Wonderful video, glad you lived to share this with us yourself

  • @HowToChangeName
    @HowToChangeName Před 17 dny +1

    The force is so powerful, you are lucky enough to even be allowed to pilot again

  • @polattanoglu756
    @polattanoglu756 Před rokem +3

    Huge respect to this man.

  • @supbaby86
    @supbaby86 Před rokem +11

    I was hoping they would mention the thrust vectoring some of these seat have, very cool.

  • @ayoubkhalil1
    @ayoubkhalil1 Před rokem +1

    Great video, didn't think I'd end up so interested.

  • @orangejjay
    @orangejjay Před rokem

    Nothing like replaying the same five clips ten times. Really good stuff.

  • @simon1841
    @simon1841 Před rokem +5

    Back in the 1960s my dad worked for a metal manufacturing company in England, which was the only company at that time that could make the alloys that were used by Martin Baker. I remember they had an ejector seat on display at the factory on the occasion of a Royal visit (minor royal, not the Queen) and I was fascinated by it as a 7 year old schoolkid.

  • @satoriwabisabi
    @satoriwabisabi Před rokem +37

    I've always wanted one of those ejection seats in the passenger seat of my truck. 😂

  • @ryansaving
    @ryansaving Před rokem +2

    You’re the man, brother I know it’s got to be one of the most scariest decisions you’ve ever made

  • @erichuffman8928
    @erichuffman8928 Před rokem +1

    Thank you for your service.

  • @aslamstudio558
    @aslamstudio558 Před rokem +8

    Ah, nothing like watching a video about fighter jet ejection seats on *car insider*

  • @jamesburnette4120
    @jamesburnette4120 Před rokem +3

    the seats in the F4 had straps that went around your leg just above the knee and straps that went around the ankles short straps around the ankles long straps around the legs. you didnt want to mix them up or you would leave the plane with broken legs.they served to pull you into the seat to become more compact. also the F4 had a face curtain in stead an ejection handle between the legs

  • @FreeTurtleboy
    @FreeTurtleboy Před rokem +2

    F-111 aardvark....That eject system is a module....a Pod
    ...... unique
    Thanks for your information

  • @InspiredInsights4U
    @InspiredInsights4U Před rokem +3

    Has an Air Force avionics technician. It was drilled to us anytime we went on on a flight line or even in the hangers you absolutely must identify every pen, which always had a red flag on it, and count them and know for sure that all pens were in the canopy and the seat so it was safe to get in there and work on them then the other big hazard that a lot of people didn’t realize was that if you had anything protruding from your pockets, i.e. screwdrivers or whatever tools you might be carrying around they could accidentally pull a flag or pull handle, so it was drilled into us day after day and thank God we all had safety on our minds first no incidents

    • @6828oaklawn
      @6828oaklawn Před rokem +1

      Pen? Is that anything like a "pin"?

    • @InspiredInsights4U
      @InspiredInsights4U Před rokem

      @@6828oaklawn my apologies for any spelling errors or punctuation errors.
      I am visually impaired so I do not see the words as my iPhone transcribes what I tell it.
      Thank you for the correction.

    • @LauRoot892
      @LauRoot892 Před rokem

      @@InspiredInsights4U Where are you from ??😑

  • @dimitrz2000
    @dimitrz2000 Před rokem +56

    No wonder in many Airforce like Indian Airforce it's rare for an airman to return back to fighter jet flying after an ejection experience. I used to wonder why and after seeing this graphical video , it drives home the intensity of the entire process on the human body.

    • @dimitrz2000
      @dimitrz2000 Před rokem +16

      @@MorriRay before making stupid comments, read and understand what I wrote.

    • @niko7626
      @niko7626 Před rokem +7

      Well tbf… there were about 20 better examples for an airforce than indias. India doesnt have high-end military tech and is still in the 90‘s/00‘s in terms of hardware, so i dont really have to guess why the indian pilots dont go in a cockpit again after such an ejection. Meanwhile im really confident saying this since i am an officer in the armed forces: with f14, eurofighter, raffale or other 4.5/5th gen jets do NOT have that problem as big as for example india, taiwan, argentina or whatever country still uses coldwar jets

    • @dimitrz2000
      @dimitrz2000 Před rokem +1

      @@niko7626 if you had understood english, you would have understood why I used IAF, since I am from India I would naturally use a procedure followed in our airforce as an example. I can't use procedure of USAF which I don't know.
      Secondly if you were really in the armed forces of any decent country , you would not have used such derogatory comment about armed forces of another country- because there is a sense of ethics & respect that armed forces follow . Unless offcourse you are from a country whose armed forces doesn't have such ethics.
      Regarding your misguided understanding regarding the capabilities , I could have answred you point by point but then it's quite obvious that you don't have the mental capacity to comprehend the answers or you are some loser who thinks it's great to be a troll. In both cases it's not worth entertaining such sorry excuse of humans . So be happy to live in what ever fantasy world you want to live in. 😂

    • @dimitrz2000
      @dimitrz2000 Před rokem

      @DR. SUSHANTA ROY-CHOUDHURY yes Abhi was an exception .

    • @chandrakanthveluri9860
      @chandrakanthveluri9860 Před rokem

      @@dimitrz2000 Do u think Abhinandan returning as a fighter pilot a political decision or it was for his reportedly shooting down of an F-16? Also before thinking of ejection system we need to think FTB at high altitude as we have to go to Russia and France to test Kaveri engine all the time. I think this is the time our government prioritize it. What do u think?

  • @colinsdad1
    @colinsdad1 Před rokem +2

    This USAF Vet wants to give a HUGE shout out to USAF PJs- "So That Others May Live"!

  • @nickroyce7
    @nickroyce7 Před rokem +2

    Was an AME in the Navy. I was in charge of all the survival and egress for f-18 super hornets. The ejection seat is really no joke.

  • @56darren
    @56darren Před rokem +5

    I worked on the Martin Baker SJU 17 v2a for the super hornet loved every minute of it

    • @nexpro6118
      @nexpro6118 Před rokem

      wow....the odds....thos makes you number, 35698753 person in the comments to have worked on ejection seats....it's like EVERY person to have ever worked on ejection seats are in this specific comment section. lol (not saying you are the liar or lying) but a lot are ha

  • @SimonAmazingClarke
    @SimonAmazingClarke Před rokem +5

    I saw a pilot and rear eject out of a harrier in the late 80s. The rear survived. These were Martin Baker Zero Zero seats.

    • @TheAlmostHarmless
      @TheAlmostHarmless Před rokem +2

      Zero Zero seats still have an envelope, the most significant factor of which is sink rate. The distance required for the chute to deploy is nearly the same regardless of if you're inverted or not, the sink rate is what kills you.

  • @KillersFromTheWest
    @KillersFromTheWest Před rokem +2

    This was super interesting. Subscribed

  • @anissah389
    @anissah389 Před rokem

    I’m at NAWS China Lake and it’s a blessing to see rows of F/A-18s everyday. Hooyah!

  • @mj1s735
    @mj1s735 Před rokem +4

    I believe one clip showed it, but there are some planes where the ejection seat has to punch through the canopy to eject. Talk about adding more things to the ejection equation!

  • @tenshi66
    @tenshi66 Před rokem +10

    Y'all should do a video on Lt Col Rankin who ejected from a crusader in a thunderstorm. I spent my entire career on jump status, and what he experienced in that thunder storm was my nightmare scenario on a jump.

    • @EhmedCousCous
      @EhmedCousCous Před rokem +1

      is that the guy who kept being thrown around in the storm until he almost froze to death?

    • @JoshuaTootell
      @JoshuaTootell Před rokem

      Just read the wiki entry. Yeah...

  • @zoyalis1487
    @zoyalis1487 Před rokem +2

    Jesus. I was done when I heard there were explosives underneath the seat. I'd love a more in depth documentary of this. I was just a regular soldier in the ARMY, and I was clueless about the severity of what happens. I definitely have been hoodwinked by television and movies. God Bless our military.

  • @MrLegantWong
    @MrLegantWong Před rokem

    Thanks for sharing the valuable experience 👍

  • @dillonvillon
    @dillonvillon Před rokem +3

    A few minor injuries vs death.... that 90% survival rate also includes those that ejected well outside of the ejection envelope (ie. Inverted at 500ft, 90⁰ nose down at a few thousand feet, etc)

  • @truelove8719
    @truelove8719 Před rokem +6

    Salute to these brave pilots

  • @alanmcquillan
    @alanmcquillan Před rokem +1

    Good chat, thank you.

  • @kchip9725
    @kchip9725 Před rokem +1

    Thank you for the sacrifices you made for our countrys service

  • @A.J.1656
    @A.J.1656 Před rokem +6

    Who told this guy an ejection seat is the most complex thing on a fighter jet? That's not even close to being true. 🤣

    • @TheHannukahZombie
      @TheHannukahZombie Před rokem +1

      He doesn’t even know basic math. He said he was less than a second from death and pulled the seat handle at 2000 feet. Math says he would have been going 1300mph+ and then he contradicts that later. Piss poor attempt at making a factual video.

    • @A.J.1656
      @A.J.1656 Před rokem

      @@TheHannukahZombie
      I spent some time working in debrief where I'd have to explain things to the pilots like, "there's no way that system broke because this jet doesn't have that system", "fuel did not leak from one wing to the other you had to have turned on the transfer pumps to land with more fuel in a wing tank than it started with", "no, there is not fuel leaking from the aileron because there is no fuel in the aileron" and "don't write up what you think the crew chiefs should do to repair the jet, you need to write what malfunctioned and let them fix it".
      They're not the best sources for technical knowledge. lol

  • @theophrastus3.056
    @theophrastus3.056 Před rokem +8

    Some bombers, like the B-52, have ejection seats too. The main charge is entirely ballistic, making for a lot more instantaneous Gs than the rocket seat used in most fighters.

    • @JohnDoe-pv2iu
      @JohnDoe-pv2iu Před rokem +3

      Yep, and half the personnel eject downward from the plane. Check altitude before ejection, Navigator!

    • @josephastier7421
      @josephastier7421 Před rokem

      Their ejection sequence is also slower than from a fighter jet because they expect trouble to happen at high altitude.

    • @theophrastus3.056
      @theophrastus3.056 Před rokem

      @@josephastier7421 Actually, a ballistic seat is initially faster because the process is nearly instantaneous. A rocket motor has a build up in speed, but a ballistic seat is like being fired from a cannon.

    • @josephastier7421
      @josephastier7421 Před rokem

      @@theophrastus3.056 Rockets can be designed to work so quickly they are more like a directed blast.

    • @theophrastus3.056
      @theophrastus3.056 Před rokem

      @@josephastier7421 True. But that’s actually not desirable in an ejection seat, as there’s a risk of breaking bones wjth a sudden jolt. Still, they are incredibly fast, as you indicate. Ballistics seats are used only where rockets are not possible, like where two crew are seated side by side. (The B-52 is one example.) You would want rocket blast to burn whoever ejected second. But the drawback is virtually instantaneous acceleration, very high G’s, and virtually no padding on the seat itself. That last feature is because the compression of the pad during the ejection would hurt the occupant. In the slightly slower acceleration of the rocket, that’s not a problem. Rocket seats are the better option, that’s absolutely true, because the acceleration is more manageable.

  • @bassterix7151
    @bassterix7151 Před 4 měsíci

    Thanks for the video! I'll keep this in mind next time I take the ol' Eurofighter out for a spin 🙏

  • @rizzorizzo2311
    @rizzorizzo2311 Před rokem +1

    My first tour in Iraq we had two F16 pilots accidentally collide in a bad sandstorm and they both had to eject. Neither one of them survived the ejection. They were both knocked unconscious and the wind drug them several miles across the desert. One ended up tangled in the perimeter wire of our FOB and the other was a couple miles past it. Crazy shit.

  • @rumplestilskinbob7415
    @rumplestilskinbob7415 Před rokem +7

    Russian pilots are extremely good at ejecting

  • @TidewaterC
    @TidewaterC Před rokem +6

    I got ejected from a bar once.

  • @pradipbera5098
    @pradipbera5098 Před rokem

    It's thrilled me, I had worked on ejection system for around 15 years and had chance to speak couple of fighter pilot who ejected. Yes hesitation and timings are two great components in ejection

    • @nexpro6118
      @nexpro6118 Před rokem +1

      wow....the odds....thos makes you number, 35698753 person in the comments to have worked on ejection seats....it's like EVERY person to have ever worked on ejection seats are in this specific comment section. lol (not saying you are the liar or lying) but a lot are ha

    • @pradipbera5098
      @pradipbera5098 Před rokem

      @@nexpro6118 You believe me or not that's your perogative. But by saying I worked on ejection system, am not going to earn handsome or to increase my viewers. But like to keep you informed and others too that I have worked in Indian Air Force as a Ground Tech crew for Fighter planes and served in various fighter squadrons. over those years ejection system and it's explosives used were part of my service. I can't or should give any further class to you on this vast subject in this platform.

  • @dashcameraro2031
    @dashcameraro2031 Před rokem +1

    Anastase Dragomir (1896-1966) was a distinguished Romanian inventor, most famous for his "catapultable cockpit" patent (with Tănase Dobrescu) as an early form of ejection seat, although preceded by Everard Calthrop's 1916 compressed air ejection seat, and others.

  • @Cubrooski
    @Cubrooski Před rokem +3

    I've worked on USAF ejection seats since 1997. A couple false statements in this video. When the pilots pull the D-Ring( the handle between the legs) it does not send an electrical signal. It fires two explosive Initiators. Atleast on legacy aircraft i.e. F-15, F-16, A-10. Second false statementa motor doesn't separate the pilot from the seat, explosives and physics do.
    The main parachute is fired out of what's called a mortar. Just like see in the war movies where they drop the round down the tub and it shoots it out....same thing kind of happens with the chute except it is locked into the mortar while installed in the seat,, and when it's needed during the ejection a mortar cartridge is fired and pushes the chute out of the seat.
    Before the mortar is fired a different cartridge is fired releasing the lap belts, shoulder straps, and seat pan (so the survival kit stays with the pilot).
    A lot of moving parts goes into an ejection and it's process that happens very quickly. Also a lot of factors go into a successful ejection that i didn't cover here.. It is a violent process but more crew members survive the mishap these days thankfully.

    • @TheHannukahZombie
      @TheHannukahZombie Před rokem

      No seat used a “mortar” they use rocket motors to pull the drogue parachute out, there is no firing the chute out of anything, the explosive isn’t anywhere near it.

    • @Cubrooski
      @Cubrooski Před rokem +3

      I beg to differ....I've worked on them for 25 years. The component the chute sits in is called the mortar and the chute is fired out of it. I used my example may be a poor example. But look it up. Search for the ejection site and look up the ACES II seat

    • @Cubrooski
      @Cubrooski Před rokem +2

      @@TheHannukahZombie they don't use rocket motors to pull the drogue out, it's called the drogue gun cartridge, there is a difference between a cartridge and a rocket motor

    • @CamperGun
      @CamperGun Před rokem +2

      I worked in the ACES2 program at McDonnell Douglas back in the late 70's on the final line usually installing the computer into the seats. Everything Cubroski said is correct and true. I left in the 80's, so some things may have changed since then although I've seen the same seats at airshows.

    • @Cubrooski
      @Cubrooski Před rokem +1

      @@CamperGun thank you Rick. Not much has really changed other than the computer that's been upgraded over the years

  • @righty-o3585
    @righty-o3585 Před rokem +7

    Not to mention the forward momentum of the jet. Chances are you will be moving at least 200 mph when you launch out of the cockpit

    • @EhmedCousCous
      @EhmedCousCous Před rokem

      yeah but you won't accelerate to 200 mph within a second

    • @LukeNasti
      @LukeNasti Před rokem +1

      And it'll be chilly

    • @righty-o3585
      @righty-o3585 Před rokem +2

      @@EhmedCousCous you'll go from the security of your cockpit, to immediate 200 mph wind, then rapidly decrease speed due to the air friction. It does not sound like a fun time

    • @righty-o3585
      @righty-o3585 Před rokem

      @@LukeNasti LOL Yes, very

  • @tombigelow7391
    @tombigelow7391 Před rokem

    Awesome vid😎

  • @keithmayhew2161
    @keithmayhew2161 Před rokem +1

    Nice video.Thank You for your service Sir..I,hand salute you..

  • @BillBrandon
    @BillBrandon Před rokem +3

    In a2-seater the pilot commands”eject eject eject” but the other crewman will never hear the third - pilot is already gone.

    • @LauRoot892
      @LauRoot892 Před rokem

      Brand 😮

    • @johnp139
      @johnp139 Před rokem

      The rear seat is ejected first if the inter seat sequence is set in dual mode.

  • @Slickgoodlin
    @Slickgoodlin Před rokem +4

    While they are the majority, not all aviators who who fly in ejection seat equipped aircraft have been fighter pilots in fighter jets.
    A small number of non-pilot flight crew in certain aircraft have been equipped with ejection seats.
    Examples:
    Air Force B-1 and B-52 bombers.
    Navy S-3 Viking Anti-Sub jet.
    Army OV-1 Mohawk Surveillance plane.

    • @erica1957
      @erica1957 Před rokem

      Navy S3-A was a 4 seater too. B-52 had downward ejecting seats.

  • @MrMh722
    @MrMh722 Před rokem +1

    I believe that all pilots who eject from a Martin Baker get a special tie. That is a very very exclusive club.

  • @syedayanather713
    @syedayanather713 Před rokem +1

    Maverick said it right “you don’t think, you think up there you’re dead”

  • @mickhorsley3169
    @mickhorsley3169 Před rokem +8

    I used to pack 'chutes for ejection seats. It's a very exacting process where you literally go by the book, step by step no matter if it's the first or the fiftieth one you've packed.

    • @kenlanier2131
      @kenlanier2131 Před rokem +4

      Me too Mick, 3/4" loop on the stows, torque the SeaWars, tack the reefing line charges, packing the drouge in the back of the seat. Oh and lastly do a tool inventory to make sure you didnt pack any FOD in the container. 30+ years still remember some stuff. :) Good times

    • @frankharley1000
      @frankharley1000 Před rokem +1

      Ditto, good stuff. 👍🏼😎 USMC parachute rigger, F-4s, A-4s, & AV-8Bs.

    • @kenlanier2131
      @kenlanier2131 Před rokem +1

      @@frankharley1000 Right on 😀Semper Fi!

    • @nexpro6118
      @nexpro6118 Před rokem

      wow....the odds....thos makes you number, 35698753 person in the comments to have worked on ejection seats....it's like EVERY person to have ever worked on ejection seats are in this specific comment section. lol (not saying you are the liar or lying) but a lot are ha and.....nobody "packs" the ejection seats.....they come from the manufacturer done and if they have to be removed (the chute) it goes back to the manufacturer.....just saying....

    • @frankharley1000
      @frankharley1000 Před rokem

      @@kenlanier2131 Semper fi, Ken! 👍🏼👍🏼

  • @_jaegerboy_
    @_jaegerboy_ Před rokem +6

    Channel name : "Car's insider"
    Video : *P L A N E S*
    ain't complaining tho

  • @quantumfineartsandfossils2152

    I'm totally blown away wow

  • @maxasaurus3008
    @maxasaurus3008 Před 4 měsíci

    Incredible! If there are any Vets reading this, Thank You. (ESPECIALLY Vietnam Vets)

  • @logosofgame4273
    @logosofgame4273 Před rokem +3

    Ah, the ejection seat. Only a man from Northern Ireland would be crazy enough to come up with something so bonkers.

    • @patrickkenyon2326
      @patrickkenyon2326 Před rokem

      Well, it is better than the alternative, that being joining with your aircraft to form a crater.

    • @TheHannukahZombie
      @TheHannukahZombie Před rokem

      The Germans invented them, not someone from Ireland.

  • @fl260
    @fl260 Před rokem +4

    Massive respect to these incredibly brave and hardy men defending our country.

  • @Batters56
    @Batters56 Před rokem +1

    He went out inverted at 2000ft and 400 knots and descending fast over water! What a seat!

  • @piros44
    @piros44 Před rokem +5

    Chuck Yeager said he only did five more take offs than landings. Arguably the most bad ass pilot who ever lived.

  • @billbright1755
    @billbright1755 Před rokem +3

    The WWII Japanese Zero was an example of the Japanese code of Bushido.
    Considered modern day samurais they knew there was virtually no escape from their, in some ways, fragile but very potent aerial weapon platform. Designed purely as offensive system with little or no pilot protection as armor plate or self sealing tanks.
    It was however very nimble at lower dogfight speeds and in maneuver could out perform a similar heavier, due to self protection, aircraft .
    In the hands of an expert flyer it was very formidable all things being considered.
    It was essentially victory or return upon your shield .🛡
    Born to the house of a warrior “ grasp the long and the short swords ⚔️ and to die “.

  • @blessedblessed6848
    @blessedblessed6848 Před rokem

    Thank🙏 you for sharing

  • @alanjm1234
    @alanjm1234 Před rokem

    I read a book by Doddy Hay, one of Martin Bakers original test pilots during the early development of ejector seats.
    He ejected many times and suffered extensive injuries as a result.
    The book is called "The Man in The Hot Seat". It's a good read.

  • @AgastyaSingh
    @AgastyaSingh Před rokem +3

    I think goose would disagree with the death defying part

  • @coolcat6303
    @coolcat6303 Před rokem +3

    Fighter pilots are literally sitting on a Hot Seat 💺🔥✈️

  • @pgp
    @pgp Před rokem +1

    Props to the editor for using the same footage over and over

  • @corporeidad
    @corporeidad Před rokem +1

    Notable. Qué interesante. Un outsider total como yo se puede enterar de esto sobre lo que no tiene idea, ni se le hubiera ocurrido ... 👌👌

  • @hansolowe19
    @hansolowe19 Před rokem +6

    I am curious to know about the types of injuries people sustain, 10-30% of all ejections resulting in injuries or deaths is nothing to sneeze at.
    Vertebrae? Neck? Arms? Legs? Where? How? Why?

    • @ibrahimsalman5504
      @ibrahimsalman5504 Před rokem +3

      Tail bone fractures or breaking is quite common from what ive seen

    • @ibrahimsalman5504
      @ibrahimsalman5504 Před rokem +1

      Especially in the older planes

    • @jesper9622
      @jesper9622 Před rokem +1

      Spinal fractures. It was explained in the video. And most likely in the neck

    • @starliner2498
      @starliner2498 Před rokem

      @@ibrahimsalman5504 yeah cause they used a explosive cartridge which provided a sudden acceleration add opposed to the gradual acceleration from the rocket motors these days

    • @jesflynn4048
      @jesflynn4048 Před rokem

      @@starliner2498 the 'explosive cartridges' are the motor device that actually gets the seat and its occupant out the aircraft (see two-tube assembly in MB seats)- rocket motors with enough thrust to achieve the initial high acceleration required, would be uncomfortable for jockey. In-service rocket-packs intitially used a bunch of 1" (dia) motors, but the seats also had a 5-cartridge staged 'gun' which, yep, made the jockey's a bit shorter after their escape. That was to give survivability on the runway. The Harrier vtol introduced a new 'issue', solved by 2" rocket pack motors, which then allowed a slight de-rating of the 'gun' for most future seats - but still a gun. Being in a 'bang seat' is like being a cork in the end of a shotgun, essentially; all the rest of the cool-looking stuff happens after your cork has popped. The first 'ejection' from an aircraft was from a Gloster Meteor - using a big spring driving a trubuchet-style arm on the spine of the aircraft, to which the unfortunate was attached.

  • @disuser-lp3qv1tm8f
    @disuser-lp3qv1tm8f Před rokem +5

    They should have this for players who get ejected during a game.

  • @joeg5414
    @joeg5414 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I know someone who had to eject from an F-16. He got an incentive flight in the back seat for winning airman of the quarter. Broke his ankle landing but was okay otherwise. My squadron commander was the pilot. Engine quit. Talk about bad luck you get 1 flight in an F16 and end up ejecting.

  • @MrCraptakular
    @MrCraptakular Před 4 měsíci

    I've seen an ejection live at Lowestoft Air Show in the late 90s or early 2000s. Harrier lost VSTOL thrust and he ejected into the sea. Everyone was silent and could not believe it while the coastguard boats picked him up

  • @cosmicpsyops4529
    @cosmicpsyops4529 Před rokem +7

    At that point in your life, you're probably better characterized as "death-accepting" whatever the outcome, coming from Marine infantry. 😅

    • @patrickkenyon2326
      @patrickkenyon2326 Před rokem

      When the alternative is riding your aircraft into the ground, even a wonky system looks pretty good.

  • @CallsignAegis
    @CallsignAegis Před rokem

    Very Extremely interesting

  • @prsee5969
    @prsee5969 Před 4 měsíci

    That’s one of the most violent things I always thought to myself like…. Not only are you crashing a LOT of money, but you aren’t sure if the pain is gonna be worse than death lol it’s so… ugh man that must be a heck of a “SCREW IT LETS DO IT LIVE” Kinda last thing that goes in your mind hopefully and it works out… long term as well with the injuries.

  • @timgannon2993
    @timgannon2993 Před rokem +1

    I was watching this video and then my neighbour came and we watched it together. He said that this video changed his life and touched his heart. I then went and rented a projector in a big field and all my villagers watched it and it changed their lives too. We all are so grateful.
    Thank you for this video!

    • @TheRanguna
      @TheRanguna Před 3 měsíci

      You need to buy a bigger projector and project this on the moon to end world hunger

  • @mothmagic1
    @mothmagic1 Před rokem +1

    The sheer acceleration is awesome. 0-60 in 4 inches 0-375 in six feet.

  • @comchadelalora
    @comchadelalora Před 4 měsíci

    Cool video