To mitigate risk factors associated with ejection, engineers continue to refine ejection seat technology—though risks remain.
Latent and unappreciated until the exact moment of need, modern fighter jet ejection seats are engineering marvels, giving aviators the confidence to get into a machine that may well fail. Relying upon a finely choreographed sequence of mechanical and pyrotechnic steps, the ejection seat is capable of separating a human body from a falling aircraft—one that is potentially burning and spinning and disintegrating as it speeds back towards the earth.
Ejection Seats Have to Keep the Pilot Alive
As most people understand, the ejection sequence begins when the fighter pilot yanks an ejection handle, usually located either between the legs or above the head. The pulling of the handle triggers an explosive charge or rocket cartridge that blows the canopy free or shatters the glass, allowing the seat and pilot to pass through. Milliseconds after the canopy is gone, the main catapult charge fires, propelling the ejection seat up along guide rails with tremendous acceleration—often creating between 12 and 14 G’s on the ejecting pilot. Under-seat rockets carry the pilot clear of the aircraft—an especially important feature in ejections at low altitude or in extreme flight attitudes.
Once the ejection seat clears the pilot from the wreckage, stabilization becomes critical. At transonic speeds, the pilot’s body will be rag dolled, so small drogue parachutes or fins are deployed to steady and decelerate the seat. Sensors control the timing of the main parachute’s deployment; altitude, airspeed, and attitude are all considered, as precision is necessary. If deployed too early, while the ejection seat is still moving at high speeds, the parachute may shred. Conversely, if deployed while the ejection seat is at too low an altitude, the pilot may collide with the ground at a still-lethal velocity.
When the onboard sensors deem appropriate, the seat separates from the pilot, the harness releases, and the main chute blossoms.
Ejection Seats Are Well-Designed—but Still Dangerous
Obviously, ejecting from a falling fighter jet—a machine capable of high-altitude, supersonic flight—includes a wide variety of hazards. The initial ejection blast is violent, entirely capable of compressing the spin, fracturing limbs, or causing concussion. And should the aircraft have been traveling at supersonic speeds when the pilot ejected, wind blast can tear away helmets and oxygen masks (or worse), leading to disorientation or hypoxia. On the way out, flailing limbs may strike cockpit edges, causing injury. And of course, the pilot remains dependent upon the parachute opening properly.
Even when everything goes well, the pilot still descends at a relatively high speed, ending in a forceful collision with the ground or sea—often in hostile terrain, or in enemy territory. Once on the ground, pilots are then faced with a pressing need for recovery, which is why modern ejection seats typically carry survival kits with radio beacons, medical supplies, and weapons.
To mitigate the risk factors, engineers continue to refine ejection seat technology. Advanced restraint systems lock arms and legs close to the body before launch. Rocket motors can be throttled, adjusting thrust to conditions. Digital sequencing units calculate optimal parachute deployment. And material science is improving. Still, at least for the foreseeable future, ejecting from a lost fighter jet will continue to have its perils—though it generally remains safer than staying in the plane!
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Shutterstock.
