Thursday, May 26, 2011

EJECT! EJECT! A sequence of photos....

By Gary from Maryborough, Queensland, Australia

Interesting photos of the of the ejection from the F18 that crashed last year in Alberta, Canada. You may have seen the full sequence as the aircraft hits the ground several seconds later. This is the first time that I've seen the canopy being blasted off the aircraft by the twin rockets. In the second photo, note that the pilot is ejecting horizontal to the ground while the wings of the aircraft are perpendicular to the ground, which is about two seconds below.


Then comes the amazing change in direction for the ejection seat and pilot! Note how the directional control on the ejection seat rockets has automatically changed the pilot’s trajectory and attitude so that he is climbing away from the fireball that is about to happen. The canopy can be seen behind the aircraft. His drogue chute is also visibly deployed close to the rockets of the ejection seat.

The seat is now detached from the pilot. His chute is beginning to spread.


An almighty crash is about to occur!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Photo 1 and 2 are by William Gilson
Aerophoto International