![]() This initiates the seat's rocket boosters, which propel the pilot 100 to 200 feet upward. Then an explosive cartridge underneath the seat goes off to catapult the pilot out of the cockpit. A set of small rockets in the front then push the canopy up and out of the pilot's way. Narrator: This handle, which sits between the pilot's legs, sends an electrical impulse to the aircraft to release the bolts holding the cockpit's canopy in place. As soon as you pull the handle, at zero seconds, the first thing that's going to happen is you just send a signal to essentially start the process of ejecting. And as a matter of fact, the ejection seat's probably the most complex piece of equipment within a fighter jet. So, how exactly does this technology work, and what is it like to experience an ejection? But in most cases, ejection-seat technology is the difference between life and death. About 20% to 30% of fighter pilots experience some sort of spinal fracture as a result. In reality, the process is complicated, violent, and leaves most pilots with severe injuries. In TV and movies, a fighter pilot ejecting from their jet comes across as a cut-and-dry procedure. Pete Smith, an Air Force veteran who spent his 28-year military career as a fighter pilot and has experienced an ejection firsthand. And I had about less than a second left to live. Pete Smith: So I waited till about 2,000 feet, which is where I pulled the handle. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. ![]()
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