The Aftermath Of Ejecting At Supersonic Speed

It’s a pilot’s last resort, and they certainly would rather do anything else besides abandon their aircraft, but unfortunately pilots do sometimes have to eject from damaged or out-of-control planes.

If they have to eject at supersonic speeds, the results can be as devastating as a crash landing, with the intense G-forces from the ejection itself combined with the insane wind speeds their bodies are suddenly subjected to battering and contorting the pilots body. The pilots are well trained to position their body carefully to offer them the best chance of survival, but with the intense forces at play, any ejection is a gamble.

This video gives a great inside look at the ejection testing, and features a couple of stories of high-speed ejections. Check it out, it’s well worth the twelve minutes to watch it!

https://youtu.be/xsp0kGrwXW4