human life. For far too many it is a sporting event.

... or macho meathead video game.

I think I heard that as a matter of policy, once you’ve ejected twice you are grounded. That’s across the board regardless of if your legs got broken or not on either one.

I could very well be wrong on that.

Pretty sure everyone who ever ejects from an aircraft in this manner is guaranteed lifelong back pain as a best case scenario.

always gets you a certain % disabled at the VA. I have relative who made I don’t know how many jumps and he has disability on top of his retirement. It’s apparently very common and well known to do.

after that, no more flying in high performance jets. Not sure if that is changed, but it probably isn't. If anything, the process is more violent that it was back then due to higher aircraft speed.

That restriction was with the Martin Baker ejection seats in the F-4. The ACES2 seats in F-15, F-16 and A-10s doesn't have that limit. Don't know about the newer aircraft like the F-22 and F-35.

not for ejecting.

McCain lost 4 (?) btw...

I appreciate the discussion of the mechanics of this. It’s so incredibly complex and quite a feat of engineering. I hope he’s found alive.

What a shit show.

... thanks for posting AverageOldGuy.

And the pilots ejected to safety, so your post is not accurate.

You seem so invested in arguing that you have not taken the time to understand the material presented

It wasn't clear at first, but then I realized this was a list of possible outcomes for when a plane is hit.

As in: Either they die immediately, or they punch out, or they... etc. Ejecting is like a crash, really. Sometimes you walk away, sometimes you get carried away, sometimes you don't survive. Ejecting is in that "best of possible bad outcomes."

My intention was merely to add some factual balance to the discussion.

The OP was fairly hyperbolic, and I sought to add some reality-based perspective, based on recent, actual events.

He didn't say that outcome was the only possible outcome.

I'm not sure why you are arguing against him. My family and friends are riddled with pilots. Nothing he said is inaccurate.

I know someone personally who elected out of a fighter jet in a training exercise that went pear shaped. Dislocated shoulder and several broken leg bones. It is only common sense that the human body is going to be subjected to some degree of trauma at those speeds.

To expect otherwise is incredibly naive.

There are a large number of variables. They all have to break good for the pilots to walk away. Probably the biggest single variable is aircraft speed at ejection. If the plane is flying at full throttle when hit and instantly starts to break up, you eject at full speed. Major trauma can be expected. If the plane stays together and the pilot retains some control, there is a good chance of slowing the plane down so that the ejection is far less brutal.

There are a number of good videos of the event. Initially there is a large explosion. In just a matter of seconds you can see both pilots ejecting. That means a high speed ejection. Also the ejections are more or less simultaneous. That could be problematic for one or both pilots. The point is that those two variables did not break in favor of the pilots. There are still plenty of other ways for the situation to go bad.

I do hope both pilots were very lucky today.

BTW If a helicopter went down, there are an equally large number a variables governing the survival of that aircrew. If the craft was only damaged and the pilot could retain some control, they have a chance. Without control it's going down like an anvil; all KIA. I hope luck was with these crewman as well.

So tell me again, WTF are we attacking Iran again? Maybe someone can explain it to the aircrews in harms way today. I can't.

The Kuwaitis are running up to her asking if she is alright, and the pilot calmly tells them she is fine.

Often spoken about here who stands up and is not ok.

it does not follow that everyone in Iran sees that the same way.

Also, some of them are going to have heard Kegsbreath "no quarter" bluster.

perhaps school children. This isn't a video game for THEM, either.

Pull this lever, push this button….that’s the known. The unknown is truly terrifying. I so hope the missing pilot is found by friendly forces.

Thank you for posting this.

He was the "guy in the back" he didn't care for the f16, thought it had stability problems.

Which the trauma surgeon made wherein he shows a scene from an action film and the doctor says what would really happen to the individual involved. My favorite was from the Die Hard sequel where Bruce Willis and his son fall like ten stories through wooden scaffolding which is ostensibly breaking their fall. The diagnosis is multiple fractures including the pelvis and instant death. For both.

In the film they just stand up and stroll away. Uh-huh.

he wasnt injured & it wasnt in battle, but everything worked as it should.

I saw Iranian released video of a helicopter smoking after being hit. A rescue Blackhawk normally has from 3 to up to ten aboard. Some sources are saying the helicopter crew was rescued. I don’t know. I would discount that until there is something more solid on that.

"Just following orders" is NO excuse.

Get a grip.

They're performing combat duties without a declaration of war. If Canadian pilots destroyed San Francisco bridge, that would be a war crime. Double-tapping the rescue workers like we did to Iran would also be a war crime.

and many war crimes took place during all of them.

resting on quite a few presumtions.

But soldiers and pilots were recently warned about following illegal orders. Blowing up schools and bridges while double-tapping rescue workers are war crimes.

Thank you for this, AOG. I love you. ❤️

All of his own doing. He looks like a fool (no surprise) after today's (multiple?) events especially after boasting about how much he was winning and how dare we question him.

He’s the creator of messes.

The Master of Messes.

The Viceroy of Vice.

The Baron of Bullshit.

The King of Calamities.

The Chief of all Cheaters.

The Lord of the Lice. (Or hey! How bout Lord of the Lickspittles! I like that one, too!)

OldGuy

Somebody needs to convey that Information to the Secretary of Defense and the Felon.

comes with about 25 Gs. Hard to imagine the force of that on a human body. Survivable, of course, but not pretty.

PS -- Jim Walsh, who is the Chairman of the Washington state Rethuglican party, and who is also a legislator, is working closely with the T💩p administration to deny federal funds to the state. WTAF?

Last edited Sat Apr 4, 2026, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

(Especially the confidently ignorant and argumentative poster claiming it’s a safe procedure) to watch this video. Here’s a quick summary of what ejecting does:

Removed the link due to suspected AI.

Ejecting from a fighter jet subjects the pilot to intense, brief acceleration forces, typically ranging from 12g to 20g (12 to 20 times the force of gravity) within less than a second. This vertical acceleration, designed to propel the seat clear of the aircraft, poses significant risk of injury, including spinal compression, limb injury, and potential loss of consciousness, according to The Trauma of Ejecting from a Plane: The Physics of Ejecting from a Fighter Jet.

And that moment proved it. The channel does not state AI or Artificial blah, blah so I can't support it. I can't trust the information without researching it on my own so I'll either look for an article or just blow it off all together.

I had to re-watch it to see that. I suspected AI because of his exagerated manerisms.

I think the information is probably accurate, but using AI slop just turns me off.

and when I didn't see one, I went back and then it happened.

And I usually prefer articles to videos myself.

I’ll remove the link. Not a fan of AI being used without a disclaimer.

Mostly accurate, appreciate your description!
A few horribly wrong details I can’t let pass without correction, forgive me.

“The canopy is in two pieces because they two crewmembers eject separately”
No. All F-15 canopies are one piece.

“The seat is designed for the occupant to land in it safely”
Incorrect, seat/man separation occurs relative early in the ejection sequence.

“ reach up, pull down an ejection curtain that’s built into the back seat and should protect you from the worst of the blast of air when you pop out”

The ACES 2 ejection seat doesn’t have a curtain, nor any ejection controls you reach up for.

Other than that, great post!

of being ejected from the trainer and riding the chute to the ground. Get hit multiple times with a 9mm and or a 45 while wearing a bulletproof vest. Go through rapid decompression in a alitude trainer.

Not just some loudmouth who talks the talk but can walk the walk.

and concerned about the welfare of the troops.

Not important character traits for republicans.

When you hit the ground. Survival training for pilots is no cakewalk.

Incredible post, we need a "100 Recs" button.

NSAOG'a is the kind of reality post that makes DU immensely informative.

and I really believe they have no idea what it's like. Next they'll think ground work is just like Rambo and the other imaginary movies.
Believe me, lt ain't close.
As AOG said, you don't simply put another quarter in the machine and have a do over.

The ejectee separates from it.

I was an AWACS crewmember. We all went to survival school. It's the tie that binds us. I do not feel like our military is in good hands right now. I want the truth from our government and I want these pilots to get found.

I wouldn't be so optimistic about civilians, though. Historically, they've been less than pleased to encounter downed enemy pilots - especially if they've been dropping bombs.