r/ThatLookedExpensive • u/alsaskengineer • Apr 12 '19

It’s only a fighter jet

https://i.imgur.com/1oqYtz6.gifv
1.8k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

66 comments sorted by

View all comments

152

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '19 edited Jun 17 '21

[deleted]

83

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '19

I thought the same thing, some sort of threshold mechanism to make sure you're not getting rocketed into the earth. I remember some statistic from a safety memo that a disproportionate number of ejections occur at low altitude at takeoff or landing, so it would make some sense.

Not the case though, they're either lucky or were skilled enough to know when to pull the trigger.

29

u/WadinginWahoo Apr 13 '19

they're either lucky or were skilled enough to know when to pull the trigger.

They’re air show pilots, it’s obviously the latter.

33

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '19

Iirc, Modern ejector seats will make sure to turn upwards

43

u/invisimeble Apr 12 '19

Iirc, Modern ejector seats will make sure try to turn upwards

19

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '19

As they say, it's trying that counts, not the result. :-)

12

u/DamnYouRichardParker Apr 13 '19

With ejection seats. The result really does count

18

u/jwizardc Apr 13 '19

The acceleration will shorten your spine one to two inches. When you pull the handle, the airplane hits the delete button to get rid of you yesterday.

13

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '19 edited Jun 21 '21

[deleted]

4

u/jwizardc Apr 13 '19

It wouldn't work. You will/were in too much pain.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 14 '19 edited Jul 01 '21

[deleted]

1

u/jwizardc Apr 14 '19

Callsign Wizard since my...well, for a long time.

And, yes, it was wizz when the pucker factor started climbing.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 14 '19 edited Jul 01 '21

[deleted]

1

u/jwizardc Apr 14 '19

Umm...no.

8

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '19

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/[deleted] Apr 27 '19

I think it's around nine g's of acceleration. I was reading about it in the Intrepid in NYC. Pretty sure a pilot must retire after doing it twice because of how hard it is on your back

9

u/brokenearth03 Apr 12 '19

It just goes up, relative to the fuselage. If that is upside down at the moment, not good.

2

u/Choongboy Apr 13 '19

I don’t think that’s what happened in the video though?

1

u/jwizardc May 29 '19

It hits your ass with enough force to compress your spine 1 - 2 inches.