Fighter Down

[ChuckMajik]

Yet another crash. A CF-188 went down in Quebec toaday around 8:40 in the morning.
Luckly the pilot, Colin Marks, ejected safetly and is being examined in hospital.

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

Oh my god....this is becoming ridiculous...so many plane crashes in such little time...this should be in the record books

[Ivan]

another flying career possibly busted...

[|| Andy ||]

Oh my god....this is becoming ridiculous...so many plane crashes in such little time...this should be in the record books

Nope, its normal..

[C]

another flying career possibly busted...

Unless he's very unlucky, or has ejected twice already, he should be ok (maybe he'll be half an inch shorter). Anyway, he'll get a nice tie and a pin from Messrs Martin-Baker for joining the exclusive "Caterpillar Club"...

[Hagar]

Not sure about the latest ejector seats but back injuries used to be quite common when ejecting. "Ben" Gunn & Neville Duke (both chief test pilots of major manufacturers during the 1960s) had to give up testing jets after successful ejections. Neville Duke is still flying at the age of 84 & the late "Ben" Gunn went on to test GA aircraft for Beagle Aircraft Ltd . After Beagle's demise he became airport manager at Shoreham.

[C]

Not sure about the latest ejector seats but back injuries used to be quite common when ejecting.

Most RAF cases get helicoptered to Nottingham for a spinal check up - there isn't much you can do about the instantaneous G-forces when leaving the aircraft. However, as more accidents happen we learn more about what causes the injuries, for instance in a recent case a pilot re-tightened his straps just before he pulled the handle - they had already been tightened prior to take off, so in fact all he did was bend his spine, leading to a serious injury. Seat design is improving (parachute deployment, stabilising deflectors, "intelligent" rocket control to alleviate tumbling etc)...

There's a good article on the MB seat testing and the company's Meteors in the current FlyPast...

[beefhole]

Oh my god....this is becoming ridiculous...so many plane crashes in such little time...this should be in the record books

Nope, its normal..

Yup, it is

It only seems like more because the media is covering it.

Glad the pilot is safe.

[Boss_BlueAngels]

A Blue Angel pilot a few years ago said that the seat in the Hornets is rated for like a 200 foot INVERTED ejection and will automatically level itself.

[Ivan]

A Blue Angel pilot a few years ago said that the seat in the Hornets is rated for like a 200 foot INVERTED ejection and will automatically level itself.

Hokum seats are even better, but that's a helicopter ejection seat

[TacitBlue]

A Blue Angel pilot a few years ago said that the seat in the Hornets is rated for like a 200 foot INVERTED ejection and will automatically level itself.

That almost sounds like fun.