Inch said:
*snip*
Ejecting isn't guarantee of anything ladies and gents, it gives you a chance to survive.
*snip*
You can say that again, Inch.
Pulling the 'loud handle' isn't something you take lightly. You're sitting on a rocket, folks, and it doesn't give a nice, smooth ride. The ride 'up the rail' on some models can cause injuries on its own, most commonly compacted vertebrae. (The training isn't all that pleasant either. The simulator once used by the CF frequently caused minor neck and back injuries...enough to get grounded for a month.)
Better hope that *all* the components will work properly. It would suck if the stirrups didn't pull back and hold your legs on the way out...or you're going to be shorter when you land.
Now you meet the air, which, if you're not in the ideal ejection window, will feel like hitting a brick wall. All those carefully packed survival staples? Hope that your vest is well made...since it's not uncommon to lose pockets & contents, or your helmet, or boots, as the air rips them off. Better hope you're flying like you're supposed to...with the visor *down*. If you're doing something, oh, like posing for your wingman's camera, and you're wearing shades...well..."ouch" is the word that comes to mind.
The separation sequence can cause problems; the seat, designed to fall away, sometimes doesn't, or snags on some strap. (Chuck Yeager once punched out of a modified F-104, and the seat conveniently fell at the same rate he did...with the rocket burning his face & hands.) Or the raft & seat pan jerks at your body like a pitbull after a snack. (A crewman - can't remember if he was the pilot or B/N - of an A-6 used in the Lebanon strikes survived bailing out...only to die of blood loss when the seat pan, containing survival supplies, amputated his leg on landing.)
The chute isn't a sport parachute, or even the ones you guys crazy enough to jump out of planes use. It's a smaller 'life saver' with a higher rate of descent. Broken legs are not uncommon.
More advanced models, like those on the Russian Mig-29's & Su-27 family are 'smart', modifying the ejection process based on speed, altitude, and attitude to provide the best survival rate. Those on the US F/A-22 incorporate arm guards, as well as leg stirrups, to minimize flail injury.
However, there are still many in service which are basic bang seats...not even zero/zero models (which allow ejection even at zero altitude & airspeed). If you're not within the acceptable parameters for ejection, better pray that the Force is with you...
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My prayers go out to the family & friends of those involved in this mishap.