re: USAF Instructor Pilot Passed Away This Morning Due to Ejection Seat Malfunction

quote:

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A zero-zero ejection seat is a type of ejection seat designed to safely eject a pilot or crew member from an aircraft at zero altitude and zero airspeed. Traditional ejection seats require a minimum altitude and airspeed for safe ejection, as the parachute needs time to deploy and slow the individual's descent before they reach the ground. Zero-zero ejection seats are equipped with rocket motors that provide an immediate and powerful thrust to propel the seat and occupant away from the aircraft even when it is stationary on the ground. They also feature a canopy-breaking mechanism to ensure a successful ejection even if the aircraft is on the ground or at very low altitudes. These seats are particularly important for aircraft that operate at low altitudes or hover close to the ground, such as helicopters and some fighter jets. Zero-zero ejection seats increase the chances of survival for pilots in emergency situations where a rapid ejection is necessary to escape a crashing aircraft.

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Interesting. So, had he been strapped in, he would have had his fall cushioned in some way by the seat, which are designed for this exact sort of instance?