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Science

Ejection seat: how does it work?

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With the advent of jets, it is no longer possible to leave the vehicle with a simple release of the seat belt and jump with a parachute into the void. Thus the ejection seat is one of the most fascinating systems of military aircraft. A complex object that saves the life of the passengers of the aircraft, in case they have to leave it in a timely manner

 

The seat is mounted on the rails and consists of a set of rockets, dynamic belts, and a parachute. It is operated by a handle above the pilot’s head or between the legs. A real sequence, precise and marked down to the hundredth of a second. The first thing that must be eliminated is the upper fairing which represents an obstacle to ejection. Explosive microcharges clear the field by blowing off the fairing. In the meantime that the seat belts immobilize the pilot’s legs and arms, the ignition of the rockets begins. The pilot is pushed out through the seat rails. 

Also present is a gyroscope, which serves to make the seat rise again, in the event of a launch in an upside down position. Then an altimeter that decides at what altitude to open the parachute. When the parachute opens, a final device allows the seat to be detached. All of this lasts between two and a half seconds to a maximum of four. The most traumatic moment is the expulsion. For fractions of a second, the occupants are subjected to accelerations of between 14 and 20 g. The cost of an ejection seat can be up to half a million dollars. A lifesaver for many pilots 

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