How fast do pilots get ejected?

Ejecting from a plane takes no more than four seconds from the time the ejection handle is pulled. The exact amount of time depends on the seat model and the crewmember's body weight. Pulling the ejection handle on a seat sets off an explosive cartridge in the catapult gun, launching the ejection seat into the air.



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Six pilots have ejected at speeds exceeding 700 knots (1,300 km/h; 810 mph). The highest altitude at which a Martin-Baker seat was deployed was 57,000 ft (17,400 m) (from a Canberra bomber in 1958).

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There's no fixed number – each individual is unique, as is the ejection that they endure. After ejection, a pilot will be given a full medical evaluation and it is down to that medical professional to advise whether it is recommended that the pilot continues to fly or not.

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That being said, is it possible for the human body to be able to withstand such acceleration? The most likely answer is a resounding no. Mach 10 speed has never been achieved by a manned aircraft, though, so it has never been tested.

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Aborted take-offs are performed for safety reasons, and pilots may choose to abort if there are engine problems, unexpected traffic, or if something doesn't feel right. Safety is the top priority. Calculating critical values is essential for a safe take-off.

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“At 600 mph there's tremendous aerodynamic pressure pushing down on you,” says John Hampton, engineering manager of the Goodrich ACES II ejection seat, the model that saved the lives of the B-1 crew. “There's literally a couple thousand pounds pushing on your body, which is why you get banged up a bit.”

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Full throttle may sometimes be needed for takeoff or a go-around, but not in normal flight. Likewise, one of the few times an automobile may need full throttle is when merging onto a high speed highway with speedier traffic.

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On October 3, 1967, William J. Pete Knight made the history defining moment when he set the record for fastest manned aircraft reaching Mach 6.70 or 4,520 miles per hour.

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More than half of pilots have fallen asleep while in charge of a plane, a survey by a pilots' union suggests. Of the 56% who admitted sleeping, 29% told Balpa that they had woken up to find the other pilot asleep as well.

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