I’ve got over 2000 hours in F-4s and F-111s. I understand about high speed ejections. However, if you can control the jet’s vector and have that 700 kts of energy, keep flying, at least until you slow down. If you cannot control the jet’s vector, then eject with whatever you have when the ground is getting too close.
“you suddenly lose all engine power, are you going to eject then or are you going to pull that plane straight up until you are as high as possible before pulling the ejection lever?”
I would keep flying, trading airspeed for altitude and try to correct the problem. If that is not an option, and the ground was getting close, I’d eject. But I would NOT pull the nose vertical and eject...
Then, in the absence of the plane going into a flat spin, how do you explain a flat belly down crash landing with no evidence of forward motion.
What if you were in a vertical trajectory when the engines suddenly quit?
Awesome, thanks for serving. Pilot or WSO?
**But I would NOT pull the nose vertical and eject...**
Yeah, you’re right, there’s the possibility of it coming down through your chute, OR maybe this happening: (at 2:09. ouch!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm_pLW4ymEk&feature=related