Ever Eject from a Plane?
I spent some time in Israel as a contractor and let me tell you, the IAF are as bunch of hardcases as you can get. Just read a great story on a quasi-IAF offical website about what its like to eject from someone that had to do it. :
” A few seconds left for takeoff. The pilot takes a deep breath to “feel” the plane. He is focused on the mission which he studied so well, and now he is ready to go to fulfil his duty. The aircraft gains speed, and the laws of physics pin him to his chair, as the plane becomes airborne. The pilot is thinking that if all goes well, the wheels are soon going to touch ground again.
All of a sudden, a blast is heard from one of the engines, and a worrisome smell fills up the cockpit. There is no room for mistakes now, and there is only a brief moment for the pilot to run the procedure through his mind. “Fire on board”, sounds the leader’s voice in the radio, and at this point there no choice left: he tilts the head back, and pulls the handle. Within seconds the pilot is in the air, parachuting down. At the corner of his eye, he can see his plane crashing down to the ground.
It’s the last moment before ejection. The fingers already grabbed the handle, and it is obvious that there is nothing else left to do, but the abandon the plane. With no room for additional contemplations, the decision has been made.
The rest of the piece is here: