1.
Taxi-ing aircraft, seat ejection and seat breakaway.
11.5 ft

2.
Parachute opening.
6 ft

3.
Chute opens, dummy lowered to ground.
9 ft



Initials JRG/AW/CW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Film in slow motion shows the newly-approved ejector seat shot from an aircraft in flight during tests by the North American Aviation concern at Port Columbus, Ohio.

Catapulted from the rear seat of a Navy trainer, a dummy is hurtled into the air by a rocket as the plane reaches take-off speed. The seat automatically separates, and the parachute blossoms high above the runway. Fully opened, the parachute slowly lowers the dummy to the ground undamaged.

The development of the system provides added safety for pilots, allowing them to escape at or near ground level, as well as at normal flight altitudes..