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Hmmm... there is no "ejector BUTTON." It's a handle. And, you have to yank it pretty hard to activate the ejection seat." Almost like starting an old-school lawnmower (with a much shorter draw stroke). But, it's a very deliberate action, not something that is likely done "by accident," IMO. But, I guess anything is "possible." I just have my doubts.

I got "back seat qualified" in the Navy with 2-days at the Aviation Physiology department at Naval Air Station Miramar. I am NOT a pilot. But, I volunteered on my own time (leave) to take the course, so that IF I ever got the opportunity to ride in the back seat, I'd have the "quals." I had a friend who was friends with the director of the program. So, I got "hooked up" with the course. It wasn't easy, but I did pass. The hardest part was the water survival stuff.

Part of that training was ejection seat use, including a simulator.

I did finally get a ride, including a cat shot and arrested landing on a carrier. I did NOT end up ejecting. But, it was the coolest thing I've ever done and ever will do in my life. I found out the S-3 Viking is fully-aerobatic!

I call bullshit on the whole story.

That base is a front line air base. Any civilian taking a military ride is going to be dressed by personnel making sure their g suit and helmet is properly secured.
They are not going to let some shrub do it themselves.

Chigger wrote: ↑Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:41 am I call bullshit on the whole story.

That base is a front line air base. Any civilian taking a military ride is going to be dressed by personnel making sure their g suit and helmet is properly secured.
They are not going to let some shrub do it themselves.

Good points, as well. Yep... I also think the story is BS.

As I mentioned, too... ejecting is a very deliberate process. It's not a "button" that accidentally gets pushed.

Legio wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 1:59 pm

Thanks for posting that, Legio. I watched the whole thing. Very interesting. Sounds like a series of f-ups.

So, he wasn't strapped into the seat properly and actually went flying to the top of the canopy on the negative G pushover. He became "cockpit FOD." So, when he grabbed the ejection handle, his whole body weight was behind it, activating it. That makes sense to me.

But, holy crap... they didn't strap him in! When I was strapped in, I was "one with the seat." The only things I could move were my appendages.

And, just 1 - 2 hours of "training?" Shit... I got TWO FULL DAYS of "aviation physiology," ejection seat, and water survival training. I had to go through the same course as the pilots. I was the only non-pilot in the course.

I could get a back-seat ride ONLY if I passed that course.

Anyway... a very interesting video.

I was an aircraft captain in the French Navy at the beginning of my career, and I was the one making sure that the pilot was strapped correctly with the G hose connected and everything else. I cannot understand why nobody apparently checked him in the plane. I don't know how they so things in the Air Force, but to me the aircraft captain has quite a bit of responsability there.

Thanks, Legio shit happens to wish people would understand that. LOL

Great video. For those who don't want to go through the report or watch the whole video here's a CliffsNotes version:
[The article is in French so you will have to select the Google Translate option that will pop up when your browser loads it]
http://www.opex360.com/2020/04/07/apres ... on-pilote/

The ejection seat on the Rafale is the Martin Baker MK16 : http://martin-baker.com/products/mk16-e ... or-rafale/
You can clearly see the ejection handle on the manufacturer's pictures and how someone could grab it in a panic.
Don't quote me on this but I think it takes around 40lbs to pull that handle, and even less under negative G force.

Negative Gs are there to remind you that no matter how tight you thought your harness straps were... they still weren't tight enough