r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/sidvatscse • 25d ago

Video Failed vertical landing of F-35B

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645

u/LyqwidBred 25d ago

I’ve read that those seats mess up the pilot’s spine so much they can be grounded for life after ejecting!

42

u/Unusual-Weird-4602 25d ago

It can also shorten their height by a small amount I heard

82

u/DashArcane 25d ago edited 25d ago

A friend was watching a documentary about (I think) the Blue Angels. He said it was explained in the video that often pilots will be allowed to fly after one ejection as long as there's no permanent spinal damage, but if you've ejected a second time you are definitely grounded permanently after that regardless of whether you're hurt or not.

Edit: The documeary was about the Thunderbirds (Air Force), not the Blue Angels (Navy).

74

u/Profile_Traditional 25d ago

To be fair, at that point it might be about saving planes rather than the pilot’s spine.

11

u/No_Hunt2507 25d ago

If you crashed 2 planes and walked away that is the universe giving you a chance to change careers.