Captain Christopher Stricklin ejected from an F-16 on September 14, 2003. Note the rocket blast from the ejection seat firing, and the canopy, which was blown well clear of the aircraft beforehand.

But in most cases, ejection-seat technology ... underneath the seat goes off to catapult the pilot out of the cockpit. This initiates the seat's rocket boosters, which propel the pilot 100 to ...