PICS- Pilot ejects an instant before fighterjet crashes

[underpants]

Pilot Capt. Brian Bews ejects as his a CF-18 fighter jet plummets to the ground during a practice flight at the Lethbridge County Airport on Friday, July 23 for the weekend airshow in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. "He is alive and we believe right now that his injuries are non-life-threatening," Canadian Forces Capt. Nicole Meszaros told CBC News.







http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/23/4739027-pilot-ejects-an-instant-before-fighterjet-crashes?gt1=43001

[WillParkinson]

1. Wow...

Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime picture.

[proteus_lives]

2. I hope they're giving him plenty of free drinks at the bar this weekend.

He was about two fingers short of shaking hands with St. Peter.

[underpants]

3. Even now only about half would get to his lips

shaky hands

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Guess my day is not so bad after all.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. He is so DAMN lucky!

And so is the photographer! Talk about nerves of steel! The pictures are level...no mean feat when you see something this dramatic right in front of you...

I'm really really glad the pilot is OK...

Recommended for the adrenalin surge I just got!

[onethatcares]

6. will his insurance rates rise as a result of that crash?

I wonder if he has to shop for deals from a certain lizard or red lipsticked woman?

[USArmyParatrooper]

13. His insurance will go up ten fold

0 x 10 = 0

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. So that leaves Canada with just 3 planes now, right?

Seriously, though, as other posters said above - incredible work by the photographer to keep so non-shaky, and I bet that pilot is shaking like hell still.

Poor guy.

I can't imagine.

[underpants]

18. very funny

:rofl:

[sellitman]

8. Who gave him flying lessons... Mc Cain?

Sorry... I couldn't help myself.

[backscatter712]

9. That ejection had to hurt.

IIRC, fighter pilots are only allowed three ejections in their career, total, simply because the G-forces destroy their backs.

Rumor has it every time you eject, you end up an inch shorter.

[formercia]

10. No wonder McCain is so short.

:rofl:

[hootinholler]

16. DUzy! n/t

[Hangingon]

17. Lucky and probably skilled pilot

Another second and his headstone could read, "Here lies a pilot who ran out of speed. altitude and ideas".

[underpants]

19. I wouldn't think that he had much time and space for the parachute to work before hitting the ground

the torque from leaving the plane, that you mentioned, must be enormous.

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. amazing pic. glad he survived

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. amazing pic. glad he survived

[struggle4progress]

14. Gutsy of him to wait so long to bail.

[roamer65]

15. Looks like he wanted to guide it...

to an area where no people would be killed. I hope he recovers quickly and he did an excellent job of piloting.

[tammywammy]

20. Wow, that's an amazing photo

Glad he survived.

[Robb]

21. I can't stop looking at these

...Amazing. The first shot in the series has the freaking canopy in the frame. :wow:

And look at the burst of flame from the port engine on impact. Both turbines were not spinning at remotely the same rate, I'd guess from that.

[underpants]

22. You know, I had missed that detail this is a great shot