Civilian On A Demonstration Ride Got More Than He Bargained For

It's part of the pilot's briefing. "Do NOT pull the yellow and black handle unless you hear me say 'Eject, Eject, Eject!'" But a civilian flying on a demonstration ride with a member of South Africa's Silver Falcons display team apparently accidently pulled the handle while steadying himself following an aerobatic maneuver.

File Photo

The incident reportedly happened shortly after takeoff in a Pilatus PC-7 used for precision aerobatic demonstrations by the Silver Falcons.

London's Daily Telegraph reports that the rocket-powered ejection seat blew the unnamed civilian through the perspex canopy of the two-place military aircraft and shot him nearly 300 feet into the air after he pulled the ejection handle. The parachute in the seat deployed correctly, and he landed safely near Langebaanweg airfield, 80 miles north of Cape Town.

South African officials sent a helicopter to pick him up, so he had the opportunity to fly on two military aircraft for the price of one.

Or would you say three?

FMI: www.silverfalcons.co.za