Ejector seats in aircrafts

Ejector seats are employed in military air crafts to get the pilot to safety when the aircraft goes out of control due to a snag or an enemy attack or any other reasons. As the speed of the aircrafts increased, the chances of the pilot hitting the tail wing ,when he bailed out, increased. Also the high velocity winds and the  very strong forces made it even more difficult for the pilot to get rid of the canopy and jump out.

The technology involved in ejecting the seat has evolved continuously over the years. In the pre world war times, the seats were ejected by using the compressed air cylinders. The pilot used to get rid of the canopy and would eject himself from the aircraft by using compressed air jet .
 However , the modern day ejector seats work similarly as the rockets. Once the pilot pulls the ejection lever which is usually between his legs or above his head, everything else happens automatically. The canopy is pushed or shattered automatically by using certain explosives. In case of aircrafts without canopy, there will be hatches provided on the top of the cockpit which opens as the ejection lever is engaged. The ejection seat which is set up on a set of rails is pushed by the catapult action out of the aircraft at an optimal angle . A rocket below the seat fires up to provide additional lift for the seat and helps the pilot from crashing with the tail. Gyroscopes attached help in keeping the seat steady.This entire process happens in about two to three seconds. Then a smaller parachute called the 'drogue parachute' opens up which controls the stability and trajectory of the seat. The altitude sensors pick up the height above ground and then the main parachute is deployed at an optimum altitude and once this happens the seat is separated from the  pilot by means of a motor and the pilot lands with the help of the parachute.