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My kids ask questions like this all the time. Them: What if a shark jumped into a volcano? Me: That wouldn't happen because sharks live in the ocean and can't

My kids ask questions like this all the time. Them: What if a shark jumped into a volcano? Me: That wouldn't happen because sharks live in the ocean and can't jump high enough or far enough to reach land. Them: OK, but what if? Me: ... It would get burned and die... So yes, if a pilot ejects and the plane had auto-pilot on and the auto-pilot was programmed to try to land after a pilot ejection and the plane was still safe to fly, the plane would in fact attempt to land.

berns 8y ago
But the question is what is it actually programmed to do. The answer seems to be that is scenario is not contemplated. But it isn't a childish what if type of question.
- theoh 8y ago
  The ejection seat is a rocket device. If it's connected to the avionics in any way, that is another potential point of failure. Maybe, if the cockpit canopy is jettisoned rather than fragmented at the moment the seat is fired, the switch/action of jettisoning the canopy is connected with avionics. Seems more likely but still improbable. But we need an expert...
dotancohen 8y ago
A few decades ago an F86 pilot ejected from a flat spin. The resulting changing in CG leveled off the aircraft and when his wingman saw the plane flying level and straight again, he radioed "You better get back in that plane". It landed in flyable condition in a corn field, engine running.
- deleted 8y ago
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- theoh 8y ago
  This is a similar story. (Maybe it is actually the incident to which you are referring?) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornfield_Bomber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornfield_Bomber
  - dotancohen 8y ago
    Thanks, that's the one! It was an F-106, not F-86.
- raldi 8y ago
  CG stands for center of gravity
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    [deleted]
lisper 8y ago
And it would almost certainly fail.
HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago
Methinks your kids are predicting Sharknado 7: Kilauea's Revenge!
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  [deleted]
8_hours_ago 8y ago
It's hard to jump underwater, but a shark could swim into one! (and then get burned and die) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_volcano https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_volcano
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  [deleted]

berns 8y ago

But the question is what is it actually programmed to do. The answer seems to be that is scenario is not contemplated. But it isn't a childish what if type of question.

theoh 8y ago
The ejection seat is a rocket device. If it's connected to the avionics in any way, that is another potential point of failure. Maybe, if the cockpit canopy is jettisoned rather than fragmented at the moment the seat is fired, the switch/action of jettisoning the canopy is connected with avionics. Seems more likely but still improbable. But we need an expert...

dotancohen 8y ago

A few decades ago an F86 pilot ejected from a flat spin. The resulting changing in CG leveled off the aircraft and when his wingman saw the plane flying level and straight again, he radioed "You better get back in that plane". It landed in flyable condition in a corn field, engine running.

deleted 8y ago
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theoh 8y ago
This is a similar story. (Maybe it is actually the incident to which you are referring?) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornfield_Bomber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornfield_Bomber
- dotancohen 8y ago
  Thanks, that's the one! It was an F-106, not F-86.
raldi 8y ago
CG stands for center of gravity
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]

lisper 8y ago

And it would almost certainly fail.

HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago

Methinks your kids are predicting Sharknado 7: Kilauea's Revenge!

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

8_hours_ago 8y ago

It's hard to jump underwater, but a shark could swim into one! (and then get burned and die) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_volcano https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_volcano

deleted 8y ago
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