In the F-15E Strike Eagle, the
Weapons System Officer (WSO) in the rear seat always ejects first, followed by the pilot in the front seat, separated by a brief delay (approximately 0.4 to 0.5 seconds) to prevent a mid-air collision.
Separation and Landing Distance
The distance between the two crew members upon landing can vary significantly based on the conditions at the moment of ejection:
- Trajectory Divergence: The ACES II ejection seats use trajectory divergence rockets (TDR) that fire to push the seats in opposite lateral directions (one left, one right) to ensure they do not collide.
- Horizontal Distance: During a "zero-zero" ejection (zero speed, zero altitude on the runway), the seats are typically propelled about 50 meters (164 feet) up and forward, and slightly away from each other.
- Landing Spread: While the initial separation is controlled by automated sequencers, the final distance on the ground is highly dependent on airspeed, altitude, and wind.
- Low Altitude/Speed: Crew members may land within hundreds of feet of each other.
- High Altitude/Speed: Differences in parachute opening times and wind drift can lead to a separation of miles by the time they reach the ground.
