....with the ejection seat within 1.75 inches of the top limit
If the F-18 seat height is anything like in the F-4, that is one short Navy pilot.
....can cause the lower ejection handle to snag on the air-to-air weapon select switch
........also the advantage of a side stick.
To add to the list,
We had a guy inadvertently ejected from an A-7D (on climb-out at night
) when the canopy shattered and the wind blast ruffled the upper face curtain and fired the seat. As a result of this they then disconnected all the upper ejection handles on Guard A-7s. He sustained some severe neck and back injuries.
Also flew with a guy who skipped an F-105 off a small ridge-line and 'fortunately' for him was 'inadvertently' ejected from the impact. Near sunset headed west on a low level nav leg on the Salt Lake range complex and he didn't see the ridge in the glare. He ended up immobilized from injuries sustained, in a small pond on a freezing evening. Fortunate again for him, the 'Pedro' just happened to be in the area headed home and got to him quickly.