Successful B-1B Ejection at Ellsworth AFB SD

Botch

My first Civil Service job was overseeing the testing of Air Force CAD/PAD (the explosive components in aircraft ejection systems, from 2000-2009.  These tests are both for Lot Acceptance testing, and life extension testing.  We had a team of four engineers, and the B-1B was one of my systems.  Because it has a crew of four, it has the most complex egress system, with 803 separate explosive components, lines, and motors.  Every time a crash occurred the engineer, Equipment Specialist, Program Manager and purchasers would hold their collective breaths until the accident investigation final report (which we also performed) was published.
 
Last week a B-1 went down in South Dakota, and even though I'm long removed from that period of my career there was still a little voice that went "Whew!" when I read they all got out okay (one with non-life-threatening injuries).  This article has a bit of history about the ACES-II ejection seat, and the B-1 and how its egress system works, was neat to read thru it.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/crew-safely-ejects-from-bomber-south-dakota/?utm_campaign=dfn-ebb&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sailthru&SToverlay=2002c2d9-c344-4bbb-8610-e5794efcfa7d