The US military wants just one type of plane, the Joint Strike Fighter, for the navy, marine corps and air force. But there’s a problem: navy and marine pilots think the fastest way to eject is to smash through the cockpit canopy with the rocket-assisted seat, while the air force thinks it is quicker to jettison the canopy first. Neither wants to switch to a plane that does it differently.
Boeing suggests running an explosive cord around the edge of the canopy (world patent application 2005/012088). Before ejecting, navy or marine versions of the plane…
