Research pilots do not only fly aircraft and spacecraft. In this 1992 photo, NASA's Steve Ishmael is seated on an ejection seat as it is lifted by a crane out of the back cockpit of a NASA TF-104G.
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Research pilots do not only fly aircraft and spacecraft. In this 1992 photo, NASA’s Steve Ishmael is seated on an ejection seat as it is lifted by a crane out of the back cockpit of a NASA TF-104G. Engineers wanted to make sure that Ishmael’s arms and legs would not strike any obstruction should he have to eject from the airplane. Although this never occurred with the TF-104G, Ishmael was forced to bail out of a NASA F-18 on October 7, 1988.1992NASA Photo › F-104 Project Description