AV8B uses the ACES II ejection seat system. The pilot when he activates the ejection system his feet are reeled in & the det. cord in the leaxn canopy goes off [there by shattering the canopy] the O2 system disconnects and the pilot is rocketed out of the stricken a/c. He is there by shorter by 1 1/2 inches in heighth. a Navy/Marine Corps pilot is only allowed to eject 3 times during his time in the service & upon the 3rd ejection he is medically retired. The ejection is the most powerful forces ever put upon an basically unproected body short of a space suit!
Interesting, I did not know that. Must be quite an experience to punch out even once, let alone three times.
Oh, yeah. I forgot about the O2 system in my dissertation on F4 Martin Baker seats.
It has a small O2 bottle in the seat, and the oxygen mask remains attached to the O2 system until the seat goes below 10k feet and the drouge pulls out the main and the pilot separates from the seat.
Even though the AV8B has been around awhile, it's still newer than the F4, so I'm sure the seats are even more advanced.