Popular Science:

When things go terribly wrong in a military aircraft, the pilot’s last resort is the equipment they’re sitting on: the seat. And it cannot fail, ever.

The 200-lb ejector seat, with its 3,500 or so parts, is a remarkable piece of technology that not only gets pilots out of a crashing plane but also ensures they survive the experience more or less unscathed.

All told, ejector seats have saved an estimated 12 to 13,000 lives since the mid-1940s.

There are lots of things I would have loved to experience in a fighter jet but ejecting out of the seat is not one of them.

Update from Tim via Twitter:

Ejectees also qualify for a special watch – exclusive to those who survive. The MB1 can fetch over $100k at auction.