What do you think?
Rate this book
Eject! Eject!
'Eject! Eject!'
When the call is made to abandon an aircraft, it's only the beginning of the story...
From the Sunday Times bestselling writer John Nichol, author of Spitfire, Lancaster and Tornado, comes a brilliant new book that reveals the astonishing story of an invention that has saved many thousands of lives around the world, including his own: the ejection seat.
Nichol tells the remarkable tale of how the ejection seat was first conceived during the Second World War as countless lives were lost in accidents and in battle. In the wake of the war, that technological race to save aircrew lives using explosive seats continued at an incredible pace. Nichol tells the story of the brave men who risked their lives testing those early devices, and interviewed the first British pilot to eject back in 1949, when ejection, from pulling the handle to being under the parachute, took thirty seconds. Today, that figure is down to around one second.
Packed with interviews with aircrew who know exactly how it feels to ‘Bang Out’ from an aircraft at high speed, both in peace and in war, the book gives the reader a vivid sense of what that life-saving experience feels like, but also features the moving accounts of what happens next, from the viewpoint of both the crews and their families, who often have little or no information about whether or not their loved ones have survived.
Because ejecting is just the start of a journey…..
Packed with dramatic action, incredible science and moving recollections, Eject! Eject! is an essential read.
When the call is made to abandon an aircraft, it's only the beginning of the story...
From the Sunday Times bestselling writer John Nichol, author of Spitfire, Lancaster and Tornado, comes a brilliant new book that reveals the astonishing story of an invention that has saved many thousands of lives around the world, including his own: the ejection seat.
Nichol tells the remarkable tale of how the ejection seat was first conceived during the Second World War as countless lives were lost in accidents and in battle. In the wake of the war, that technological race to save aircrew lives using explosive seats continued at an incredible pace. Nichol tells the story of the brave men who risked their lives testing those early devices, and interviewed the first British pilot to eject back in 1949, when ejection, from pulling the handle to being under the parachute, took thirty seconds. Today, that figure is down to around one second.
Packed with interviews with aircrew who know exactly how it feels to ‘Bang Out’ from an aircraft at high speed, both in peace and in war, the book gives the reader a vivid sense of what that life-saving experience feels like, but also features the moving accounts of what happens next, from the viewpoint of both the crews and their families, who often have little or no information about whether or not their loved ones have survived.
Because ejecting is just the start of a journey…..
Packed with dramatic action, incredible science and moving recollections, Eject! Eject! is an essential read.
Audiobook
Published May 25, 2023
57 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
John Nichol
31 books59 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 27, 2024
You probably wouldn't think that a book about the development and use of the ejector seat would be interesting?
Well John Nichol proves that it can be in this excellent read.
He uses tales from the survivors of ejections in various different wars to add a personal side to what could have been quite a technical and dry story. And it's a subject close to the author's heart as he had to escape from his Tornado over Iraq during the first Gulf War.
I've read two or three of John's books before and I think this is about the best of them.
A very good read for military history and aviation enthusiasts.
Well John Nichol proves that it can be in this excellent read.
He uses tales from the survivors of ejections in various different wars to add a personal side to what could have been quite a technical and dry story. And it's a subject close to the author's heart as he had to escape from his Tornado over Iraq during the first Gulf War.
I've read two or three of John's books before and I think this is about the best of them.
A very good read for military history and aviation enthusiasts.
February 17, 2025
A delightful, sometimes painful, yet ultimately comforting book about a pre-WWII invention that is still saving the lives of pilots today. Nicolas, a retired RAF pilot and skilled storyteller, takes the stories of test pilots, training exercises and downings over war zones, and weaves them into a tapestry of foreboding, excitement, heroics, sadness, relief and redemption.
The heroics and sadness are found primarily in the experiences of USAF and British pilots downed over Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. We also get a ringside seat at the air versus ship battle in the Falklands War, and some great stories of daring rescues in Iraq and Serbia. Interspersed with these are a series of accidents during training flights and exercises, including one UFO mystery that is treated thoroughly and ultimately resolved. The author tells these stories with an immediacy that keeps you right in the second-by-second of each event—a level of detail possible only because the author personally interviewed each of the men and women depicted in these pages.
The story about the downing of a US pilot over Serbia in 1999 helped me connect with the undercurrent of anger in America against America’s interaction with the world since the end of the Cold War. Even though I knew full well what that was about, it made me look at the entire episode in a whole new light, and it was not so pretty.
The heroics and sadness are found primarily in the experiences of USAF and British pilots downed over Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. We also get a ringside seat at the air versus ship battle in the Falklands War, and some great stories of daring rescues in Iraq and Serbia. Interspersed with these are a series of accidents during training flights and exercises, including one UFO mystery that is treated thoroughly and ultimately resolved. The author tells these stories with an immediacy that keeps you right in the second-by-second of each event—a level of detail possible only because the author personally interviewed each of the men and women depicted in these pages.
The story about the downing of a US pilot over Serbia in 1999 helped me connect with the undercurrent of anger in America against America’s interaction with the world since the end of the Cold War. Even though I knew full well what that was about, it made me look at the entire episode in a whole new light, and it was not so pretty.
January 5, 2026
Having thoroughly enjoyed John Nichol's previous books (Spitfire and Lancaster), Eject! Eject! is his third I've read, and it certainly lives up to my high expectations.
Based on extensive interviews and research, the book compiles the deeply shocking stories of RAF aircrew forced to eject during major wars: the Korean War, Vietnam, Falklands, and the Gulf War. Nichol seamlessly weaves the stories into a cohesive, chronological narrative that strikes an emotional chord and has great shock value.
A testament to his extensive research, Nichol was even able to interview Jo Lancaster - the first pilot to eject in an emergency from a British aircraft in 1949. All of the airmen's stories emphasise a common theme: their profound gratitude for the second chance at life granted by the remarkable ejection seat.
Nichol also explores the history of the development of this life-saving technology, focusing on the British aerospace company Martin-Baker, the world leader. With over 7,800 aircrew saved to date, their pride is evident; Nichol even saw his own name on a wall engraved with every ejectee during a tour of their facility.
As an ejectee himself—shot down in his Tornado during the 1991 Gulf War, captured, and tortured—Nichol is more than qualified to author this book. He reserves his own traumatic experience for another book, 'Tornado Down', which I very much look forward to reading very soon.
I can't praise this book enough. It is a must read for anyone interested in military/aviation history, and the human cost and technological marvels of aerial warfare.
Based on extensive interviews and research, the book compiles the deeply shocking stories of RAF aircrew forced to eject during major wars: the Korean War, Vietnam, Falklands, and the Gulf War. Nichol seamlessly weaves the stories into a cohesive, chronological narrative that strikes an emotional chord and has great shock value.
A testament to his extensive research, Nichol was even able to interview Jo Lancaster - the first pilot to eject in an emergency from a British aircraft in 1949. All of the airmen's stories emphasise a common theme: their profound gratitude for the second chance at life granted by the remarkable ejection seat.
Nichol also explores the history of the development of this life-saving technology, focusing on the British aerospace company Martin-Baker, the world leader. With over 7,800 aircrew saved to date, their pride is evident; Nichol even saw his own name on a wall engraved with every ejectee during a tour of their facility.
As an ejectee himself—shot down in his Tornado during the 1991 Gulf War, captured, and tortured—Nichol is more than qualified to author this book. He reserves his own traumatic experience for another book, 'Tornado Down', which I very much look forward to reading very soon.
I can't praise this book enough. It is a must read for anyone interested in military/aviation history, and the human cost and technological marvels of aerial warfare.
August 19, 2024
Excellent
October 17, 2025
John Nichol himself owes his life to the Martin Baker ejection seat. He wrote the book Tornado Down about this with his pilot John Peters. But you won't find that story inside the pages of Eject! Eject! But what you do get is an amazing collection of great stories about the development of the Martin Baker ejection seat. This in itself is already worth reading this title since the dedication of the people working there is of the highest standards. Some of the development stories are plain funny while others are hair raising or almost hard to believe. On top of this you get a great number of stories about people who were forced to use the ejection seat to escape from a doomed aircraft.
These stories are written in such a way that it really hard to put the book down. On the cover the book states that escaping from the aircraft is only the beginning. And that is absolutely true. Imagine yourself needing to eject from an aircraft over enemy territory or hostile terrain or over water. Yes, you are still alive, and if all went according to plan, (mostly) okay, but then the next challenge presents itself. This is where this book really shines. These stories are funny, frightning, filled with tension and at times horrific, but they really make you want to read on. In a number of the stories you get to see things from different points of view which really adds to you understanding what happened and how this affected the persoon(s) involved.
This book exceeded my expectations and in my opinion is one of the best I read sofar on the topic. It is well written, witty at times, and makes the subject come alive due to the way the workings of the seats are explained, but also the whole story itself comes alive.
Highly recommended!
These stories are written in such a way that it really hard to put the book down. On the cover the book states that escaping from the aircraft is only the beginning. And that is absolutely true. Imagine yourself needing to eject from an aircraft over enemy territory or hostile terrain or over water. Yes, you are still alive, and if all went according to plan, (mostly) okay, but then the next challenge presents itself. This is where this book really shines. These stories are funny, frightning, filled with tension and at times horrific, but they really make you want to read on. In a number of the stories you get to see things from different points of view which really adds to you understanding what happened and how this affected the persoon(s) involved.
This book exceeded my expectations and in my opinion is one of the best I read sofar on the topic. It is well written, witty at times, and makes the subject come alive due to the way the workings of the seats are explained, but also the whole story itself comes alive.
Highly recommended!
November 3, 2023
My wife saw this in Sainsbury's and picked it up for me. I ht to randomly read a few pages & was hooked, so the title immediately climbed into the 'next-book-to-be-read' category.
I like Nichol's writing. It's not too challenging & his way of returning to people's stories throughout the book ensures that it doesn't just become one account, followed by another...
Eject! Eject! I reckon is a better read that the previous book of his, Tornado which dwelt too much on the survival stories of those shot down over Iraq (including Nichol) rather than the history of the Tornado. And the ADV Tornado received hardly any coverage at all.
Eject! Eject! has some lengthy sections on what happened to 'ejectees' who landed in enemy territory and were captured, but the book's focus is more on the technology and history of what is a fascinating subject.
I saw my first ejection seat in one of the wooden huts of my Air Cadet squadron when I was 13, and I rapidly found them of huge interest. There's a huge amount of engineering expertise, precision construction and plain 'ol logic inside every ejection seat, and with countless thousands of aircrew saved by them. From the earliest trials (the Luftwaffe took an early lead) to the latest computer-driven-eject-decision model found in the F-35 Lightning II, Nichol covers it all. Or rather he covers it mostly from the British & American perspective, with a lengthy section detailing Argentinian experience. There's still a huge story to-be-told about French, Israeli, Chinese, Indian & Russian development & experiences with ejection seats, together with numerous other nations' air-arms. Such an undertaking though would result in either a huge book or several volumes. Plus, not every nation wants to discuss the subject, or have pilots do so.
Without that input, Nichol concentrates on the premier manufacturer of ejection seats in the West, namely Martin-Barker Ltd. Probably the most significant capabilities introduced by Martin Baker were the zero-zero ejection seat (so aircrew could escape an aircraft at zero-speed, zero-altitude, such as in the case of an engine fire whilst taxiing) and 'Command-Eject' where aircrew could choose a setting to ensure that every ejected if one chose to do so. Nichol takes adroitly takes us through how such engineering initiatives were identified and addressed.
Strangely-enough I'd watched Bailout at 43,000 (1957) a fictional movie about development & testing of the downwards-firing ejection seat developed for B-47 non-piloting aircrew, just a fortnight before. Nichol's book has a section on the very same subject. Spooky!
I thoroughly enjoyed Eject! Eject!. There are copious photographs and terrific illustrations of ejection seats and of the wackier proposed 'eject-and-fly-away-to-safety' seats that might have seen the light-of-day had the Vietnam War continued another few years. Nichol provided a proper reference Notes section for each chapter, and an Index.
I like Nichol's writing. It's not too challenging & his way of returning to people's stories throughout the book ensures that it doesn't just become one account, followed by another...
Eject! Eject! I reckon is a better read that the previous book of his, Tornado which dwelt too much on the survival stories of those shot down over Iraq (including Nichol) rather than the history of the Tornado. And the ADV Tornado received hardly any coverage at all.
Eject! Eject! has some lengthy sections on what happened to 'ejectees' who landed in enemy territory and were captured, but the book's focus is more on the technology and history of what is a fascinating subject.
I saw my first ejection seat in one of the wooden huts of my Air Cadet squadron when I was 13, and I rapidly found them of huge interest. There's a huge amount of engineering expertise, precision construction and plain 'ol logic inside every ejection seat, and with countless thousands of aircrew saved by them. From the earliest trials (the Luftwaffe took an early lead) to the latest computer-driven-eject-decision model found in the F-35 Lightning II, Nichol covers it all. Or rather he covers it mostly from the British & American perspective, with a lengthy section detailing Argentinian experience. There's still a huge story to-be-told about French, Israeli, Chinese, Indian & Russian development & experiences with ejection seats, together with numerous other nations' air-arms. Such an undertaking though would result in either a huge book or several volumes. Plus, not every nation wants to discuss the subject, or have pilots do so.
Without that input, Nichol concentrates on the premier manufacturer of ejection seats in the West, namely Martin-Barker Ltd. Probably the most significant capabilities introduced by Martin Baker were the zero-zero ejection seat (so aircrew could escape an aircraft at zero-speed, zero-altitude, such as in the case of an engine fire whilst taxiing) and 'Command-Eject' where aircrew could choose a setting to ensure that every ejected if one chose to do so. Nichol takes adroitly takes us through how such engineering initiatives were identified and addressed.
Strangely-enough I'd watched Bailout at 43,000 (1957) a fictional movie about development & testing of the downwards-firing ejection seat developed for B-47 non-piloting aircrew, just a fortnight before. Nichol's book has a section on the very same subject. Spooky!
I thoroughly enjoyed Eject! Eject!. There are copious photographs and terrific illustrations of ejection seats and of the wackier proposed 'eject-and-fly-away-to-safety' seats that might have seen the light-of-day had the Vietnam War continued another few years. Nichol provided a proper reference Notes section for each chapter, and an Index.
June 16, 2025
3 stars, maybe 3.5
Retired RAF pilot John Nichol presents us with a history of the airplane ejection seat through vignettes of the people who created and used them. The early parts of the book focus on Martin-Baker co-founder James Martin and his efforts in pioneering early ejection seat technology. Naturally, his story also intertwines with the brave test pilots who helped him test and improve the technology by putting their health and safety on the line (and many of them suffered greatly). As the book progresses and the ejection seats start being less of a hazard and more of an accepted piece of kit that is almost taken for granted, the story shifts from technological progression to personal stories of pilots whose lives were saved by the technology.
I get the impression that Nichol intended to write a comprehensive book about the ejection seat (himself being an ejectee), started interviewing fellow survivors, and discovered that, of course, the stories don't end with the seat ejection. Oftentimes there were long roads to recovery from life threatening injuries, or pilots were captured and had to spend years of torture in prison camps. You can't just end the story with the ejection and leave the stories out—they are inextricably linked.
Therefore, we are taken into the lives of a handful of pilots who had to eject from their aircraft over the decades, through various conflicts and training missions. We learn about their families, about their experiences, what went wrong, what it was like for them to eject from the plane, and what happened afterwards. They are fascinating stories, and Nichol emphasizes the respect that pilots have for James Martin and the countless other engineers who helped them have a second chance at life.
If my theory as to how Nichol's came to write this book is accurate, that may explain a sort of arbitrary feeling many parts of the book has. The stories of the individual pilots are intermingled, but the connections are tenuous and surface level. It feels like each story could have been an individual episode of a television documentary, but instead they were all wrapped up together into a single movie. That's not to say it isn't effective, because it is, and Nichol does a good job of wrapping up the stories at the end to give the book a sense of closure along with the story's subjects.
If you are the kind of person who is interested in old war stories who also harbors a curiosity about ejection seat technology, this is the book for you.
Retired RAF pilot John Nichol presents us with a history of the airplane ejection seat through vignettes of the people who created and used them. The early parts of the book focus on Martin-Baker co-founder James Martin and his efforts in pioneering early ejection seat technology. Naturally, his story also intertwines with the brave test pilots who helped him test and improve the technology by putting their health and safety on the line (and many of them suffered greatly). As the book progresses and the ejection seats start being less of a hazard and more of an accepted piece of kit that is almost taken for granted, the story shifts from technological progression to personal stories of pilots whose lives were saved by the technology.
I get the impression that Nichol intended to write a comprehensive book about the ejection seat (himself being an ejectee), started interviewing fellow survivors, and discovered that, of course, the stories don't end with the seat ejection. Oftentimes there were long roads to recovery from life threatening injuries, or pilots were captured and had to spend years of torture in prison camps. You can't just end the story with the ejection and leave the stories out—they are inextricably linked.
Therefore, we are taken into the lives of a handful of pilots who had to eject from their aircraft over the decades, through various conflicts and training missions. We learn about their families, about their experiences, what went wrong, what it was like for them to eject from the plane, and what happened afterwards. They are fascinating stories, and Nichol emphasizes the respect that pilots have for James Martin and the countless other engineers who helped them have a second chance at life.
If my theory as to how Nichol's came to write this book is accurate, that may explain a sort of arbitrary feeling many parts of the book has. The stories of the individual pilots are intermingled, but the connections are tenuous and surface level. It feels like each story could have been an individual episode of a television documentary, but instead they were all wrapped up together into a single movie. That's not to say it isn't effective, because it is, and Nichol does a good job of wrapping up the stories at the end to give the book a sense of closure along with the story's subjects.
If you are the kind of person who is interested in old war stories who also harbors a curiosity about ejection seat technology, this is the book for you.
May 14, 2024
John Nichol's Eject! Eject! is one of the best books I've read on aviation, alongside Dan Hampton's Viper Pilot. The book does a great job of exploring the development of the ejection seat, blending technical details with real-life accounts from those who have used this incredible device. These survivor stories add a personal touch, making the book both informative and compelling.
The book includes several photographs, making the stories even more personal and vivid. These images help bring the narratives to life.
While the main focus is on the technology and history of ejection seats, there are some lengthy sections on what happened to 'ejectees' who landed in enemy territory and were captured. This balance keeps the book engaging.
My only criticism is that there isn't enough detail on the different approaches taken by various countries in developing ejection seats. This aspect is mentioned only briefly, which leaves a bit of a gap.
Despite its length, Eject! Eject! is an easy and compelling read. Nichol's writing is accessible, making complex topics understandable and interesting. It's a must-read for aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in the remarkable stories of those who have survived ejections.
The book includes several photographs, making the stories even more personal and vivid. These images help bring the narratives to life.
While the main focus is on the technology and history of ejection seats, there are some lengthy sections on what happened to 'ejectees' who landed in enemy territory and were captured. This balance keeps the book engaging.
My only criticism is that there isn't enough detail on the different approaches taken by various countries in developing ejection seats. This aspect is mentioned only briefly, which leaves a bit of a gap.
Despite its length, Eject! Eject! is an easy and compelling read. Nichol's writing is accessible, making complex topics understandable and interesting. It's a must-read for aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in the remarkable stories of those who have survived ejections.
February 6, 2025
What a fascinating and intriguing read.
This book not only explains ejection seat evolution but that of the hazards of ejecting and the following consequences, which could be capture, escape or life changing injury.
It follows the ejection seat development through the decades by personal accounts of experience.
It not only explains the capabilities and limitations of the progressive seats explained but what the ejectees experience and injury's sustained was and their subsequent situation afterwards.
It starts with the first human test subjects and then picks a different interesting experience from Korea, Vietnam right through to present day.
The story is primarily focused on British development and Martin Baker ejection seats but does mention other significant contributions.
This book not only explains ejection seat evolution but that of the hazards of ejecting and the following consequences, which could be capture, escape or life changing injury.
It follows the ejection seat development through the decades by personal accounts of experience.
It not only explains the capabilities and limitations of the progressive seats explained but what the ejectees experience and injury's sustained was and their subsequent situation afterwards.
It starts with the first human test subjects and then picks a different interesting experience from Korea, Vietnam right through to present day.
The story is primarily focused on British development and Martin Baker ejection seats but does mention other significant contributions.
August 17, 2024
Tells the story of the ejector seat through the personal stories of those who used it, including the author.
The scale of airforce deaths during training is so much higher than I ever would have believed. Although vastly lower than in the 1950s, the rate is still shocking.
One of the pleasures of walking in Wales and the Lake District is watching the fast jets zoom up the valleys below you. The story of the Jaguar and Tornado head on smash on the return loop up the Tyne valley near Hexham brought me out in a cold sweat.
The tales of military personnel on previously opposing sides meeting are poignant. Especially as the Falklands case highlights that PTSD can follow ex-servicemen around for decades.
The scale of airforce deaths during training is so much higher than I ever would have believed. Although vastly lower than in the 1950s, the rate is still shocking.
One of the pleasures of walking in Wales and the Lake District is watching the fast jets zoom up the valleys below you. The story of the Jaguar and Tornado head on smash on the return loop up the Tyne valley near Hexham brought me out in a cold sweat.
The tales of military personnel on previously opposing sides meeting are poignant. Especially as the Falklands case highlights that PTSD can follow ex-servicemen around for decades.
July 25, 2024
This is a truly brilliant book and another in a line of masterpieces by this author. The way he ties in the individual accounts and history throughout the book in a chronological order is marvellous. It had me gripped from start to finish and a couple of tears were shed along the way such were the accounts of some the incidents recalled.
July 18, 2023
Another brilliant book by John Nichol, an in depth look at the system than saved thousands of live, and more importantly the people themselves including those behind the seats and the “Guinea pigs” who willingly ejected time and time again to prove the technology
December 31, 2024
Really interesting book, especially when it gets into the individual stories of ejectees - even though you knew how some of them ended (whether due to the wording, or the assorted photos), there were still a few "hold your breath" moments.
Recommended for anyone with an interest in aviation!
Recommended for anyone with an interest in aviation!
January 6, 2025
Absolutely outstanding book. Nichol found a way to make the development of the ejection seat interesting, but the stories of the ejectees was where this book really grabbed me. I cannot recommend highly enough, Nichol is a helluva story teller
February 22, 2025
I’ve read all Nichols’ books and this one is by far my favourite, he takes very telling stories and accounts of ejection and tells an intriguing history of how something so common place in fighter jets came to be
June 11, 2025
An extremely interesting and well structured book that does a great job of combining information about the technical developments in ejection seats and a narrative of the people using them. Also really fun that focus of both technical aspects and narrative is British.
June 11, 2025
Very enlightening overview
This book gives a personal account of the history to the Martin Baker ejection seat from conception through many generations of advancements. Touches upon lives saved and the thousands who were given another chance. Great 👍 Read 🧞♀️
This book gives a personal account of the history to the Martin Baker ejection seat from conception through many generations of advancements. Touches upon lives saved and the thousands who were given another chance. Great 👍 Read 🧞♀️
July 10, 2023
Superb read. Humble author to speak of others ejections and not his own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2023
Smashing read, well paced and goes into the technicalities while keeping it interesting, and telling the humans stories as well. Recommended.
August 7, 2023
Stunning book, loved it
August 18, 2023
Excellent book, well researched, great stories of escape from near certain death
June 6, 2024
Superb. His best book yet. Great real life tales, all highlighting what a fantastic invention the ejector seat is. The early pioneers are truly remarkable.
December 1, 2024
I’m sleep deprived after reading this book, each of the many escapes is unputdownable. The way old adversaries met and embraced is amazing. Some incredible tales of escape.
June 24, 2025
It's really fascinating, and you can really tell the author is deeply passionate about the subject matter. Loved how much heart there is to a book that is so technical.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews