Bail out bla bla...

[Rama]

Originally Posted by Skarphol

they allways fall with the same forward speed as the plane

This would be true only in a vacuum....
But the plane and the pilot move in the air, and the CX of both is completelly different.
So as soon the pilot gets out of the plane, the air friction will slow him down considerably.... it's the same as if you drive a car 100mph, open a window and put your hand out of the window, you will feel the friction forces pulling your hand toward the back of your car.
Then, with a WWII warplane, you can add to this effect that the propeller push the air toward the tailplane, and you will understand "why people get injured by the tailplane of planes"

[Skarphol]

You are of course right about that, you point out a very good example by the way.
But what I am thinking about is; when you see parashooters jump out of the side door of a plane, they never seem to be anywhere near the tailplane. I guess planes used for parashooters fly as slow as possible in order to reduse the risk of hitting the stabilizer.

Skarphol

[Rama]

Yep, and they don't exit the plane by the top of it.
A usual procedure for a "safe bailout" out of a WWII fighter was to:
- jettison canopy
- get free of belt, safeties, inhalator, hearings, etc...
- push quick and hard on the stick with a leg to gex "expulsated" from the pit.

When canopy can't be jettisonned, it becomes harder...