In the original Top Gun, Maverick says that he cannot reach the ejection handles because he is pinned forward, which forces Goose to eject them out of the plane. Would the outcome have been different if Maverick was able to punch them out instead of Goose having to? Or would Goose still have crashed into the canopy?
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It might matter that Goose pulled the ejection handles: not for Goose, but for Maverick!
The RIO has a toggle called the Eject Command Lever which can be set to pilot mode or MCO mode. In pilot mode, if the RIO pulls the ejection handles only the RIO ejects. In MCO mode, if the RIO pulls the ejection handles both pilot and RIO eject. Pilot pulling the ejection handles always ejects both pilot and RIO.
So, we can assume Goose was in MCO mode as both Goose and Maverick ejected when Goose pulled the ejection handles.
Now, what would have happened if Goose was in Pilot Mode? Goose would likely have ejected into the canopy same as always and Maverick would have remained in the plane, pinned forward. If Maverick really couldn’t reach the handles, he would have died when the F14 encountered terrain. So if Goose were in Pilot Mode and Maverick really couldn’t reach his ejection handles, both Maverick and Goose would have died.
In all scenarios, Maverick would have likely been fine, as there are usually a set of ejection handles between his legs, which he could have reached down and pulled and then he would have ejected (and Goose would have ejected too if he was still in the plane.) Goose would still be dead though. I am not sure if all F14 models/seats had between the leg ejection handles but I think they were standard? I don’t know all the possible variants.
Edit: Funny story: A non-F14 air force officer who hitched a ride as a RIO on an F-14 accidentally pulled the ejection handles when he panicked. They were in Pilot Mode so the pilot remained in the plane and he landed the plane… With no canopy. (The “RIO” was rescued too, with only minor ejection injuries.)
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