I was watching THE TWILIGHT ZONE "The Odyssey of Flight 33" on Blu-ray. Robert Serling, aviation writer for the UPI and Rod Serling's brother, was the technical adviser on the episode.
The commentary includes Robert Serling telling the story about Rod asking him for $400 so he could buy an engagement ring for his fiancee, Carol. Robert Serling was only making $50 a week and didn't have the money. Rod then saw an ad advertising $1,000 for someone to test a new ejection seat which was fitted into a modified two-seat P-51 Mustang. Rod was ejected out of the Mustang and landed in a bramble bush which inflicted a lot of cuts on his face. When Rod presented the engagement ring to Carol, she asked about his facial cuts. Rod explained he was involved in a bar room brawl. Carol then refused the ring, but later accepted it.
Robert Serling also said he gave the idea to rod about the tv movie THE DOOMSDAY FLIGHT after a Braniff pilot told him about a similar bomb hoax. Rod Serling later regretted writing the script because every time the movie aired, someone would call in a bomb hoax on various airlines.