Philip Wills, one of the most famous glider pilots of all time, had motion
sickness at the start of his gliding career, but he got over it and you
can, too.

It will improve when your brain accepts that in a turn you are moving
across stationary ground and it no longer looks like you are stationary
and the world is tilted and moving under you.

Look at the horizon and stare at successive points along the horizon as
you turn. Don't sweep you eyes along it in a steady progression.

At 13:31 09 November 2008, wrote:
On Nov 9, 6:09=A0am, Willy VINKEN wrote:
Not exactly 'placebo effect' (although every pharmacologically
active
drug has some), but rather 'momentary diversion of attention'. =A0
And since you can't do that for a long time, this solution won't
last.
Better focus your attention on more interesting aspects of flying
that keep you busy. =A0That's your instructor's job.

Ask your pharmacist about motion sickness drugs that contain real
active chemicals, and find out how you feel with them. =A0First try
them
without flying or driving. =A0Then don't forget to tell your
instructor.

Yes, you can!

Willy



On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 22:33:52 +1100, "Jack" wrote:
I mean drugs that are mentioned on the net on gliding sites, I would
certainly not buy any drug outside of a pharmacy counter.

So you think that applying pressure on the wrists would only have
some
s=
ort
of placebo effect, I will do a little bit of experimentation.

Thanks

"Willy VINKEN" wrote in message
.. .
Don't rely on the Internet for drugs, Jack. =A0At best they are
expensive, often fakes, and sometimes plain dangerous.
Ask your doctor.

Pressing your wrist works momentarily, because you focus your
attention on something else, and you have the anticipation of a
quick
cure. =A0When I plan to take aspirin for a headache, I instantly
feel
better too. =A0But I still have to take it =A0;-) =A0.

Motion sickness is a natural phenomenon: =A0basically, there is
some
discordance between what you eyes see and how your inner ear tells
your brain you are moving. =A0This can result in what we call
'motion
sickness'.
Ask your instructor to keep you alert with flying, with no room
left
for you to analyse how you feel.

Have fun.

Willy

On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 21:12:22 +1100, "Jack" wrote:

Thanks for the answer Willy,
That is bad luck that they don't work.
Since pressing lightly on my wrist between the tendon and the edna
instantly
eases the sickness I though there may be some chance that they work
bu=
t
well
I'll have to try medication.
Another student told me that some tablets called "kwals" or
"Qualls"
n=
ot
sure of the spelling work for him and he does not feel side
effects.
As you pointed out it seems that all the drugs seem to have
different
trade
names in each coutry, all the reccomended drugs I read about on the
ne=
t
don't seem available here in Australia.

Thanks again
Jack

"Willy VINKEN" wrote in message
...
No Jack, they don't.
Or at least, there is no scientific evidence that proves they
might.
Nevertheless, everything that derives attention can prevent
motion
sickness. =A0Even having spent a lot of money for a gadget.
=A0The
w=
orst
situation is when you keep thinking motion sickness will happen.
Keep trying, and things will improve.
Drugs like cinnarazine or domperidone might help in between.
NASA even experimented with scopolamine. =A0Those are not
trademarks=
,
but international nonproprietary chemical names. =A0Trademarks
are
different in different countries.
The more efficient they are, the more side effects they have...
But still, they might be a suitable solution for transition.
=A0Your
instructor is always behind you, so some lack of concentration
isn't
dramatic, and you still keep acquiring reflexes. =A0After all,
this
=
is
what basic learning to fly is all about.
Open the window a bit, get some fresh air blowing in your face,
and
concentrate on flying. =A0And believe me, half an hour in the
air,
working hard, is more than enough for a beginner to be exhausted.
Longer flights simply add 'minutes in the cockpit', but don't
improv=
e
your skills.

Willy VINKEN
Medical doctor, diving instructor and glider pilot.
And having seen a lot of motion sickness...

On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 18:10:01 +1100, "Jack" wrote:

I am learning to fly gliders and I struggle with motion sickness.

I have tried:
- Ginder tablets, it helped but I was still a bit nauseaus.
- Motion sickness tablets, they affect my awareness and
concentratio=
n.
- Chewing various things, best was beef jerky (not a joke) it
helps
=
but
still not good enough.

Today in a lesson we had very good conditions, for the first time
I
=
was
able
to really play and experiment with the glider without stress or
time
constraints, various banks in thermals, near stalls, trim various
sp=
eeds
etc... I was able to get back to thermals to go back to 4-5000ft,
I
=
had
all
these thing I was planning on learning/improving and today was
the
perfect
day for it but after 30 min the instructor tried to show me how
to
thermal
with a high bank and in 2 spins I started to feel bad, I took the
controls
again but 1 minute later I was sweating, my focus and
concentration
=
were
gone. We had to waste 5000ft gliding straight down with brakes
out.

My disapointment was huge, I was upset with myself and questioned
if=
I
should have stayed and fought it but with hindsight I feel we did
th=
e
right
thing to land.

I understand that I will probably get used to it but from a
learning
point
of view only doing short flights will slow down my progression
and
f=
rom
a
financial point of view, well a 15min or 1 hour flight cost the
same=
....

I have seen some adds about wristbands that look like a watch,
they
electrically stimulate the median nerve and are supposed to
prevent
motion
sickness, since they do not have any side effects and the
intensity
=
is
adjustable it seems to be the ideal solution for me, I can
gradually
lower
the intensity until I am used to it.

Now the question, "do they really work ?" they are not cheap,
about
=
the
cost
of 4 =A0x 3000ft tow so I would appreciate if someone who used
them
=
can
comment.

Cheers
Jack- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The quickest way to get air sick is to watch the inside wing go
backwards against the ground while turning,avoid that even if your not
lookng directly at the inside of the turn.. The solution is fly the
airplane so you don't have time to get air sick. I remember doing some
dual cross country in a Janus and becoming slightly air sick while
reading a map and not flying. I just had to fly alittle and all that
sweaty and dry mouth nausea subsided. It will get better the more you
fly the airplane.