What's your maximum G-load?

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 11:52:33 -0400, "Happy Dog"
wrote:

It really depends on the individual. Almost anyone can tolerate 2Gs for a
sustained period but moving about or lifting anything heavy would be
difficult. I think that the cutoff point for the average person (sustained)
is around 3.5Gs.

A young pilot in good physical condition ought to tolerate 5 Gs. With
specialized training, as was given to Spitfire pilots in WWII, 9 Gs is
possible.

That's strapped in, of course, and in the case of the Spitfire pilot,
he's grunting and straining for all he's worth.

-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

wrote:
It really depends on the individual. Almost anyone can tolerate 2Gs for a
sustained period but moving about or lifting anything heavy would be
difficult. I think that the cutoff point for the average person (sustained)
is around 3.5Gs.

Cub Driver wrote:
A young pilot in good physical condition ought to tolerate 5 Gs. With
specialized training, as was given to Spitfire pilots in WWII, 9 Gs is
possible.

Gotta disagree with you Dan.
happydog has it right.
G-tolerance is something you develope, you cannot just strain at the
right time and stay awake.
Back when I was younger and in excellent physical condition, I did
aerobatic training. Sustained or repeated G's will quickly drain you
with each successive maneuver. I never did enough to go to sleep, but
repeated 4-5 G maneuver's caused be to gray out for several seconds (the
instructor was then in control of the aircraft).

G-tolerance is something you develope, you cannot just strain at the right
time and stay awake.
Back when I was younger and in excellent physical condition, I did
aerobatic training. Sustained or repeated G's will quickly drain you with
each successive maneuver. I never did enough to go to sleep, but repeated
4-5 G maneuver's caused be to gray out for several seconds (the instructor
was then in control of the aircraft).

How do pilots like Sean Tucker and Patty Wagstaff sustain G loads for their
entire routine?

I know Tucker "takes a break" half-way through his, doing a long climb out
while he catches his breath (or clears his head), but, still -- they seem to
be under incredibly high Gs for a large portion of their 15 minute routines.

I've only had one aerobatic flight, pulling a maximum of 4 Gs that lasted
maybe ten seconds, and even that was a pretty good workout. I can't
imagine doing that -- and far more -- every few seconds for 15 minutes!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3abxe.119054$xm3.82811@attbi_s21...
G-tolerance is something you develope, you cannot just strain at the
right time and stay awake.
Back when I was younger and in excellent physical condition, I did
aerobatic training. Sustained or repeated G's will quickly drain you with
each successive maneuver. I never did enough to go to sleep, but repeated
4-5 G maneuver's caused be to gray out for several seconds (the
instructor was then in control of the aircraft).

Grey out is something you learn to tolerate. Although it's flirting with
the edge of G-LOC, it's safe to do once you've learned to predict the onset
of G-LOC and learned your personal limits. When I started training, I once
blacked out, in part, from an improper straining maneuver. The instructor
just let me ride it out. Waking up was like coming out of a dream. It took
over ten seconds from lights out to initiating recovery. G-LOC is not to be
****ed with.

How do pilots like Sean Tucker and Patty Wagstaff sustain G loads for
their entire routine?

Practice, practice, practice. That, and, as you noted, the routines are
designed to allow breaks in G loads.

moo

In article ,
Cub Driver wrote:

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 11:52:33 -0400, "Happy Dog"
wrote:

It really depends on the individual. Almost anyone can tolerate 2Gs for a
sustained period but moving about or lifting anything heavy would be
difficult. I think that the cutoff point for the average person (sustained)
is around 3.5Gs.

A young pilot in good physical condition ought to tolerate 5 Gs. With
specialized training, as was given to Spitfire pilots in WWII, 9 Gs is
possible.



Most healthy military pilot sorts (completely healthy and fit) have a
RESTING G tolerance of 4-5G, that is without any muscular contraction or
strain maneuver.

Leg and abdominal muscle straining typically adds another 0.5-1.0G on
top of this resting tolerance, and then adding the G-Strain maneuver
(pushing against a closed glottis to increased intrathoracic pressure)
adds above that.

I recently spun in the centrifuge at Brooks AFB and started to gray out
at around 4.2-4.5, and then had to begin the strain (lightly at first of
course) at around 5.3-5.4 G. I was able to go to just over 9G without
blacking out or G-LOCing which was fun (in hindsight) but it REALLY is a
lot of work.

Tolerance varies widely, with some graying out at 3.5 and some going to
7+G with no strain whatsoever.

Good lower limb and abdominal muscle strength helps peak tolerance, and
good cardiovascular fitness seems to help with repetitive Gs.

-Chris Schmelzer, MD, Captain
Medical Corp, Flight Surgeon
110th Fighter Wing, Michigan ANG

--
Chris Schmelzer, MD
Capt, 110th Fighter Michigan ANG
University of Michigan Hospitals
Ann Arbor, MI

Chris Schmelzer wrote:

Good lower limb and abdominal muscle strength helps peak tolerance, and
good cardiovascular fitness seems to help with repetitive Gs.

I heard a report that women tended to tolerate high gee forces better
than women because they tend to be shorter and have different centers of
gravity. Is that still thought to be the case?

--
Erik Max Francis && && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
San Jose, CA, USA && 37 20 N 121 53 W && AIM erikmaxfrancis
Heaven ne'er helps the man who will not act.
-- Sophocles