![]() Poor sleep decreases alertness and G-awareness, which is what signals a pilot to start their G-strain. Sleep is also a contribution factor to G-tolerance. As with any athletic endeavor, it’s important we eat nutritious foods and avoid high sugar “junk food.” Studies have shown that with only three percent dehydration, G-tolerance time can be reduced by up to 50%. Hydration and nutrition also play an important part in the amount of G’s a pilot can handle. During my time in the F-16, I gave a dozen, or so, people backseat rides-after the flight, due to exhaustion, every one of them had to be helped out of their seat. Because our flights average one to two hours, cardiovascular fitness is important as well. We spend a lot of time in the gym, working out our lower bodies, so we can push the blood against the force of gravity during high-G maneuvers. The AGSM requires a high amount of physical conditioning. This not only prevents us from passing out, but increases our peripheral vision, which is critical during a dogfight. Through a combination of special breathing and tensing our lower body we can squeeze the blood back into our head. The first step in combating G’s is the Anti-G Straining Maneuver (AGSM). This has led to a multi-pronged “systems mindset” for preparing pilots to endure them. Due to the speeds we fly, there’s a high probability the jet will crash before you wake up.Īs a fighter community we, unfortunately, have had more than one death per year, due to G’s, for the last 30+ years. If too much blood is pulled out, you’ll pass out, resulting in incapacitation for around half a minute. Blood is being pulled out of your head towards your legs and arms, resulting in the loss of peripheral vision. Under 9G’s, the world appears to shrink until it looks like you’re viewing it through a toilet paper roll. Modern fighters like the F-16 and F-35 pull 9G’s, which translates to over 2,000 pounds on my body. It’s enough to push your head down and pin your arms by your side. For most people, the peak G-force they’ve experienced is probably on a rollercoaster during a loop-which is about 3-4G’s. ![]() I weigh approximately 200 pounds, 230 with my gear on. Your weight is what you see when you stand on a scale. Right now, as you’re reading this, you’re probably at 1G, or one time the force of gravity. In reality, during a sharp turn under peak G, you’re spending the majority of your effort pancaked into your seat, trying not to pass out. Movies like Top Gun show the characters easily moving around the cockpit while chatting on the radio during a dogfight. G-forces don’t translate to the big screen, or to video games, but they are a major aspect of flying fighters.
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