G Effects on Pilots During Aerobatics

J.SHAFER6 [Eyeballs$TH$] writes: Twas perusing my flight instructor documents and came across a FAA publication called

G EFFECTS ON THE PILOT DURING AEROBATICS, published July 1972, FAA-AM-72-28

Talks about physiology, history of maneuvers, length of aerobatic routines, etc.

A chart at the end was interesting. Labeled ACCELERATION TOLERANCES for experienced individuals.

 G            time                    symptom

 +8           15 seconds              blackout
  7           15
  6           20
  5           30
  4            1 minute
  3            3
  2           13
  1           20 hours (sitting)  2 hours (standing without moving)
  0           21 days  (max to date  1972  )

 -1           10 minutes             discomfort
 -2            1
 -3           30 seconds             pain
 -4            6                     unconscious
 -5            4

Studies quoted in centrifuge tests by the US Navy using greyout of peripheral vision as an endpoint for positive Gs and throbbing headache for negative

  +3.4 and -2.5 Gs   30 seconds
  +3.6 and -3.2      15 seconds
  +4.2 and -3.3      10 seconds
 +12.0 and -4.0       3 seconds

Last modified: Thu Aug 17 16:05:04 CDT 1995

Jim Knutson (Red Beard), knutson@cactus.org