006 - Pulling Gs

Ever wonder how flying high-performance jet aircraft exacts a toll on the human body? Between pulling Gs, air sickness, decompression sickness, trapped gas, and spatial disorientation, the threats are significant, and constant.
On this episode, US Navy aerospace operational physiologist Commander Susan “Cyclone” Jay answers these questions and many more, even demonstrating how to perform the AGSM, or anti-G straining maneuver.
Check out the FPP006 - Pulling Gs playlist on our KZbin channel for footage of pilots struggling to control G forces in a centrifuge, which is what the host is attempting in the accompanying photo for this episode (what is cut off at the top of this photo is that he was pulling 9.09 Gs at the time!).
If you enjoy these episodes, please subscribe to our KZbin channel. For exclusive Fighter Pilot Podcast content and behind-the-scenes material, check out our Patreon Page: / ftrpltpdcst .

[@Thanekay]

I love her voice. Very soothing.

[@Steen_Skov]

I thoroughly enjoy your podcasts, Vincent. Keep 'em coming, please :)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Will do--I am uploading them as quickly as I can but you if you don't want to wait you can find the rest on my website: fighterpilotpodcast.com/

[@Steen_Skov]

Oh, that's good to know :) I'll check it out. By the way, I went through the test to be a pilot in the danish air force back in .... '97, I think it was, the first time. I got sent home after a few days an interviews, "too immature", "do some time in the military, see if you can make sergeant, that helps". So off I went served my time in the army, became a sergeant, served with my regiment an extra year, and applied to the Air Force again. That time I made it through 4 out of 5 days, was sent home with the message: "Your cholesterol is too high. If you can get it down below a certain number, without using medicin, you can reapply...." is what I heard, so when I couldn't, I didn't reapply. I've since been told that that would not have been an issue. I should've just reapplied, and they'd have waivered it (or something, I don't know) Instead I got rid of a loan in the bank, and borrowed more money to get a commercial helicopter license, in New Zealand, and I chose to fly helicopters. I hovered the helicopter the first time I flew it, kinda :) I kept it within a square, about 30meters wide. I solo'ed in 9hrs, and had planned a long flight to log more hours for my flight test for my PPL. But I was in a car accident the day before I was set to go on that flight. It was a bad one, so long story short: I was thrown through the seatbelt, hit my head against the windshield, was knocked out and never knew what happened until years later, because one of my injuries was a severely hampered short term memory, didn't know why I was in New Zealand. I thought I was there as an Au Pair ! To babysit.....me?? Hahaaa, no way :D Anyway, I'm retired now, early retirement, 40 years old, because of the injuries from the accident. About ten years ago, I had finally paid back the money I had borrowed, which was hard, and took that long, to do on a pension and with a mortgage and payments on our car. Well, enough of that. Now I've found a new thing I am passionate about, that I make a little extra money doing.... car detailing. I still fly sims though. Mainly DCS: F/A-18C Hornet and MAN is that fantastic :-) I wish I had more time to "fly", and study, it :) Oops, this got a little long, and it's 11:30pm now. I should be getting some sleep :-) Cheers, Steen aka Cougar12dk

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Goodness, Steen--thanks for the story but I hope you were ready to share it with the whole world! Hah. Well, sounds like you have found satisfaction. I hope this podcast helps. (Incidentally, I am have Danish--my mother immigrated to the states in the 60s but we often went back to visit relatives).

[@Steen_Skov]

:) Yeah, I though about that as I wrote it, but I'm not too fussy about it, it's just who I am now and that's that :D Oh, that's cool (about you being half danish), do you remember which part of the country she was from?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Oh yes. Copenhagen. My Mormor lived there until her death in 2007. I have an aunt in Roskilde and cousins there somewhere. Summer beach home on the west side of Zealand near Kalundborg, great times as a child...

[@jhill4071]

This is really a good interview with a medical Pilot Flight expert. Almost a mandatory lecture .

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks. 👍

[@elykeom1]

That laugh about her call sign was wholesome.

[@ja_37di_81]

Went back and listened to this, because for some reason I had missed it.. Great one! And I felt great since medicine is my stuff so I kept up with it all for once! ;) I hope that lady got a great job investigating air crashes.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Sue works for the FAA in Oklahoma City now. 👍

[@ja_37di_81]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Oh nice! Thanks for telling, I love this show. ^^

[@SkyhawkSteve]

As an A-4 avionics guy who got a little time in the backseat, I appreciated this podcast. As an Iowa State engineering grad, I also appreciated your guest's call sign! Since she is a medical type person, U of I was certainly the correct school for her. Go Clones! :-)

[@jimmydesouza4375]

Lmao. The guys face in the picture :D

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

That's me at 9 Gs!

[@dustintaber]

Love the podcast but film them please

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Working on recording interviews--slow process. Thanks for your patience.

[@jeffreybobela6388]

The video is not loaded up on you tube, voice is good to go. Also Vincent-you voice is exactly like Dr. Demento. Sorry to throw you under the bus.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Dr. Demento?! Hah. (This is an audio podcast with only the episode art as the video.)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I remember him from when I was a kid--he was hilarious!

[@CristianValenzuela2155]

@@FighterPilotPodcast is that you in the image?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@CristianValenzuela2155 Yes.

[@tabascoindy5005]

USAF had plans to turn b 747 into aircraft carrier

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

What inspires you to mention that here?

[@johncipolla8335]

Yo talk over her too much. great conversation though

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I was pretty new at podcasting back then, John, but thanks for the feedback.

[@johncipolla8335]

@@FighterPilotPodcast love the show. I started at one. but that was an informative episode. thanks. will be continuing.

[@johncipolla8335]

@@FighterPilotPodcast by the way I work in. a call center. thats the only reason I noticed

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@johncipolla8335 Gotcha. 👍