Is Fighter Plane Performance limited By the Human Body

[imschur]

Currently are we limited by what a human body can handle? by technology? or both?

[Rsquared]

I would guess more of the "human body" side of that thought. After all......a computer can pull a helluva lot more G's than you or I could. And electronics are pretty robust these days. Except.....it's hard to use your phone as a ........well.....phone.

[cliffg]

as a ex back seat jockey i can assure it is the body that limits. i was qualified in the a-4 and its structural limits were 5 negative and 8 positive g's. with the equipment at that time the body could only handle about 4-4.5 negative and 6-7 positive before blackout danger. the new planes are capable of 14-16 g's and pilots still normally cant go over 8-9 with out blackout.

[planeflyer21]

It's the human mechanism that is the limiter.

 

The fighter aircraft that are converted to drones (QF-102s/-106s/etc.) are able to crank way more Gs than they could with pilots onboard.

 

The reclined position of the F-16's ejection seat was revolutionary, aiding the pilot in avoiding G-lock for a bit longer at a higher G-load.  Now everyone does it.

 

Scientists believe even the lowly pigeon is capable of pulling 15 Gs on a regular basis...kinda crazy!

 

Jon

[edgecrusher]

I know Tom can back me on this

 

 

 

It's the human mechanism that is the limiter.

 

Scientists believe even the lowly pigeon is capable of pulling 15 Gs on a regular basis...kinda crazy!

 

Jon

 

 

Again, I refer you to Animainiac's mob pigeon's….  <lmao>

 

Sorry, continue

[unforgiven]

So if I recline the seat in my Chevy I can avoid G-lock.Check.

[planeflyer21]

Yup.

 

They even articulate automatically now:  http://www.ejectionsite.com/yf22seat.htm

 

Jon

[Rsquared]

So if I recline the seat in my Chevy I can avoid G-lock.Check.

 

Check! But only if you're wearing your pressure suit. But.......an Elvis jumpsuit (with scarf of course) just might suffice.

[unforgiven]

<laughs>  <lmao>   Check. <thumbsup>

[Rsquared]

And imagine the looks you'll get. <lmao>

 

Hey.....I saw Elvis. He's alive and well.......and living in Indiana.

[Matt.Cross]

And imagine the looks you'll get. <lmao>

 

Hey.....I saw Elvis. He's alive and well.......and living in Indiana.

 

Yeah, I saw him too. He's cruising around in a Chevy with the seat laid way back... I think he wants to be inconspicuous.....

[392heminut]

Yeah, I saw him too. He's cruising around in a Chevy with the seat laid way back... I think he wants to be inconspicuous.....

What? Elvis went cholo on us? :ugone2far:

[edgecrusher]

What? Elvis went cholo on us? :ugone2far:

<laughs>  <lmao>  <laughs>  :laughing4: 

[IowaFClass]

Yes the human body can't take what the jets of today can dish out. Missles can now make turns that pull 10 times what the pilot can. Just think how much less is needed in an aircraft when you DONT have to put a pilot in it and all the systems you can remove from the structure as well.

The seat in the F16 is reclined 36 degress which does help a huge amount. But even with the advancements made I have still had to help pilots out of the jet because they couldn't walk. The jet just kicked the crap out of them and they had little left.

Hey, I even pulled 9Gs and didn't black out, there was a tunnel closing in fast so it would not have been long before good night.

Edited April 19, 2013 by IowaFClass

[imschur]

Yes the human body can't take what the jets of today can dish out. Missles can now make turns that pull 10 times the pilot can. Just think how much less in needed in an aircraft when you DONT have to put a pilot in it and all the systems you can remove from the structure.

 

thats what i was thinking

[IowaFClass]

I spent 30 years working on fighters all over the world and MANY different types and not all american. I would do it all over again if I could.

[98Z5V]

I know Tom can back me on this

 

 

 

 

 

Again, I refer you to Animainiac's mob pigeon's….  <lmao>

 

Sorry, continue

Been more than two years now, since I pulled the Valentine's Day Pigeon Massacre at the shop.

 

 

They had it coming...