| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 10:41:03 AM | I am about to go on a date with a guy who owns a small one-engine plane. He's promised to do some aerobatics with me - be careful what you ask for! Now, this being a date, I am terrified of getting motion sickness. I usually don't get it, but then, I've never done aerobatics before, either!
Questions:
1) What acceleration are we talking about? Judging from my last Six Flags trip, I can maybe withstand 5g or so...
2) What exercises are there to train the vestibular system?
Thanks! | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 11:23:44 AM | He's promised to do some aerobatics with me - be careful what you ask for!
Unask for it. This isn't a ride at 6 flags, you're thousands of feet up in the air.
Unless it's not the height you're dealing with. Being in a small plane and being in a huge plane are very different in my opinion. I'd be terrified of the crash, where I live there have been like 4 small plane crashes in the last couple of months. Not to scare you, but since it seems that you haven't known the guy very long - that could be an extended promise for when you are 100% comforatable with trusting him. You haven't even had time to talk to him about this fear, or ask him these questions!! Ask him, he's the pilot. Don't start off a relationship hiding feelings, etc. I'm a big believer in complete honesty. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 12:00:43 PM | A single engine plane won't be able to do much to you going up, but the trip down could be lots of fun. Eat bananas before you go up ............. they taste almost the same going down or up  Enjoy your flight date. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 2:33:19 PM | eat a huge greasy meal just beforehand...then yark in his lap...that'll teach him a bit of humility and not to "stunt fly" as a date...a nice flight to sightsee is one thing...stunting? Kind of like taking a date to a drag race...and having her sitting beside you during it as you drive! Not the best idea.
 | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 2:54:54 PM | If you don't normally get motion sickness I wouldn't worry too much about it. I recently went up in a little single engine. It's smooth as the air.
I would opt out of the aerobatics though. Unless you trust the guy. He might just be tryin to impress ya. Which usually leads to 
Have fun! | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 3:02:39 PM | | No, he is actually very experienced, I know it for a fact. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 3:35:13 PM | Aaah yes. The ol' come for a flight and I'll do some aerobatics with you ploy.
You'll be a very captive audience and things will accelerate faster than they do on the ground.
There's a reason we call them c*ckpits.
Welcome (in advance) to the club.
Enjoy. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 5:52:33 PM | Hi ABC,
If this pilot is worth ANYTHING you shouldn't be pulling anything CLOSE to 5 g's!!!!!
This isn't astronaut training and you don't need to train your vestibular system for anything. I've done Spins, loops, flown upside down and a few other manuvers and NONE of them pull more than 2.5 g's, most are under 2.
Now.... zero g's and negative... you don't have to train your vestibular system, but have a barf bag near by, and personally, any guy taking you flying as in... a date, should be hung by his balls if he doesn't recognize that his date is feeling queezy and keeps f*cking around anyway.
Just my humble opinion.
I'm jealous. Guys NEVER ask me to fly with them!!!!
James, Commercial Pilot License, Port Orchard, Washington, USA, Earth | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 6:51:45 PM | | I still say yark on him...it will make a memoriable date story. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/13/2008 7:07:58 PM | | You're going on my dream date. Double points if he looks like David Tennant and has a Scottish accent. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/14/2008 9:57:40 AM | It you reach 5 G's in a single engine plane, it's a good indication that you are about to crash.
Before flying with him, especially if there will be some aerobatics taking place, there are a few things you should first ask him.
What is the Vno of the Aircraft?
The Vno is the Velocity of Normal Operation. It's the planes maximum cruising speed given it's structural integrity.
What is the Vne of the craft?
The Vne is the Velocity Never to Exceed. Exceeding this velocity can be fatal.
What is the craft's Va?
The Va is the design maneuvering speed, also known as the "Speed for maximum control deflection." This is the speed at which it is unwise to make an abrupt application of any single flight control as it may generate a force greater than the aircraft's structural limitations.
There are many other V-speeds that one should know to properly fly a plane, but these are the most important when attempting any aerobatics outside of normal flying conditions.
If the pilot does not know the answer to any of these questions, please do not fly with him. This is an indication of inexperience. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/14/2008 11:49:45 AM | Thanks James and RSwindol and everyone... I've done just a bit of aerobatics in a Glassair, and it was pretty BAD... but sounds like James is right, and it's zero and negative g that are hard to tolerate... sure one can TRAIN for it though??
The guy is an ace... and I've been wanting to do aerobatics with him for years... it was my request actually. He just spoke of how much fun it is. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 6/14/2008 2:08:45 PM | | Perhaps taking a Dramamine before going flying would help prevent an embarrassing incident. Doing just a few minutes' worth of aerobatics at a time to build up a tolerance to it is the best way. I remember doing a few minutes and enjoying it years ago. I am more of a straight and level flyer, though and like to fly to fun places. | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 7/18/2008 1:59:09 AM | Don't worry about it:)
It is illegal to pull 5 G's. According to Canadian Avaition Regulations and FAA regulations -- you must fly it it certain ways -- you need a special permit to do all the fancy aerobatic stuff -- especially near any airport...Air Traffic Control hates it when pilots deviate from a flight plan.
If you get motion sick it is because what your eyes tell you do not match what your body says and this "confusion" in your system causes motion sickness...Look far ahead at a fixed point on the horizon OR if that does not work -- simply close your eyes.
Sincerely,
Ken -- former Pilot | |
|
| A question for PILOTS
Posted: 9/3/2008 5:59:11 PM | I noticed your post is dated 6/13/2008 and you haven't answered. I hope you are still around. 
5 G's, in a single engine plane is not safe for what he's going to do. Those plane's ride hard and it better be built strong enough.
He's probably going to go off course and the pilot above me has explained it correctly.
If I were you, I'd go for coffee first and see if he is all there.
Not trying to be sarcastic here but cautious. 
I'm not a professional pilot but have flown before and been through the process . | |
|
| I have lived around military pilots all my life.
Posted: 9/4/2008 10:58:02 PM | | First I would get to know him. This is not for the faint of heart, especially a first date. Ask him how many hours he has flying or ask him if he has a book with his hours in it ( Flight Log) and let him show off while finding out how experienced he is. I would not go up with a pilot in a small plane unless the weather was excellent and he had at least 5000 hours of flying time. Casually ask him if people know were the two of you are flying IE a flight plan. Most small plane pilots are not experienced enough if they run into unexpected bad weather. Aerobatics are usually for stunt pilots. He may be trying to impress you with flying circles or squares or shallow dives. There is a difference. I have flown in small planes, flight attendant and flown in helicopters in a war zone. It is all about the skill of the pilot. Or, you can take a chance and hope you don't fall out of the sky. I agree, if he is trying to show off eat a greasy meal and throw up in his lap. If it is a rented plane he will have to clean it up before turning it in:) | |
|
Home
login 
