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I had the great opportunity
to go for a spin in the DRDC (Defense Research and Development
Canada) human centrifuge.
Although I have been in a centrifuge
before,
this one brought me up 5 G's in the Z axis head to toe), previously,
I had done about 3.5 G's. To keep from blacking out and experiencing
G-Loc, I had to learn very specific and strenuous muscle flexing
and breathing techniques that help to keep the blood flowing
to my brain and heart. Assisting me with these efforts was a
Canadian designed G-suit which is basically a pair of pants with
air bladders that are hooked into a compressed air system and
automatically inflate at high G. This helps to squeeze your legs
and push the blood back up where you need it the most.
The experience was very intense
and I can't imagine how a fighter pilot could actually operate
a jet under those extreme conditions. I was hoping to try for
higher G forces but the base doctor was worried about my retinas
detaching.
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