G-suit - Use in Military Aviation and In Space

Use in Military Aviation and In Space

Air-based g-suits were very common in NATO aircraft of all nations from the 1950s onwards and are still in common use today.

Later jets such as the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale can sustain high g loads for longer periods, and are therefore more physically demanding. However, by using a modern g-suit in combination with anti-g strain techniques, a pilot can now be expected to sustain flight forces of up to nine g without blacking out.

Astronauts wear g-suits similar to aviators but face different challenges due to the effects of microgravity. Aviator g-suits apply uniform pressure to the lower legs to minimize the effects of high acceleration but research from the Canadian Space Agency implies there might be a benefit in having a suit for astronauts that uses a "milking action" to increase blood flow to the upper body.

Read more about this topic:  G-suit

Famous quotes containing the words military and/or space:

    In early times every sort of advantage tends to become a military advantage; such is the best way, then, to keep it alive. But the Jewish advantage never did so; beginning in religion, contrary to a thousand analogies, it remained religious. For that we care for them; from that have issued endless consequences.
    Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)

    ... the space left to freedom is very small. ... ends are inherent in human nature and the same for all.
    Hannah Arendt (1906–1975)