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.