A\u00a0significant milestone specific to the fighter pilot is attending the centrifuge, a dastardly little machine\u00a0made famous by its amusement park portrayals in various movies.\u00a0\u00a0The centrifuge is not nearly as fun to actually experience.<\/p>\n
Much as the movies show, pilots are\u00a0seat-belted into a cubicle that simulates a cockpit on the end of a long arm that spins at amazing speeds, compressing\u00a0the pilots\u00a0under increased gravity (G) forces.<\/p>\n
A person sitting or standing experiences 1 G<\/a>, or a force equal to gravity.\u00a0 At 9 Gs (the maximum modern fighters are designed to experience), a 200 pound person feels as though they weight 1,800 pounds.\u00a0 Though significant, the increased “weight” is bearable.<\/p>\n The more challenging aspect of G forces is that the outward forces cause a pilot’s blood to pool in his legs and feet.\u00a0 The potential result is a lack of sufficient blood to the brain which causes a blackout under G, called a “G-induced Loss of Consciousness,” or G-LOC<\/a> (pronounced Gee-Lock).\u00a0 Aerospace physiologists do an excellent\u00a0job of teaching\u00a0the proper techniques and the Air Force provides anti-g equipment to wear in the form of a chap-like “g-suit<\/a>.”<\/p>\n All fighter pilots-in-training go through the centrifuge twice.\u00a0 The first time is\u00a0after completing the first portion of pilot training (in the T-6) and moving on to the T-38.\u00a0 There is a specific 7.5G profile each student experiences for the T-38.\u00a0 The second is after finishing the T-38 and moving on to their operational airframe.\u00a0 Depending\u00a0to which aircraft they’ve been assigned, the new pilots will experience slight variations on their centrifuge profile.<\/p>\n If the pilot G-LOCs during either of those centrifuge “rides,” the ride stops.\u00a0 (And everyone watches on the closed circuit tv as the pilot regains consciousness; the rush of blood back to the brain causes random muscle movements and disorientation\u00a0that looks like the pilot is flailing his arms and legs, otherwise known as “the funky chicken.”)\u00a0 Most often, the technicians speak with the pilot, attempt to correct any deficiencies, and try again.\u00a0 However, if the pilot is unable to “pass,” that is, stay conscious, they will not progress beyond the centrifuge.\u00a0 If it is the pre-T-38 ride, they will likely be transferred to T-1s and enter the heavy, rather than fighter pilot, track.\u00a0 If it is post-pilot training for a specific airframe, they will lose their fighter and be re-assigned to a low-G airframe.<\/p>\n Future F-16 pilots are required to stay conscious under a force of 9 Gs for 10 seconds, which is admittedly no small feat.\u00a0 In fact, sustaining Gs in the centrifuge is significantly more difficult than in the actual aircraft and is extremely physically demanding.\u00a0 Fortunately, so long as fighter pilots stay current in their airframe–and do not have any g-related problems\u00a0while operational–they are not required to return to the centrifuge.\u00a0 It is a “one time good deal.”<\/p>\n Though sometimes the object of scorn and derision for the pain it causes its victims (both physically, for those that endure it, and emotionally for those whose career paths change as a result of it), the training and experience of the centrifuge undoubtedly save lives.\u00a0 Fighter pilots fly high performance aircraft, and\u00a0without the proper training, they would be more likely to G-LOC.\u00a0 When a pilot G-LOCs, it may take 10 to 60 seconds to\u00a0regain enough mental acuity to continue\u00a0flying.\u00a0 Since fighter pilots generally fly in single seat aircraft, G-LOCs frequently results in the\u00a0loss of both the aircraft and pilot, since the aircraft impacts the ground before the fighter pilot finishes ‘waking up.’<\/p>\n There are many ‘hard tests’ that fighter pilots and military officers must endure in order to progress.\u00a0 Those who desire to succeed must pay attention to their training, persevere through the challenge, learn from the experience, and then reach back and help those who will follow after them.<\/p>\n