I bet you guys dont possess a back with magical powers like mine.......Always gives me advance warning of impending crap weather
Yes me too. My knee provides a backup function, it makes an audible cracking noise going upstairs in cold weather.
I also had an increasingly severe back problem whilst instructing on the Gazelle, so I visited a chiropracter. He checked me over (without having asked my personal history or occupation) and announced: "Hmmm....
are you a helicopter pilot, by any chance?"
Unfortunately it has traditionally gone with the job. The Puma HC1 originally had a seat cushion with stuffing about 25mm thick (usually compressed to half that) before they put in the bum-shaped PSP with a nice lambswool cover. Also, the shoulder harness reel was located at the top of the half-height seat back; pulling on the straps crunched you up into something resembling the penthouse occupant of Notre Dame cathedral, rather than offering much torso forward restraint.
Use of heavy PNG and later NVG and the lead counterweight didn't help either.
No wonder many of us are now slouching cripples in later years.
