Airsickness
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For some reason I used to get a perverse (or maybe I was just bored) pleasure from putting a steaming hot meal under the nose of someone (usually a wetman) who really was not feeling too well, and was busy on an ops trip and had nowhere to go; watching them throw up into a sick bag and pressing the AQS buttons at the same time somehow seemed to make the hours fly by more quickly.
Y_G
Y_G
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Only a fraction off topic but...
You know when you reach that point with sickness where you're fairly sure that things have returned to normal but there's that niggling doubt? This kind of thing especially happens when you have gastroenteritis etc. but works equally well after a session of projectile vomiting in a post bladdered world...
Hot, sweet, milky tea... The hot bit is comforting, the sweet bit imparts almost immediate sugar to the system - something that is often needed and the milky part provides some fatty content to help reline the stomach...
But by far the most important benefit of the "cure" is that it, almost without fail, tastes exactly the same coming up as it did going down... Much more pleasant should your body decide that it isn't quite ready yet...
You know when you reach that point with sickness where you're fairly sure that things have returned to normal but there's that niggling doubt? This kind of thing especially happens when you have gastroenteritis etc. but works equally well after a session of projectile vomiting in a post bladdered world...
Hot, sweet, milky tea... The hot bit is comforting, the sweet bit imparts almost immediate sugar to the system - something that is often needed and the milky part provides some fatty content to help reline the stomach...
But by far the most important benefit of the "cure" is that it, almost without fail, tastes exactly the same coming up as it did going down... Much more pleasant should your body decide that it isn't quite ready yet...
Oh the never to be forgotten sensation when a stude, on calling 'Finals three g......' never got to finish the call as he vomitted into his face mask - with his thumb firmly on the TX button
Everyone on 'Local' freq could 'feel' the trickling down from their ears
Everyone on 'Local' freq could 'feel' the trickling down from their ears
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Recall trundling off to do a demo jump from a DC3 a few years back. The evening before was pretty hectic and a mild hangover didn't help things. Managed to spray brekkie out of the car window on the way to the airfield and picked up a cheeseburger once there to replace the fats and sugars a growing boy requires. Made sure I boarded last to remain near the door but before we were even airborne, a couple of posing twonks had stationed themselves between me and said door and were flicking back their curly locks in the breeze, impressing the pants off their girlfriends who were on the aircraft as well. Went OK until run in when a couple of mock charges became the real thing and I lurched for the door with cheeks bulging. Managed to narrowly miss one twonk as I fired the cheeseburger out into the slipstream, the expression on his face priceless as a semi digested cheeseburger shot past his nose. His mate behind him then lost it as well and chucked on his rig and the back of his neck. Fortunately we were about ready to go, the green came on a second or two later and we all left before the interior of the DC3 became a charnel house of intestinal bacteria.
In the mid 70s when the Mk1 Mighty Hunter was based in Malta we used to have do the MAD Comp procedure with the pilots flying the aircraft manually. The manoeuvres were a number of repetitions of 5 degrees up and down in pitch, followed by 5 degrees left and right in roll, followed by similar in yaw, followed by a combination, all to be carried out in 5 second iterations. Depending on the aircraft and the skill of the pilot this could sometimes take well over an hour to complete. As this could often make the most hardy souls vomit, it would be flown as a dedicated sortie with a min crew (7). These manoeuvres coupled with the high med temperatures were not the most popular sorties.
As I had an iron constitution, I used to volunteer. On one such sortie they had difficulty finding a nav volunteer, so our second nav Mi*e P*le a well known hurler was joed. The pilot was the Sqn QFI, a silky pair of hands known as Captain Mannering. Unfortuneately the Station Commander a non Nimrod pilot, whose son later became an astronaut, decided he would come along as the co pilot.
All was going well, although the nav was greener than his flying suit, when the Staish asked if he could have a go. How could the Captain refuse! Instead of 5 degrees and 5 seconds we were all over the sky and smooth was not in his vocabulary. Needless to say the nav started to hurl, and in no time at all he was on his 3rd bag. He was swearing off intercom and questioning the Staish's parentage. When bag 4 was called into service, he said "f**k this" and opened his mic so that all could get the benefit of him retching. After a few calls of "live Mike", he said "I am just". "Whats the problem nav", asked the Staish at which point he was told in no uncertain terms. Shortly followed from the flight deck by "you have control".
Happy days.
As I had an iron constitution, I used to volunteer. On one such sortie they had difficulty finding a nav volunteer, so our second nav Mi*e P*le a well known hurler was joed. The pilot was the Sqn QFI, a silky pair of hands known as Captain Mannering. Unfortuneately the Station Commander a non Nimrod pilot, whose son later became an astronaut, decided he would come along as the co pilot.
All was going well, although the nav was greener than his flying suit, when the Staish asked if he could have a go. How could the Captain refuse! Instead of 5 degrees and 5 seconds we were all over the sky and smooth was not in his vocabulary. Needless to say the nav started to hurl, and in no time at all he was on his 3rd bag. He was swearing off intercom and questioning the Staish's parentage. When bag 4 was called into service, he said "f**k this" and opened his mic so that all could get the benefit of him retching. After a few calls of "live Mike", he said "I am just". "Whats the problem nav", asked the Staish at which point he was told in no uncertain terms. Shortly followed from the flight deck by "you have control".
Happy days.
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Drugs son and lots of them, and none of the cheap crap that you get from the scab lifters.
18+ years and still a chucker doesn't help sitting sideways with no window, they get rid rid of the paper and give me pink blends to look at.
YG I will get my revenge, though Branters serving honkers was worse
.
Picture the scene, four spaceys sat in the Galley one young siggie playing the sick bag joke with ISK finest spag bols, appear with spoon and start chowing down, cue spue 1-4 all over the galley and each other including their Mae Wests. One gash bag full of safety equipment and a portion of choccy bars to squippers
.
I would just like to state that it was always airsickness that caused it even on the bus pre-flight
.
Charlie sends
18+ years and still a chucker doesn't help sitting sideways with no window, they get rid rid of the paper and give me pink blends to look at.YG I will get my revenge, though Branters serving honkers was worse
.Picture the scene, four spaceys sat in the Galley one young siggie playing the sick bag joke with ISK finest spag bols, appear with spoon and start chowing down, cue spue 1-4 all over the galley and each other including their Mae Wests. One gash bag full of safety equipment and a portion of choccy bars to squippers
.I would just like to state that it was always airsickness that caused it even on the bus pre-flight
.Charlie sends
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Chunk of fresh peeled ginger the size of your thumb, squashed with a small hammer or rolling pin and then covered with hot water in a mug and allowed to infuse for five minutes before drinking is meant to settle the stomach.
Allegedly...
Allegedly...
Might be dating myself...
but wasn't there a "wings laden flying (psycho?) doc" who would put the poor vomit-prone folks through it at one point? De-sensetysing n'all that. All a bit of a blur but guessing a North Luffenham type with access to a Hunter.
More sober minds will prevail, no doubt...
More sober minds will prevail, no doubt...
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
They would then start to spin the little b
r so slowly that the little hairs in the semi-circulars did not sense any movement. The spinning speed would slowly increase but without any sensation inside.I seem to remember watching afterwards when the thing was orbiting like a spin drier. Then they would stop it. They never really explained anything and it had b
r all relevance to sitting in the back of the Domnie. If the Dominie span, "we're all going to die Capt'n Mannering"I know I could not drive home for some hours and was distinctly unwell the following day.
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SJD, a long time ago I started flying on the Chippy with London UAS at White Waltham; picture the scene on Sat morning, as I clamber into the cockpit, still squiffy from the night before's fun and games. I'm wearing my UAS issue (very baggy) flying suit, big shiny boots, cloth inner helmet and silver bonedome, with the oxy mask that smells like the inside of your oldest pair of wellies. My flying gloves are not the issue ones (none in stores at the time), but a very natty pair of Jackie Stewart black leather racing gloves (with the perforated back - more of which later). My QFI springs into the rear cockpit, full of the joys of spring and tells me to fire her up. I duly pull the chain to fire the cartridge starter (12 bore, I think) and the acrid, pungent smoke wafts straight back in my face, not helping at all; squiffiness is now replaced by queasiness. But we get airborne OK and set sail for the Lambourne Downs. After a couple of stalls and spins, I have to barf; but I've forgotten the barf bag, so in desperation peel off one of my gloves, aiming to fill it, then use the natty velcro straps to seal it up, no problem. Unfortunately, as I shoot my 70 proof stomach contents into the glove, its perforated holes come into play and the strained contents are neatly jetted all over me and the cockpit. We arrive back at White Waltham, after what seems like a week. After landing, QFI stalks off and I'm detailed to clean things up. It didn't happen again.
There was the tale of the young subbie passenger passing a piece of paper to the SNCO pilot in S. Armagh that read "I bet you can't make me sick!"
He fumbled in his pockets for a minute or so and then passed back his pay statement.
He fumbled in his pockets for a minute or so and then passed back his pay statement.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
6Z3 I wasn't g happy.
In all I think they were selected for their sadistic streak. If it doen't hurt then there is no value.
I remember one visit where I was back within 6 months. I was just about to go into the bang chamber when the wg cdr boss saw me. "You don't want to do that" he said and called me in to his office for a chat and a coffee. Great bloke.
Years later one of the 'real' docs, the anti-sport type, who could explain why exercise was bad for the bends and who enjoyed the Ruddles as much as the next man, turns up at a secret Tornado base in Lincolnshire as the Locum. Still the same bluff humour but clearly lost a large part of the cranium. Couldn't remember whether it was Christmas or Easter or your face from one day to the next.
Too much oxygen perhaps
g happy.In all I think they were selected for their sadistic streak. If it doen't hurt then there is no value.
I remember one visit where I was back within 6 months. I was just about to go into the bang chamber when the wg cdr boss saw me. "You don't want to do that" he said and called me in to his office for a chat and a coffee. Great bloke.
Years later one of the 'real' docs, the anti-sport type, who could explain why exercise was bad for the bends and who enjoyed the Ruddles as much as the next man, turns up at a secret Tornado base in Lincolnshire as the Locum. Still the same bluff humour but clearly lost a large part of the cranium. Couldn't remember whether it was Christmas or Easter or your face from one day to the next.
Too much oxygen perhaps
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When I was a young chap in the ATC we went to an airfield for a spot of AEF. I wasn’t flying till later in the afternoon. We were kindly supplied with packed lunches in which everyone seemed to get prawn cocktail crisps. Now some had flown and some were flying and there was an abundance of prawn cocktail crisps left over. I managed about 5 bags before being called up for my go in the chipmunk. Off we went and did nothing to extravagant. The crisps decided to make a re emergence and I was flown back to the airfield very gently, clutching my rather smelly bag of sick.
I have never eaten prawn cocktail crisps since and the smell makes me want to throw up even now. Funnily enough I have done similar things with both whiskey and cider and the mere smell of them make’s me heave.
I have never eaten prawn cocktail crisps since and the smell makes me want to throw up even now. Funnily enough I have done similar things with both whiskey and cider and the mere smell of them make’s me heave.
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Nearly drowned in a Bulldog during an incipient spinning exercise. Felt ill due to a UAS party the night before and tried, unsuccessfully, to take my mask off before hurling. The subsequent mixture of grapefruit chunks and full fry clogged the mask's valves and, with panic setting in, I still couldn't get the damn mask off. Shortly before turning blue, gravity (assisted by blowing out) eventually took its course and the breakfast cocktail passed through the valves and out the side of the mask. Flown home by the irate instructor (Hi Dennis) with the canopy open a notch. Oh how the groundcrew laughed as they passed me a bucket and sponge.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
SJD, there seems to be a common recurring theme to aircrew and airsickness, can't quite put my finger on it but at 16 it is hopeful not what caused your anxiety attack.
I think it may concern what you eat before flight.
but at 16 it is hopeful not what caused your anxiety attack.I think it may concern what you eat before flight.
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I've never actually heaved my ring up whilst airborne, but have come close a few times...
When I fly with a mate of mine in his(or rather his clubs) Falke motorglider, we both take it in turns to soar-15 mins max each before we have to swap. If you're 'pilot handling' you can crank it round on a wingtip for hours, but take your hand off the stick, and within 10 mins you're feeling distinctly rough.
Mate of mine filled 3 bags whilst a space cadet in a VC10 on circuits and bumps. Everyone else was fine
Got VERY close whilst riding in the back seat of a MDM Fox with the German aerobatic teams coach. The Fox is a glider that's designed to go down! 2 sets of straps, as tight as possible plus a bit!
An amazing flight. But apart from the tow to 1000m, I think we were actually upright for about 30 seconds, and that was the round-out
We 'only' had +6 and -2 on the G-meter but that was enough for me! Strangely, the inverted turns were the worst- Imagine a 40° banked turn, but with your head on upside down on the outside of the turn
As to boats, well I've only fed the fishes once in the Red Sea, but in my defence, I'd been ill from both ends for the previous 2 days! It's actiually quite spectacular there, cos you can see the big fishies eating your breakfast I did dive afterwards, but spent my dive throwing up underwater...yes, it CAN be done, but only with liquid contents else it blocks your valve
Had someone throw up out of a balloon a couple of years ago. They'd had a bad case of Montezumas revenge(we discovered later!) and shouldn't have flown really. Anyway, she let it be known that she wasn't in the best of health, and promptly loosed her lunch(it was a pm flight) out over the side at 4000' - Its quite interesting at that height, cos it spreads out in a multi-coloured fan pattern...wish I'd had a camera
Still, at least she had the courtesy to do it over the side, unlike the passenger in our Chief Pilots' basket last year, who lasted until about 45 seconds before the landing before projectile vomiting over her sister, and losing it from the other end at the same time....Several other pax were close to losing it after that display, and the CP was retching too!...We threw away the floor padding, but the poor Crew Chief had a lovely job scrubbing the sidewall cushions....
When I fly with a mate of mine in his(or rather his clubs) Falke motorglider, we both take it in turns to soar-15 mins max each before we have to swap. If you're 'pilot handling' you can crank it round on a wingtip for hours, but take your hand off the stick, and within 10 mins you're feeling distinctly rough.
Mate of mine filled 3 bags whilst a space cadet in a VC10 on circuits and bumps. Everyone else was fine
Got VERY close whilst riding in the back seat of a MDM Fox with the German aerobatic teams coach. The Fox is a glider that's designed to go down! 2 sets of straps, as tight as possible plus a bit!
An amazing flight. But apart from the tow to 1000m, I think we were actually upright for about 30 seconds, and that was the round-out
We 'only' had +6 and -2 on the G-meter but that was enough for me! Strangely, the inverted turns were the worst- Imagine a 40° banked turn, but with your head on upside down on the outside of the turn
As to boats, well I've only fed the fishes once in the Red Sea, but in my defence, I'd been ill from both ends for the previous 2 days! It's actiually quite spectacular there, cos you can see the big fishies eating your breakfast
I did dive afterwards, but spent my dive throwing up underwater...yes, it CAN be done, but only with liquid contents else it blocks your valveHad someone throw up out of a balloon a couple of years ago. They'd had a bad case of Montezumas revenge(we discovered later!) and shouldn't have flown really. Anyway, she let it be known that she wasn't in the best of health, and promptly loosed her lunch(it was a pm flight) out over the side at 4000' - Its quite interesting at that height, cos it spreads out in a multi-coloured fan pattern...wish I'd had a camera
Still, at least she had the courtesy to do it over the side, unlike the passenger in our Chief Pilots' basket last year, who lasted until about 45 seconds before the landing before projectile vomiting over her sister, and losing it from the other end at the same time....Several other pax were close to losing it after that display, and the CP was retching too!...We threw away the floor padding, but the poor Crew Chief had a lovely job scrubbing the sidewall cushions....
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In the mid 80's there was a certain - opinionated - staff Nav on 236 OCU that opined that people were only getting airsick 'because they wanted to' - yeah, right
Had the misfortune of meeting up with the chiseller again some years later when he was a staff Nav at CFS - oddly enough, still a chiseller, and no less opinionated either!
Had the misfortune of meeting up with the chiseller again some years later when he was a staff Nav at CFS - oddly enough, still a chiseller, and no less opinionated either!
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Ideally, to help avoid air sickness, you need a window seat
Inside a tube, eyes will observe straight and level - ear canals will contradict - brain interprets a role confusion and instructs the stomach to complain and sort it out - Barff
Then of course, we go night flying - Barff
Brain wins every time - that's why you need brains to be aircrew!
Inside a tube, eyes will observe straight and level - ear canals will contradict - brain interprets a role confusion and instructs the stomach to complain and sort it out - Barff
Then of course, we go night flying - Barff
Brain wins every time - that's why you need brains to be aircrew!
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SJD, there seems to be a common recurring theme to aircrew and airsickness, can't quite put my finger on it
Thank you all for your stories and info and also for some of the more graphic details
From what I can see from these posts, if I’m lucky enough to get in, I'm definitely going to suffer from it at some point! Hopefully if/when it does happen it'll make for another good story!
Cheers
