F-22 Raptor missing in Alaska - search underway . . .
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The blood supply to the earlobe does not represent the blood flow to the brain so is no good. The USAF are looking are ear canal probes but they are not in common use and probably have the same limitations as other probes.
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Rectal 
Does it have to clip on to a extremity, could it not be done by say a stick on pad? Fascinating stuff... Surely the best place to have anything would be a sensor to measure oxygen supply at the mask that warns if the supply falls below a certain amount, after all by the time the reduction is measured in the blood, that is further along the timeline, one would have thought catching it earlier at the end of the supply line would be the way forward.
Does it have to clip on to a extremity, could it not be done by say a stick on pad? Fascinating stuff... Surely the best place to have anything would be a sensor to measure oxygen supply at the mask that warns if the supply falls below a certain amount, after all by the time the reduction is measured in the blood, that is further along the timeline, one would have thought catching it earlier at the end of the supply line would be the way forward.
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
Hmmmm.... employ a physiological oxygen detecting system or procure a $300M Fighter with an oxygen system that works - it's a tough call.
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So, there has been talk on here about these guys "jumping the chain of command" and whatnot. Here is my take, as a former officer in the USAF...
There is an inspector general process for these kinds of cases. Most likely, the IG process failed these two individuals. One of them was already undergoing disciplinary action, Letter of Reprimand in this case. An LOR can be career ending for an officer as it can lead to uncompetitiveness for promotion or even separation. He was also facing a Flight Evaluation Board (not good)
These gentlemen felt they had no other choice than to go public. So what was the fallout of appearing on 60 minutes? A Senate hearing was held yesterday by the Senate Armed Forces Committee.
F-22 pilot safety issues to go before Senate - CBS News
No punishment for the two individuals under the Whistleblower protection law
Air Force: No punishment for F-22 whistleblowers Captain Josh Wilson and Major Jeremy Gordon - CBS News
There is an inspector general process for these kinds of cases. Most likely, the IG process failed these two individuals. One of them was already undergoing disciplinary action, Letter of Reprimand in this case. An LOR can be career ending for an officer as it can lead to uncompetitiveness for promotion or even separation. He was also facing a Flight Evaluation Board (not good)
These gentlemen felt they had no other choice than to go public. So what was the fallout of appearing on 60 minutes? A Senate hearing was held yesterday by the Senate Armed Forces Committee.
F-22 pilot safety issues to go before Senate - CBS News
No punishment for the two individuals under the Whistleblower protection law
Air Force: No punishment for F-22 whistleblowers Captain Josh Wilson and Major Jeremy Gordon - CBS News
At the Senate hearing Tuesday, lawmakers learned that the top brass of the Air Force has issued a directive that the two pilots who appeared, Captain Josh Wilson and Major Jeremy Gordon, should not be retaliated against.
This is significant because both men faced potential disciplinary action for choosing not to fly the jet over health concerns, and because proceedings have begun already against one of them, Captain Wilson.
When Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown asked General Janet Wolfenbarger to confirm there would be no retaliation against the two pilots, Wolfenbarger said "absolutely" not.
"There is clearly the whistleblower protection, the statute that protects those folks," Wolfenbarger elaborated, adding that she considered the two pilots whistleblowers. "Our chief and our secretary have made that understood in our Air Force."
This is significant because both men faced potential disciplinary action for choosing not to fly the jet over health concerns, and because proceedings have begun already against one of them, Captain Wilson.
When Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown asked General Janet Wolfenbarger to confirm there would be no retaliation against the two pilots, Wolfenbarger said "absolutely" not.
"There is clearly the whistleblower protection, the statute that protects those folks," Wolfenbarger elaborated, adding that she considered the two pilots whistleblowers. "Our chief and our secretary have made that understood in our Air Force."
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Well in the senate hearing, General Wolfenberger acknowledged that they were whistle blowers.
We will see how this plays out.
OK465:
1. One pilot was facing an MEB and a reduction in pay
2. With an LOR, he was facing a possible discharge
3. Read #1 and 2 above
4. In my time in the service, there was no obligating folks to be happy. If folks weren't happy, the good leaders tried to find out what changes needed to be made to improve moral
We will see how this plays out.
OK465:
1. One pilot was facing an MEB and a reduction in pay
2. With an LOR, he was facing a possible discharge
3. Read #1 and 2 above
4. In my time in the service, there was no obligating folks to be happy. If folks weren't happy, the good leaders tried to find out what changes needed to be made to improve moral
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Article on the grounding due to O2 problems -
USAF F-22s Stay Grounded Pending Oxygen System Probe
Article this week about the problem. The fact is they don't know what is going on but put the a/c back on flight status and had further incidents.
USAF Still Lacks
USAF F-22s Stay Grounded Pending Oxygen System Probe
Article this week about the problem. The fact is they don't know what is going on but put the a/c back on flight status and had further incidents.
USAF Still Lacks
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Latest
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered Air Force today to restrict flights of new F-22 stealth fighters; problems with oxygen systems.
10:31am Tues May 15
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered Air Force today to restrict flights of new F-22 stealth fighters; problems with oxygen systems.
10:31am Tues May 15
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
The mysterious engineering problem causing F-22 Raptor pilots to choke in their cockpits has been solved, the Pentagon says. And it’s not the nearly $400 million aircraft’s fault after all.
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A-4 LOX Pure Oxygen Under Pressure
Brian, Early A-4s including the A4G used LOX [Liquid Oxygen] (Pure Oxygen Under Pressure). Dusty King demoed this story on the flight line after a first TA4G sortie. It was impressive. Some A4G pilots had a lingering cough worse than others (Ralph had a particularly bad response) especially to high G at low level. But as indicated a 'cough' usually fixed the problem. However after a long high altitude flight one could experience ear pain during and afterward as the excess oxygen leaked out of tissue to cause one to be constantly clearing one's ears (ou est ein buccaneer?). Youse could expect to wake at night at least once with ear pain to clear de ears. Anyhoo...
‘Where Are They Now? Paul Gillcrist’ by Barrett Tillman
Where Are They Now: Paul Gillcrist
Perils of Pure Oxygen Under Pressure
“...Another prominent influence in Paul's AirPac world was a female aviation physiologist at Alameda. He later learned that she was the first female aviation physiologist in the Navy. "A bunch of us were sitting in a briefing room awaiting the lecture on the use of oxygen equipment when this really attractive brunette walked in. We all sort of straightened up and paid attention. The young lady began the lecture by asking, 'How many of you smoke?' Several hands went up. Then, 'How many of you smoke while flying?' Some hands remained raised."
Without a further word, the physiologist strode to a console, inhaled deeply of 100 percent oxygen from a tank and produced a cigarette lighter. "This little gal blew a big breath, flicked the lighter and ignited a streak of flame right over our heads that seemed about six feet long," Paul recalls with a grin. Then she said, "That's why you don't smoke in the cockpit."
"Believe you me – she made her point! I thought, 'Hmmm... she's all right.'...”
There were sad stories of new USN A-4 pilots lighting up on cross countries to literally go down in flames (with cockpit filled with flames and smoke from the oxygen and any materials on fire).
Kiwis started with the LOX but then changed to a mixture of cabin air and oxygen (similar to Sea Venom system).
‘Where Are They Now? Paul Gillcrist’ by Barrett Tillman
Where Are They Now: Paul Gillcrist
Perils of Pure Oxygen Under Pressure
“...Another prominent influence in Paul's AirPac world was a female aviation physiologist at Alameda. He later learned that she was the first female aviation physiologist in the Navy. "A bunch of us were sitting in a briefing room awaiting the lecture on the use of oxygen equipment when this really attractive brunette walked in. We all sort of straightened up and paid attention. The young lady began the lecture by asking, 'How many of you smoke?' Several hands went up. Then, 'How many of you smoke while flying?' Some hands remained raised."
Without a further word, the physiologist strode to a console, inhaled deeply of 100 percent oxygen from a tank and produced a cigarette lighter. "This little gal blew a big breath, flicked the lighter and ignited a streak of flame right over our heads that seemed about six feet long," Paul recalls with a grin. Then she said, "That's why you don't smoke in the cockpit."
"Believe you me – she made her point! I thought, 'Hmmm... she's all right.'...”
There were sad stories of new USN A-4 pilots lighting up on cross countries to literally go down in flames (with cockpit filled with flames and smoke from the oxygen and any materials on fire).
Kiwis started with the LOX but then changed to a mixture of cabin air and oxygen (similar to Sea Venom system).
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 18th Sep 2012 at 04:05.
A similar effect, irritiation of the alveolae after exposure to high levels of O2, particularly during air combat training, was prevalent in the early days of the Hunter. We were briefed about this during Ruddles and Vindaloo sessions at AMTC North Luffenham; it was know as 'Hunter Lung'.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Air Force to Stealth Fighter Pilots: Get Used to Coughing Fits
The Air Force has some bad news for the pilots of its F-22 Raptor stealth fighters: Your planes are going to make you feel crappy and there’s not much anyone can do about it. And the message to the maintainers of the radar-evading jet is even more depressing. Any illness they feel from working around the Raptor is apparently all in their heads, according to the Air Force...............
The Air Force has some bad news for the pilots of its F-22 Raptor stealth fighters: Your planes are going to make you feel crappy and there’s not much anyone can do about it. And the message to the maintainers of the radar-evading jet is even more depressing. Any illness they feel from working around the Raptor is apparently all in their heads, according to the Air Force...............
Does this F-22 condition affect pilot of similarly agile aircraft, such as the Eurofighter? Or does the EF have a better life support system, reducing the risk of 'Hunter Lung'?
Last edited by BEagle; 26th Feb 2013 at 07:21.
It's a condition caused by using breathing air that's highly enriched with oxygen at increased pressure, especially when performing a g straining manoeuvre. Higher partial pressures of O2 can cause lung irritation on its own, but this is a slightly different mechanism and this sytem would not generate high enough pp of O2 for this to be a factor - on its own.
Think of it this way. If you take a deep breath and hold it, the oxygen in the alveoli in your lungs is absorbed into the blood. As some 80% of the air is nitrogen, which is not absorbed, there is still plenty of gas remaining to keep the lungs inflated. If you do the same with enriched air, the volume of gas absorbed is much greater, which causes significant deflation of the lung.
Under normal circumstances, much of the O2 that's absorbed is replaced by CO2, but doing a g straining manoeuvre means the increased pressure in the lungs stops the CO2 from leaving the blood so it does not replace the absorbed O2. Also the long breath hold involved give time for the lung to start to collapse.
In order to maintain inflation, your body senses the irritation and causes you to cough.
Think of it this way. If you take a deep breath and hold it, the oxygen in the alveoli in your lungs is absorbed into the blood. As some 80% of the air is nitrogen, which is not absorbed, there is still plenty of gas remaining to keep the lungs inflated. If you do the same with enriched air, the volume of gas absorbed is much greater, which causes significant deflation of the lung.
Under normal circumstances, much of the O2 that's absorbed is replaced by CO2, but doing a g straining manoeuvre means the increased pressure in the lungs stops the CO2 from leaving the blood so it does not replace the absorbed O2. Also the long breath hold involved give time for the lung to start to collapse.
In order to maintain inflation, your body senses the irritation and causes you to cough.
