Egress Inverted
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,235
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From: Niort
I have had the dubious pleasure of escaping an overturned aircraft. High wing taildragger we did the classic somersault.
Good thing is you can see it coming and so have time to brace and avoid any nasty bits. Bad thing is that obviously you end up hanging in the straps. Getting out was straight forward, open the door, arm raised as high as possible and open quick release. You fall less than a foot onto you outstretched arm and if you have used the correct arm, partly out of the door. That meant I was able to help the pilot out, switch things off etc.
At the time I had a bubble canopy aircraft and it certainly would not resist a kick delivered with the force you can summon in an incident (it broke when the side opening canopy hit the wing. Talking to a chap who inverted the same type he said the windscreen hoop was strong enough and there was room to squirm around and kick your way out.
It is a bit traumatic but a little bit of thinking goes a long way.
Good thing is you can see it coming and so have time to brace and avoid any nasty bits. Bad thing is that obviously you end up hanging in the straps. Getting out was straight forward, open the door, arm raised as high as possible and open quick release. You fall less than a foot onto you outstretched arm and if you have used the correct arm, partly out of the door. That meant I was able to help the pilot out, switch things off etc.
At the time I had a bubble canopy aircraft and it certainly would not resist a kick delivered with the force you can summon in an incident (it broke when the side opening canopy hit the wing. Talking to a chap who inverted the same type he said the windscreen hoop was strong enough and there was room to squirm around and kick your way out.
It is a bit traumatic but a little bit of thinking goes a long way.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 645
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From: europe
I have a vague recollection of some poor chap who died following a forced landing in a Harvard. The aircraft tipped over on soft ground and he was left completely uninjured hanging upside down in his straps. Unfortunately it took a while for the aircraft to be found, and then longer to upright the aircraft (due to the soft ground) to get him out. In the meanwhile he died - and if memory serves correctly it was as a result of kidney failure due to our kidneys not working while inverted.
I'll dig out the report later to check my memory.
I'll dig out the report later to check my memory.
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 5
From: The Wild West (UK)
I'd be very sceptical about kidneys not working whilst inverted. If you had fairly severe pre-existing disease with marginal blood supply to your kidneys it might exacerbate it. As would being stuck in a hot canopy without a drink.
Kidneys presumably work reasonably in zero G or else astronauts would all die. David Blaine did a stunt a few years back where he spent a few days upside down. He had the occasional break but as kidneys don't like being starved of blood for even a few minutes, if it had a major effect he would have suffered long-term damage anyhow.
Kidneys presumably work reasonably in zero G or else astronauts would all die. David Blaine did a stunt a few years back where he spent a few days upside down. He had the occasional break but as kidneys don't like being starved of blood for even a few minutes, if it had a major effect he would have suffered long-term damage anyhow.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 645
Likes: 0
From: europe
Treadigraph, no it wasn't that one. I spent a few mins searching myself and couldn't find it so perhaps my memory is playing tricks on me again.
Anyway, back to what I was doing.....if I can remember what that was
Anyway, back to what I was doing.....if I can remember what that was
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay, WI, USA
In a previous life I drove rally cars, and we ended up upside down all the time. I learned quickly that the secret is to reach down and grab the bottom of the seat with one arm, and undue the harness with the other. If you put your arm on the ceiling (now floor) and try to hold yourself up, you'll find it bent at an odd angle and it will instantly collapse, along with your body which will be a tangled heap. Holding the base of the seat puts your arm in tension (much stronger!) and allows you to control your, ahem... descent.
Do not underestimate how disorienting a roll over can be! Especially at night. (and I don't even want to think about water) As with most of flying, procedures, checklists, and training are your friend.
DEM
Do not underestimate how disorienting a roll over can be! Especially at night. (and I don't even want to think about water) As with most of flying, procedures, checklists, and training are your friend.
DEM
