Has Piloting "ruined" Roller-coasters for anyone else?
 

Ever since I first landed a C-152 in a heavy crosswind, I feel like any roller-coaster I go on is "weak".

There is no feeling, no cobra loop, no haunted elevator, no mutant, superhero or monster that can compare to the normal operations of a small aircraft.

I just want to practice more power-on stalls or rent a Pitts or.. Something..

Added : Current consensus seems to be 50/50 - apperently we're all human with different tastes and experiences. Lol

My experience is the other way around. Before going near a roller coaster, I did all the basic aero stuff 40 years ago, instantly suffering nausea from the rolling/looping etc. and headache from pulling g.

When I finally got to Six Flags it had exactly the same effect. Apparently, if I did a lot of either the symptoms would go away - but I can't afford to do one let alone both. Shame really, because I enjoy both!

Having a father who was an engineer at Sikorsky, and then following that path in life myself ruined roller coasters for me. Besides being afraid of heights I wonder how good the design and maintenance is, and if they considered fatigue life.

On the other hand when I fly aerobatics I have confidence in the airplane, plenty of altitude, and a chute.

The annual symposium of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots is held at the Disney Grand Californian Hotel, right next to Disneyland in Annaheim. Attending one year, we had an evening out at the park, where I had the fun of going on one of the more impressive rides with a group of test pilots, most of them military or ex military.

Lots of "that's interesting", "how do they achieve that effect?", "what sort of acceleration do you think that is?". Complete lack of screams.

We enjoyed ourselves to be honest, but I'm not sure there was a lot of adrenaline being released.

G

Not being a "Professional", it's the opposite for me.

I did a lot of Chipmunk aerobatics many years ago and since then a few sporadic sessions in Citabrias and gliders. Recently I did some flying in a friend's Christen Eagle II. It was the first time I had flown an aircraft with a full-inverted system. After a fairly vigorous flight, as we were shutting down, I noticed the needles on the G-meter indicating +7 and -3.

Me: "Ted, I didn't think we pulled that much G!"
Ted: "Adrenaline will do that to you."

:E​​​​​​​