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Blood vessels can expand and contract. That's why fighter pilots without legs can actually withstand higher-g maneuvers. That's also why compression socks can i

by mfoy_ 7y ago

Blood vessels can expand and contract. That's why fighter pilots without legs can actually withstand higher-g maneuvers. That's also why compression socks can improve circulation and reduce swelling in your ankles if you have to stand all day.

cbanek 7y ago
> That's why fighter pilots without legs can actually withstand higher-g maneuvers. You just wrinkled my brain. Is there an actual group of fighter pilots without legs who are taking advantage of this?
- pontifier 7y ago
  I've often wondered if maybe sitting upright might not be the best position for a modern combat pilot. I can see pilot who is laying down pulling far more Gs than even a legless one sitting upright.
  - cbanek 7y ago
    I suppose that makes sense, although that would make visibility harder. Maybe if you went full virtual HUD helmets, and didn't need to see out at all... although then you might just want to have drones with AI dogfighting capability? The other thought about legless pilots is the feet I think are used for the rudder control (pedals), so there is some loss of ability to control without using your feet. While I think computers could probably take this over, in the end it does mean two less things to interact with the plane.
  - Pinckney 7y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor_F8_%22Prone_Pilot%22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor_F8_%22Prone_Pil...
Udik 7y ago
Does this imply that in order to pump blood at the top of a very long neck you don't necessarily need a stronger heart, but just stronger muscles or thicker blood vessels in your legs? In that case the solution to the dinosaurs' problem might be very far from the the heart or the neck.
- mfoy_ 7y ago
  Well, I don't know about dinosaurs, but horses have small blood pumps in their hooves. So each step helps circulate blood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog_(horse_anatomy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog_(horse_anatomy)

by mfoy_ 7y ago

cbanek 7y ago

> That's why fighter pilots without legs can actually withstand higher-g maneuvers. You just wrinkled my brain. Is there an actual group of fighter pilots without legs who are taking advantage of this?

pontifier 7y ago
I've often wondered if maybe sitting upright might not be the best position for a modern combat pilot. I can see pilot who is laying down pulling far more Gs than even a legless one sitting upright.
- cbanek 7y ago
  I suppose that makes sense, although that would make visibility harder. Maybe if you went full virtual HUD helmets, and didn't need to see out at all... although then you might just want to have drones with AI dogfighting capability? The other thought about legless pilots is the feet I think are used for the rudder control (pedals), so there is some loss of ability to control without using your feet. While I think computers could probably take this over, in the end it does mean two less things to interact with the plane.
- Pinckney 7y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor_F8_%22Prone_Pilot%22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor_F8_%22Prone_Pil...

Udik 7y ago

Does this imply that in order to pump blood at the top of a very long neck you don't necessarily need a stronger heart, but just stronger muscles or thicker blood vessels in your legs? In that case the solution to the dinosaurs' problem might be very far from the the heart or the neck.

mfoy_ 7y ago
Well, I don't know about dinosaurs, but horses have small blood pumps in their hooves. So each step helps circulate blood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog_(horse_anatomy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog_(horse_anatomy)