Learn about the body's respiratory system, hypoxia and its symptoms, the training and engineering solutions that protect pilots form hypoxia, aircraft pressurization systems, and more. Learners will join in engaging discussions with the teacher and each other, view videos, images and diagrams, and hear first hand stories of high altitude flight from a real pilot. 

 We will look at our familiar everyday experience with these forces, dive into a scientific explanation of acceleration, and apply this knowledge to aviation. Stunt pilots, race pilots and fighter pilots must have a thorough understanding of these "G-forces"--they can be deadly! We will learn not only how acceleration effects pilots, but how pilots protect themselves from harm when flying "at the edge of the envelope." 

 Located inside your inner-ear, the vestibular system gives us a large portion of our sense of motion. It works great walking on the ground and durning other normal, daily activities. Taken into the 3-D realm of aviation, however, and it can play dangerous tricks on a pilot. The result is spatial disorientation--literally, not knowing which way is up. In this class we will explore how the vestibular system works, what flight conditions can trick it, and how pilots and engineers deal with it.