On Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 10:23:55 AM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
Agreed.....what is the cost of an O2 refill vs. a bad outcome?!?!??

Poor physical health, smoking (my bad....don't harp....I get enough already....), lack of sleep, different start point (coastal pilot suddenly flying at Denver or similar....) etc.
In general, I see no real downside to excess O2 other than sorta hyperventilating.....not great, but the opposite is way worse.
When you go O2 low, first thing to go is higher thinking.....exactly what you need then.....

No....have not done an altitude chamber....
No....have not done much flying above 10K'ASL.....
Yes, did a gold climb with no external O2 to about 13.5K' on the eastern seaboard.

Personally, I use a Mountain Pulse-Ox system that I set to come at 10,000 ft which you usually reach in a few minutes in the high desert. People, simply, should not bring gliders not equipped with O2 into this environment.

I took an altitude chamber ride to 25,000 ft, but that was 40 years ago. And half the day was spent in the classroom discussing physiological effects. Now they only take you to 18,000. All of the comments about physical degradation are, of course, valid and a wise pilot pays attention to them, especially drugs, dehydration and sleep quality. The basic problem with pushing the limits are the consequences of going past them. Remember, most accidents a series of factors that align malevolently, not just a single one.

Tom