On Friday, May 19, 2017 at 11:20:36 AM UTC-4, quietpilot wrote:
Bouncing off a comment from another thread.

a number of we "not in our 40s anymore" pilots are setting the O2 to kick in at 5000 msl.

O2 is cheap. Clarity of mind at altitude - priceless!


Being in the middle of my 40s myself. I recall spending time periodically in various smoke filled rooms when I was younger before the attacks on tobacco set laws in motion. Although I didn't smoke myself, the 2nd hand effects were noticeable even then. Do people who set their O2 to start at 5kmsl think environmental factors were important or just adjusting to the requirements of age in the interest of safety? I start feeling the need about 12kmsl and set it at 10K

O2 cheap? Perhaps in Hobbs, in the midwest all I get are weird looks. I have had an empty tank for years but would like to take the fiberglass stallion somewhere more dynamic eventually and not have to hunt for 02 once there.

Curiously

Don't skimp on O2! I flew the Sports Class Nats in Parowan a number of years ago in my H301. It had an A8A which needs to be adjusted for altitude manually. Since I had only a small tank for weight reasons, I turned the O2 on and off as I dipped below 12k ft. I made it home w/o problems but when I got out of the ship and pushed the old gal towards the trailer, I developed a splitting headache the likes I never experienced before. I put the glider in the cradle, donned the mask and turned on the O2 to max flow. I emptied the tank by taking deep breaths making sure not to hyper-ventilate. Within a few minutes, the headache was gone and I felt great again.
I can only recommend to take a high altitude physiological training session, aka high altitude chamber ride. I took mine in Dayton, OH but I think this chamber is no longer available.

Uli
'AS'