Why Fly only seated

Gill Couto wrote in message news:RWZHb.32862$J77.2112@fed1read07...
I think that nails it. Flying prone in a hang glider is not a problem
because the G's are rarely significant even with the extra weight of
the helmet. Visibility and comfort also add up to make the
"lawn-chair position" ideal as several have suggested. You can just
take a lot more G's that way.

I pull the same G's in HG as in gliders on a regular basis, up to
about 3.5. The body will take much more G prone than sitting, unless
your brain is in your butt. G induced LOC happens because the blood
leaves the head. The problem with prone is having to hold your head up
all day. Sitting up is an inferior position for pulling G's, but it's
alot more comfortable.

The reason I asked this question is because I took sailplane lessons
last year, after several years of hang gliding. I found a number of
things that took some getting used to, starting with the comfy seat.
It took many flights before my instructor stopped telling me to not
weight-shift the plane with my shoulders.


GillCouto.com
Evolution is a slow process, but when you get it sorted out, you will
find out why it's a superior position. I initially crossed over to
sailplane because of back problems, and Im glad we don't fly them
prone.



I think if you look deep enough you might find that the "head first" position
is prohibited by the FAA regs. Mac

Really? What FAR is that?

JJ Sinclair wrote:


Something that no one has mentioned yet is the effect on your inner ear when
pulling G's with your head down. Maybe some of our medical types could expand
on this. I once saw an F-102, roll into an overhead pattern, looked down to
change radio frequency and flew right into the ground.
JJ Sinclair

Im quite aware of that effect, JJ, looking down & to the right during
a left turn is supposed to cause vertigo, suprisingly I've never
experianced anything like that, even doing aerobatics prone. Must be
physiologically different when flying on your belly like a reptile, as
I've never heard of anyone get that effect while hang gliding.

-Dan