Biggest and smallest aviators

"Ed Rasimus" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 22:19:03 GMT, "Aardvark J. Bandersnatch, MP, LP,
BLT, ETC." wrote:


"José Herculano" wrote in message
.. .
I remember reading that one of VF-17s Corsair pilots was so small he had
to
"get creative" to be able to use enough rudder on take off. Sometimes you
see a picture in which it looks like there is a contortionist gorilla in
the cockpit.

I know there are some size guideliness, and also know that there are
waivers signed here and there.

My topic proposal is:

Do you have some good stories to tell about guys that were really too
big
or too small to be in that particular cockpit?

A long time ago, I knew an AF pilot at Tyndall who regularly flew with
about
ten pounds of lead weights in his speed jeans. One day he forgot to put
the
weights in, plane caught fire, he was too light to eject, rode that
flaming
beast (delta dart) all the way back, landed it, walked away smoking.


"Too light to eject"??? Never heard of such a thing during 23 years of
tactical aviation riding a whole variety of boom-seats. We had a
maintainer commit suicide at Korat in '73 by prying the banana links
off of the sear on a Martin-Baker in an F-4 while leaning over the
canopy rail. Seat didn't seem to mind that nobody was sitting in it.

The only thing lead weights in the pockets of the G-suit would do is
insure severe leg fractures in any sort of high speed ejection.

Not being the pilot-y type, I took him/them at his/their word. But I saw him
bring that flaming screaming piece of trash back and down, so I figger he
had a good reason not to punch the button.

aardvark- A long time ago, I knew an AF pilot at Tyndall who regularly flew
with about
ten pounds of lead weights in his speed jeans. One day he forgot to put the
weights in, plane caught fire, he was too light to eject, BRBR


Balderdash...there is no minimum weight to eject.


P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

"Pechs1" wrote in message
...
aardvark- A long time ago, I knew an AF pilot at Tyndall who regularly
flew
with about
ten pounds of lead weights in his speed jeans. One day he forgot to put
the
weights in, plane caught fire, he was too light to eject, BRBR


Balderdash...there is no minimum weight to eject.


Hmmm. Since you'r USN(ret), mayhap you knew an F-4 type name "hermit"?

aardvark- Hmmm. Since you'r USN(ret), mayhap you knew an F-4 type name
"hermit"? BRBR

Nope, but I knew more than a few little guys that didn't carry weights in their
gsuit pockets.

Also before the 'crack aviator' folly....
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

"Pechs1" wrote in message
...
aardvark- Hmmm. Since you'r USN(ret), mayhap you knew an F-4 type name
"hermit"? BRBR

Nope, but I knew more than a few little guys that didn't carry weights in
their
gsuit pockets.

... and we're all so proud of you, too.

Navy had a height restriction in the 50's, I believe it was 5'4".

Guys I knew close, like 5'2" used wads of paper in their socks. In the
SNJ some used foot-blocks to get to the rudder pedals and/or cushios
behind their backpack chutes to get closer to the action. The height
limit was 6'4" I think. Supposedly you had to be less than 6'0 to fly
a Tink (A-4) but that restriction went out the window when we started
running short of Tink drivers on Yankee Station. Biggest guy I ever
saw in a Tink was a CAG named "Tiny" Granning. At least 6'6" and 250,
plane captains actually stuffed him in from both sides. His normal
plane was the Demon them Phantom but I saw him CQ the Tink on the Tico
and it was a wonderment. Another big long legged guy in Phantoms
routinely blew out his tires when arresting because his feet just
surged forward when the wire hit. Best size in most carrier planes was
around 5'10", 150 pounds. Both the F-8 and F-4 had large roomy
cockpits and would take the larger sized guys. I agree this whole
G-lock phenomenom must have been a blue-suiter affliction. Most planes
took some stick pull to get G's. Usually a guy who pulled to more G's
than he could handle just eased off. Out cold you couldn't be pulling
too hard. Releasing the G's normally brought you around pretty quick.
Even very hungover from a big night of stingers I'd get a little tunnel
vision around a G or so before any greying occurred. Maybe the blue
suiters today just go from happy assing around to lala land without
passing go. It's a mystery for sure.