Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Naudet on November 13, 2001, 01:46:00 AM
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After reading tons of books, i encountered a few times the following statement.
The half lying seat position in Bf109 and FW190 enable there pilots to withstand higher G-Loads, than if they would be placed in a normal sitting position.
The advantage is about 1,5-2Gs (maybe 1-1,5Gs cant remember clearly).
Now my question, is this right?
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F-16s have the pilots in a reclining position to better withstand G's... if it isn't right then it is a fairly widespread urban legend.
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I'm not familiar with the Fw190s, but that was certainly the case of the Bf109.
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I know that the pilot in the FW190 was in a half-lying (reclining?? -sry dont know that word) position.
It was mentioned in a few sources, and a couple of diagrams also show it.
It was usually mentioned together with the fact that the pilot could withstnad G-Loads better in this position.
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Lying down is the best position to be in to withstand G forces. Reclined is good also. But the main factor is the individual pilot and his condition of health.
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190's had a two-step rudder, so in a high G fight, the pilot could keep his feet higher and lean back a little, that would help some.
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Anyone who's seen a 109 cockpit can tell you that the seat isn't reclined. What made the difference between the 109 and the Spit in 1940 was the height of the rudder pedals relative to the seat. Since high G causes blood to pool in your lower body, the less vertical distance between your feet and your head, the better. The early Spit's rudders were pretty low.
AFAIK this particular issue was recognised and rectified by the British fairly promptly. I've never seen any suggestion that there was a disparity in ability to withstand G in the latter years of the war.
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I believe that due to lack of understanding of G's and lack of training in anti-G-straining, it was very much individual how much each pilot could withstand. Reclined seats helps some, but I dont think the difference is all that big. I'd reckon it would be about 0.5 to maybe 1 G extra..
Daff
[ 11-13-2001: Message edited by: Daff ]
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1 year a go mentioned this litle detail , the pilot position and G loads , well even many alied test pilots discovered that some Lw planes have seat in position to vitstand more Gs less blackout .......
now check the seat position in the planes :D
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I'm fairly sure it was the 190 that had the "G resistant" inclined seating, not the 109; and it was indeed effective.
On the other hand, By the time Yeager was getting his kills, he was wearing a G suit....