I really don’t have fond memories of going through the centrifuge when I had to do it 7 years ago prior to flying F-16s. For those that don’t know what the centrifuge is, imagine that circus ride that spins around and sticks you to the wall as the floor drops… now imagine doing that while you’re sitting up (rather than laying against the wall) and spinning much faster… faster on the order of 9 Gs (that’s 9 times the weight of gravity, meaning that something like my 15lb-cranium now weighs 135lbs – try benching that with your neck…). It’s really not all that fun.
Because I haven’t flown anything high-performance in the past 3 years and some change, I had to re-qualify in the centrifuge again to prove that my body can still handle the applied weight of flying bat-turns. I think it goes without saying that I was pretty nervous since 
I remember struggling the first time, and that was even with recent flight time under my belt. This time around, I’ve been out of the loop for 3 years! To add more pressure, I didn’t have any wriggle-room in case I had to do it over again. It’s kinda a “do or die” situation to clear the last hurdle before returning to the F-16.
Included is a shot of me hanging on for dear life. Yes, it was as painful as my face looks. The second time around, even though I passed just fine, it certainly still sucked. I found that it seemed a little easier to pull 9 Gs than my first time through 7 years ago. Perhaps that’s an equivalent of what it’s like to give birth? Pam?
Get your butt home and I’ll then let you know if it’s equivalent to childbirth.
There is nothing that can discribe child birth. There is nothing you can compare it to. And I’m sure its worse than pulling 9 G’s. Glad you passed. Now get home!
ah… but child birth doesn’t give you “geasles”… *snicker*
*(geasles = red spots all over your body like measles, from popped capillaries due to the straining and pressure)
I’d take the geasles.
Joan Rivers once tried to relate childbirth to something men could envision:
“Men… take your lower lip and touch your nose with it. Now pull it back over your head.”
(I have to say, you look a little like Stan Laurel of Laurel & Hardy fame)
Hmm… geasles or a ripped up a-hole? Sorry, had to get graphic.
LOVE the picture. K always says that the centrifuge was the worst thing he’s ever had to do in his entire life. EVER.
Geasles = hemorrhoids, stretch marks, sore and bruised nipples, episiotomies and labor, c-section scars?????? Nice try Trav.
KIM !!! PLEASE !!! (see you tomorrow)
Trav ~ AWESOME picture !
yeah… it sucked.
Seriously, on Trav’s behalf, I saw the video of his ‘ride’, and although they told him he’d hit 9 Gs, I noticed that no matter what they told him (5 Gs, 7 Gs …) they still ran him up to at least 8.5 Gs anyway – several times. (kind of like contractions) It looked REALLY uncomfortable, and I think it wouldn’t be such a bad comparison to labor, next to kidney stones, except for the duration of the discomfort and the degree of repair required AFTER the birth. The geasles will be gone after a couple of days compared to the aforementioned body alterations needing to recup after birthing!!! I think it gives him a sense of the severity of the contractions.