Stunt Flying Sickness?

Question

Hey everyone, I want to be a stunt pilot but there is a big brick wall in my way. I get VERY airsick. I have been in a C182 and 172 on calm days and didn't ever get really sick but I needed to turn on the air once. My point is, is that if I crawl into a Pitts and go for a spin i'm absolutely sure I will spill on the first stunt. My dream is to become a stunt pilot are there any ways to overcome it(not with perscription drugs or that cinammon conspiracy people have...I want to cure it forever)? Thanks a lot everyone! -Lee-

Answer 1

First I'll explain exactly why airsickness happens, as this also explains how you can get over it. This might sound crazy, but it's literally "all in your head". Your brain automatically handles balance using fluids in your inner ear. Sometimes when flying (often in aerobatics or "stunt flying") the signals coming from these fluids in your ears don't match with the signals coming from your eyes and the rest of your body. The brain actually reads this as a hallucination. Unfortunately, these particular mixed signals fool the brain into thinking you've been poisoned, which triggers vomitin to remove those poisons. This is a pretty big roblem for a stunt pilot. The good news, though, is that you can get used to it. For instance, a lot of fighter pilots tell of being sick on their first few aerobatics flights, but adjusting well. When you get up with an instructor, tt's best to start out with light maneuvering and work your way up. Eventually, your brain adjusts and recognizes that you're not actually ill and stops telling the stomach to empty itself. Another issue is that motion sickness is often less of a problem when you're in control rather than riding along. Many people get carsick when they're a passenger, but never when they're driving. The same applies for pilots. This is because you are prepared for the next maneuver, while a passenger isn't. So, eventually, there will be less trouble when YOU'RE the one flying.

The only permanent cure is experience, but it does work. Rarely is anyone sensitive enough that they can't adjust. The best thing you can do is give it time. After a few flights, it should get better.

Answer 2

I think you can get used to it.  I heard that Chuck Yeager got sick the first time he rode in a plane, and Bob Hoover gets sick if anyone else is flying the plane while he is riding.  Turning on the air is normal.  I would start slow and see how you do.  So, why do you want to be a stunt pilot?  Perhaps you will grow into it, or maybe you will realize that something else will fit your goals and abilities better.  Good luck.

Answer 3

You might want to get checked for vertigo. That will cause you to get dizzy whenever your body makes a sudden turn or change of direction.

A simple self test is to shake your head from side to side and see if you feel dizzy or sick to your stomach.

Answer 4

Sorry, to the best of my knowledge there is no cure for it. However when I am training I can feel that I do tolerate the G's better in the end of the season rather then at the start.

So my advice would be start of with the easy stuff and when you can tolerate that, try something more advanced.