What are some methods used to maintain while pulling g's?

Question

I'm talking about going from negative to positive g's, or vise versa...and "circulation" in regards to that sudden rush of blood from legs to cranium (or vise versa) to avoid greying out, blacking out, hypoxia, etc.

What are some methods you use when not in a g-suit?

Answer 1

Two things one can do in the cockpit:

1- Tense your arms/ upper body.  This will help keep the blood from pooling.  To avoid Red-outs tense up your abdomen and legs.  Slows the blood in the opposite direction.

2- The "L-1" maneuver. This is straining/grunting. The best way I can describe it is straining on the toilet.  It raises one's BP fast and is very effective up to 6 G's or so.

The single best physiological issue is excellent upperbody strength.  A workout regimen will definitely help one's G-tolerance.

Answer 2

To sustain Gs (without the g-suit) you need strong stomach muscles. Tense them under both positive and negative G conditions and you will have a higher 'G' thresh hold. Stomach muscles best control the flow of blood to and away from the brain. The legs, without a G-suit, really cannot be of any great help. It is only by tensing your stomach muscles that you control blood flow from your legs. A higher 'g' thresh hold will give you longer times before greying/blacking out. Holding your breath while tensing your stomach muscles also helps.

Hypoxia - practice deep breathing, thereby increasing your lungs capacity. While pulling Gs and holding your breath with stomach muscles tensed will stall onset of hypoxa.