Oxygen

[Adlerangriff]

S!

Does anyone have any good info on the use of oxygen in planes? Lets look at all planes prior to Jan 1942 at first and if this actually turns into a semi productive discussion, we can open it up as we go.

I am interested in what the max altitude is that a pilot can fly and actually fight at with no oxygen?

Should this be the max altitude on planes in the game that did not have oxygen in real life? That seems rather silly but I have to ask.

Was there any correlation between radio equipment and oxygen in planes?

So, once again, Lets start in the early war and go from there.

Thanks,
Brandle

[WTE_Galway]

Its not that simple.

Whilst clearly at 30,000 feet you have a very short time until everyone is unconscious (a Beechcraft KingAir was lost here recently because it depressurised and then flew 1000 km further on autopilot with no-one at the controls till it eventually ran out of fuel) there is no "magic" altitude and it effects differently people differently.

The higher you go the shorter the time you have before apoxia sets in. At 10,000 feet it can take as long as 10 minutes before effects are noticeable.


Pilots acclimatised to high altitudes can handle it better. Also some people function with oxygen deprivation better than others.

This website gives an OK introduction to the topic.

http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/oxygen.htm

[Oktoberfest]

I'm a glider pilot. In our flight manual, it's said that you don't have to wear an oxigen mask up to 3800 m, but it is recommended to start sooner "according to your bodies ability". And they really recommend you to go see a medic beofre you start flying that high.

[Vigilant]

WoW sucks.

Great Engrish btw

[Former_Older]

During WWII, each fighter pilot (could well be all aircrew but the memoirs I have read were by pilots) in the USAAC/USAAF would undergo "hypoxia" training, in which an oxygen deprived atmosphere was endured by the pilot while in a classroom. Each pilot saw the real-time effects on a pilot volunteer who removed his oxygen mask in the classroom, (which was a sealed chamber) who was ordered to write his name on a chalkboard while breathing normally without his O2 mask

As the effects of oxygen starvation progressed, the signature became worse and worse until the volunteer would nearly pass out, then the instructor would slap the O2 mask back on the pilot, who revived almost instantly

The pilots would then pair off in a 'buddy system' to ensure nobody was killed by O2 starvation. One at a time, each of the pair would remove his O2 mask, and observe the personal effects of oxygen starvation on themselves while monitored by their buddy

Each pilot's personal symptoms would be noted, and then remembered. If an O2 line failed in flight, or a regulator iced up, there was no warning light or buzzer. The pilot needed to know that his sudden warm feeling, drowsiness, elevated pulse, euphoria, blue fingernails, or tingling sensation meant oxygen starvation and risk of immediate death. As noted, not only was each pilot's tolerance and useful time to react was different, the signs of this happening were also different from human to human

Modelling this in the sim would rely on arbitrary values, or else some kind of "points" system, both of which I dislike. The problem here is the highly unique circumstance that is the fact of th matter. Some type of oxygen starvation model must be present in my opinion, as well as the chance for O2 systems to be damaged in combat

[mondo]

Originally Posted by Former_Older

Modelling this in the sim would rely on arbitrary values, or else some kind of "points" system, both of which I dislike. The problem here is the highly unique circumstance that is the fact of th matter. Some type of oxygen starvation model must be present in my opinion, as well as the chance for O2 systems to be damaged in combat

Oxygen starvation also affects different people in different ways and to different degrees. I suffered mild hypoxia at 20,000ft in Nepal but it was just a bit of a headache and tiredness whereas one of the other guys I was with was puking his guts up and we had to give him medication and get him down. Some of the other people I was with who were more experianced didn't suffer at all.

Then you have to think about the reaction to decreasing altitude. Even going down 500ft can start to reverse the effects of hypoxia on the body to the point the effect is almost gone even though that reduction in height is taking you from 20,000ft ot 19,500ft.

How do you model this in a sim? Don't bother would be my first guess.