1. Tactical vs. other simulated aerial combat maneuvers.
- Author
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Tong A, Balldin UI, Dooley JW, and Hill RC
- Subjects
- Adult, Aircraft, Female, Humans, Male, Military Personnel, Unconsciousness etiology, Aerospace Medicine, Gravitation, Warfare
- Abstract
Background: There is a need for a more operationally relevant +Gz profile for centrifuge-based research and evaluation. This article describes a simulated aerial combat maneuver (SACM) named the Tactical Aerial Combat Maneuver (TACM)., Hypothesis: A more representative centrifuge-based SACM can be devised for high-G acceleration research and evaluation., Methods: TACM consists of 9G x 5 s, 5G x 1 s, 8G x 5 s, and 4G x 2 s. TACM was compared against the widely accepted 4.5-7G and 5-9G SACMs. There were 15 centrifuge subjects used in this study., Results: TACM accounted for all four incidents of G-Induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC); and most incidents of blackouts (5 of 8) observed., Conclusion: TACM simulates the seesaw pattern of +Gz forces of aerial combat and retains the reproducibility needed for acceleration research and evaluation. TACM captures the high onset, high amplitude +Gz changes of aerial combat when G-LOC and blackouts are more likely to occur. TACM should be particularly useful for evaluation of G-protective equipment and maneuvers, as well as fighter aircrew medical evaluations.
- Published
- 1998