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Work capacity, a sensitive and realistic measure of 'physical fitness,' was determined on more than 500 military and civilian Air Force personnel for the purpose of collecting material for the standardization of physical performance capacity. A treadmill test permitted an evaluation of results in physical as well as in physiologic terms. On the basis of results, physiologic considerations, and observations of men at various stages of physical training, an arbitrary rating scale of work capacity is suggested. According to this pilot study 42 percent of the test population had to be rated as 'poor' and 40 percent as 'fair.' Only 18 percent could be considered as having a 'good' or better physical condition. Sedentary living habits, more than aging or other factors, were apparently the main antagonists of good physical fitness.

Pharmacological and clinical observations have indicated that Spartase – the aspartic acid salts of potassium and magnesium – takes part in the intermediary metabolism and moderates physical fatigue., In this study attempts were made to evaluate effects of the drug on work capacity before and after episodes of physically fatiguing exercises. Work capacity was determined by a standardized treadmill test. The test was repeated after the subject had been running cross-country for a period of 60 minutes, and again after another such period of 40 minutes. In this way effects of fatigue upon functional adaptability to stress became apparent. Then, Spartase was taken orally in a prescribed dose for two weeks whereupon the same testing procedure was reapplied., The results indicated that Spartase improved the endurance performance of untrained individuals engaging in extremely fatiguing physical work. It appeared to have no effect on highly trained individuals.

The ultimate limitations in flight performance and in future civil air carrier equipment are the limitations imposed by what may be termed “human tolerances.” This is particularly applicable to the matter of the supersonic transport. The discussion of man’s maximum adaptive capacities for the majority of stresses potentially encountered in atmospheric and transatmospheric flights points to the weakest links in the man-machine complex of air and space transportation. An attempt is made to point out the means by which the human tolerances can be maximally adapted to the advanced technology.

The value of regular physical activity in the prevention of clinically manifest coronary artery disease has received much emphasis during the past few years.

"Physical fitness" - the potential capacity for making adequate functional adjustments to increased metabolic demands - is most meaningful and accurately assessed in the laboratory by making physiological measurements on the experimental subject while he is walking on a motor-driven treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle ergometer.

An essential factor in air safety is the physical and mental fitness of all personnel directly involved in operations of general, commercial, and military aviation. Standardization and classification of fitness, however, have not been established to a degree that would allow for much more than a differentiation between normal health and pathological disturbances., Testing a large population is important for the establishment of standards requires test procedures of simple design but capable of rendering results which a re comparable to those of more complex and time consuming laboratory tests. Experiments have indicated, that a 15-minute best-effort run can be utilized as a substitute for a standard work capacity test in the laboratory. This type of test constitutes a satisfactory assessment of the potentially available functional reserves.