Aerospace Medicine and Human
Engineering
Beginnings of Aerospace
Medicine
• Established in 1918 with the founding of the
Army Aviation Medical Research
Laboratory at Hazelhurst Field.
• Research was conducted to support flyers in
WW I.
STRESSES
Air Supremacy
• Theory that you must “control the skies” before you
can win on the ground
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Bombers
Fighters
Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA, or Triple A)
Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs)
http://www.history.com/media.do?id=dogfights_mpfernandez_broadband&action=clip
Beginnings of Aerospace
Medicine
• The study of flight physiology started with
the balloon ascension of Joseph and Etienne
Montgolfier.
Beginnings of Aerospace
Medicine
• French physicist Jacques Charles
Beginnings of Aerospace
Medicine
• John Jeffries and Jean-Pierre Blanchard
Beginnings of Aerospace
Medicine
• Coxwell and Glaisher
Beginnings
of
Aerospace
Medicine
• The Father of Aviation
Medicine-Paul Bert
• Conducted experiments
with barometric pressure
• Proved the principle
effects of altitude on the
body
• Made the first lowpressure altitude chamber
Beginnings of Aerospace
Medicine
• Sivel, Croce’-Spinelli and Tissandier
• Conducted experiments by refraining from
oxygen.
• Before they were aware that they were
suffering from oxygen starvation they became
paralyzed.
• Tissandier was the only survivor.
Beginnings of Aerospace Medicine
• Schools of Aviation Medicine
• The Signal Corp established an
Aeronautical Division in 1907.
• In 1917, General Theodore
Charles Lyster was the first
chief surgeon, Aviation
Section, Signal Corps, United
States Army.
• In 1953, General Harry G.
Armstrong participated in the
establishment of the
Aeromedical Laboratory in
Dayton, Ohio.
Care of Flyers
• The Armed Forces have doctors with
special training in the care of flyers.
• Flight surgeons perform periodic
examinations on fliers to evaluate their
physical and mental fitness.
• The flight surgeon is not only concerned
about the pilot but also the conditions the
pilot finds in the cockpit.
Flight Physical
• Every year
• When sick, you’re put on DNIF:
– “Duty Not to Include Flying”
• Drug testing at any time
• “GROUNDED!” Not words you want to
hear!
– $800/month extra pay on flight status
– Sometimes $12,000/year bonus
– The joy of flying
Stress Test
• 0-149 Low susceptibility
to stress-related illness
• 150-299 Medium
susceptibility to stressrelated illness.
• 300 + High susceptibility
to stress-related illness
Daily practice of relaxation
skills is very important for
your wellness. Take care of it
now before a serious illness
erupts or an affliction becomes
worse.
READ PP. 2-31 TO 2-37
COMPLETE WORKBOOK, P. 35
& 39-40 (PARTS A & D)
Man and Machine
• The matching of man and machine is constantly
under study by human engineering
• Every control and instrument in the aircraft
must be developed with regard to the pilots
needs
• The military has had standardization of the
instrument panel since high-performance
aircraft came into use
•
•
“Basic T” design of
instrumentation
attitude indicator is in top
center, airspeed to the left,
altitude to the right and
heading indicator under
the attitude indicator.
Man and Machine
• Servomechanisms are an important area of
interest to human engineering.
• Another area of importance in human
engineering is in designing protective
equipment for flight.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Balloons - Valuable for collecting
physiological data.
• In 1931, Auguste Piccard perfected the
oxygen-pressure gondola for balloons.
• In 1935, Captains Anderson and Stevens
ascended to 72,395 feet.
• In 1957 Major Simons ascended to 102,000
feet.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• The Excelsior balloon flights began in 1959
• Captain Kittinger rode in an open gondola
protected only by his oxygen supply and pressure
suit.
• On the first flight he jumped from the gondola at
76,400 feet.
• The second and third flights were completed
successfully. On the third he ascended and
jumped from a height of 102,800 feet.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Research Aircraft: X-1
• The first U.S. rocket aircraft.
• Chuck Yeager became the first man to fly faster
the speed of sound.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Research Aircraft: X-2
• The X-2 was subjected to intense friction heating.
• The pilot was protected with cooling equipment in
his pressure suit.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Research Aircraft: X-15
• The X-15 reached a speed of 4,534 mph and an
altitude of 354,200 feet.
• Several pilots received astronaut ratings.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Research Aircraft: X-24B
• Wingless with a flat undersurface.
• X-24B research program was conducted with
NASA.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Animal Astronauts
• Scientists and engineers
began experimenting with
rockets following
World War II.
• Medical researchers then
sent animals into the upper
atmosphere.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Animal Astronauts
• Mice and other small animals were used for the
early experiments.
• As rockets became more powerful, larger
payloads could be sent into space.
Research on the Fringe of Space
• Before American astronauts were rocketed
into space, two chimpanzees were used to
test the mercury spacecraft and the flight
plan.
Summary
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Beginnings of Aviation Medicine
Care of Flyers
Man and Machine
Research on the Fringe of Space