Illusionary tilt experienced by pilots taking off from an aircraft carrier?

Question

I just learned some new physics calculations and, since I was stationed on an aircraft carrier a while back, I decided to plug in some numbers. After some calculations, I came up with an illusionary tilt of about 76 degrees. Is this true or did I screw something up? Does anybody know anything about this?

It means that during flight operations at night, when you can't see anything, you feel like you're going up at an angle of 76 degrees greater than your actual angle. So you might feel like diving the jet nose down into the water in order to compensate.

This can't be right.

Remo: Ok, I'll come clean. I didn't do the calculations myself. But this is just one example of the many things I never knew before I started studying physics. Trust me, it comes from a credible source.

Answer 1

WENT OFF A FEW TIMES IN A F4, AND THE ELMER FUDD. THEY MAKE YOU TAKE OUT YOUR FALSE TEETH,GLASS EYES, HEARING AID,I GUESS THEY STILL DO,THE THING THAT GOT ME,AND I GUESS THE SEA,AIR CURRENT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT,CAUSE IT DON'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, IS THE DROP,THE FIRST TIME YOU FIGURE THIS IS IT,ONLY TO SEE NOTHING BUT SKY, ANYONE WHO'S BEEN THROUGH IT WILL TELL YOU THE FIRST TIME,YOUR TOES CURL UP IN YOUR BOOTS.

Answer 2

I think that is one of the reasons they have the artificial horizon. Besides an F -18 will have a few Avionic bells and buzzers.

I did know a couple of private ticketed guys that told me some of them would hang a pencil on a string at eye level. There is a big difference between a Cessna and an F-18 though. I hope someone that knows sees your question.

I did my military flying as a passenger on Huey's.

SSG US Army 73-82 Avionics

Answer 3

Interesting. What did you plug in? What formula? What is being measured?

Just guessing, but you must be pulling 5 Gs to get that tilt. But if so, you can feel the Gs in your butt, so you know its thrust, i.e., acceleration that is causing the preceived tilt.

I did find this article about monkeys and illusionary tilt. http://www.annalsnyas.org/cgi/content/abstract/1039/1/294 . Enjoy

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Eh Jack,

I believe you, but I still find it worth pondering. JFK, Jr. bit it presumably because he thought he was level, but instead got locked in a downward spiral that made it feel as if the plane were level.

I figure in your case that the plane is accelerating and starting to climb (angular acceleration). Lot'sa Gs. Basically, the pilot (or monkey) would feel like he is lying on his back when he is pretty much in a normal position.

Remo.

Answer 4

You really thing you are going to find a few dozen carrier jocks here to answer your questions??

There is a tilt all right but its not on any carrier its located between your ears :-P

Answer 5

Just rotate and climb!