Quote:
Originally Posted by Isaac
As an aside, I always wondered what the guy in the back seat facing aft felt during a dive ( Stuka, Helldiver, Dauntless.... )
Isaac
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Supposedly the body is better able to withstand the stresses of high-G manouvres backwards (and prone, which is why drop lifeboats use this arrangement) but it can't have been comfortable in flak and with the jolting and vibration in air. A rollercoaster must give a similar sensation to pitching into a dive but much smoother on rails and considerably slower. The Stuka had an automatic dive recovery system in case the pilot blacked out pulling up. It was probably considered a macho thing amongst crews to be able to pass the training and spend your time playing chicken with the ground.