I was skeptical of the injury potential at only 5g, since fighter pilots and F1 drivers routinely experience 3g acceleration; but this study%20933-9000 “pdf warning”) indicates that 5g is just over the threshhold for whiplash damage. This may also be due to the unusually good physical conditioning of fighter pilots and F1 drivers; physical conditioning certainly has the possibility of reducing neck damage.
More importantly, a pilot’s seat is significantly different from a driver’s seat, and they’re designed to hold the pilot in a way that limits relative movement of different body parts.
I was skeptical of the injury potential at only 5g, since fighter pilots and F1 drivers routinely experience 3g acceleration; but this study%20933-9000 “pdf warning”) indicates that 5g is just over the threshhold for whiplash damage. This may also be due to the unusually good physical conditioning of fighter pilots and F1 drivers; physical conditioning certainly has the possibility of reducing neck damage.
More importantly, a pilot’s seat is significantly different from a driver’s seat, and they’re designed to hold the pilot in a way that limits relative movement of different body parts.