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  #11  
Old 01-22-2018, 04:41 PM
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Lemmingman Lemmingman is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 689
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For me the cure was hydration and practice, practice, practice. The more steep turns I did the more acclimated I became to them. The more turbulence I experience the more accustomed to it I became. I still hate summer convective turbulence here in Texas, but I can handle it better.

Also, there is a world of difference between being a passenger and being the pilot. I find that 'queasiness' is more common for me if I am a passenger.
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  #12  
Old 01-22-2018, 04:50 PM
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wirejock wirejock is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
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Default Bananas

I second what others shared. Rest, hydration and last meal. Don't go up on a big fatty meal. Banana was always my go to meal before flight. Tastes the same going down and coming up!
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  #13  
Old 01-22-2018, 04:58 PM
Stoppel Stoppel is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Cole camp, mo
Posts: 24
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I to fought motion sickness early on in my training, almost quit several times, it?s progressively improved over the five years since receiving my ticket. I?ve accumulated approximately 700 hrs tt and around 300 in the RV and I can guarantee it can be overcome as I?m proof. I make myself nauseous occasionally during higher g flight but the more I push it the more it takes to feel sick. I believe it can be overcome.
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  #14  
Old 01-22-2018, 05:22 PM
mturnerb mturnerb is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ponte Vedra, FL
Posts: 1,475
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In addition to others' suggestions and comments, I'll add a few:

1. Fly early or very late in the day when the air is smoother.
2. Consider using scopolamine patch. Ginger is good, scopolamine helps many. (EDIT: USAF allows scopolamine as I recall, apparently FAA doesn't - probably would have to check with AME equivalent in your country. I've never needed it so didn't due appropriate research!)
3. When you experience symptoms, as others have stated, focus on the horizon. Make smooth, small control inputs. As you develop more tolerance you can increase inputs.
4. Strongly agree that being "in control" helps immensely.
5. Avoid as much as possible going "head down" looking at instruments, iPad etc. As noted, outside visual reference is important - this helps your brain resolve perceived differences in visual and somatic inputs (sensations of motion in space) which seems to be one of the causes of motion sickness.

When I was a US Air Force flight surgeon, motion sickness was a very common problem, usually managed successfully - the Air Force was very reluctant to move someone out of a flying job once they were trained or in training. Loadmasters, who worked "in the back" had the worst challenge with this - they were not in control, didn't have visual reference, etc. But even this group usually got through OK, mostly having episodic issues as opposed to continual.
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Last edited by mturnerb : 01-23-2018 at 01:12 AM.
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  #15  
Old 01-22-2018, 05:34 PM
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Paul from Flyleds Paul from Flyleds is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hongie View Post
...More then anything, I get angry/disappointed/ashamed about being sick...
I'm with you on the first two, but I don't feel ashamed about it! For me it just is...


I get motion sickness sitting backwards on a train, and I'd so much rather drive than be a passenger.
I also scuba dive, and I'm the first off the boat and last back on to minimise the nausea. I've fed the fish through my regulator more than once!

When I fly or dive I take hyoscine hydrobromide tablets, aka Kwells beforehand. They work really well for me with zero side effects. Other tablets I've tried knock me out for the rest of the day a few hours later. (Wikipedia says its the same thing as scopolamine mentioned above)

Not a long term fix like the great responses above, but it works for me!

Congrats on your new purchase!

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  #16  
Old 01-22-2018, 06:17 PM
Hongie Hongie is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Mackay Australia
Posts: 40
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Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

I've tried the relief band, it seemed to help somewhat. I've tried the natural remedies of ginger and ginger tablets and I notice no difference.

I dont believe that I would be able to obtain scopolamine in australia without a prescription anyways.

I'll read up on Kwell, and give that a go.

Its encouraging to see that so many of you have also gone through this, and have overcome it.

I suppose buying the aircraft is my way of making myself fly and overcome it. With the rental aircraft I could always find a reason not to go. Now, with a serious amount of money in the game, I hope that will make me get up and do it. Expensive experiment huh.
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  #17  
Old 01-22-2018, 06:19 PM
jklusman jklusman is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lafayette, IN
Posts: 8
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When I was an instructor pilot in the Air Force teaching young lieutenants to fly their first jet, I used a popular method that helped the few of them who got airsick to overcome it. First, I made it clear that they weren't gong to solo until they could show me they could puke and fly the airplane at the same time. In other words, unless we were in the traffic pattern, I would not take control of the aircraft while they fumbled for a sick sack, etc. So, they had to:
1. Make sure, before takeoff that a sick sack was available and could be opened with one hand. When they felt they were going to vomit --
2. Disconnect their oxygen mask.
3. Trim the aircraft and hold the stick with their knees to keep wings level.
4. Throw up.
5. Tie up the sick sack and stow it carefully.
6. Re-connect their oxygen mask and continue with the mission.
Usually, after one or two such events, they got over it.
The key to this is keeping the aircraft trimmed hands-off at all times, which my students learned when I made them take their hand off the stick on final approach.
I'd also recommend scheduling flights in VFW (very fine weather) conditions until you are more familiar with the aircraft. Even with 3,500 hours, I found it took me about 20 hours to feel really comfortable in my RV-8.
Hope this is helpful.
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  #18  
Old 01-22-2018, 06:22 PM
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kentlik kentlik is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Oregon
Posts: 801
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I will chime in here as I am an "expert" on motion sickness, unfortunately.

I use the wrist motion sickness band "relief band". It does work. I have to say the posts here are correct and I didn't believe it at first, it does get better over time! I rarely use it anymore. Also, just never be a passenger. That works.
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  #19  
Old 01-22-2018, 06:34 PM
Gary 40274 Gary 40274 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Conyers GA
Posts: 347
Default Hang in there

I got sick during primary training, but I hung in there. I got sick during instrument training, but stuck with it. I got sick during aerobics but I hung in there. Over the years I accumulated 2500 hours and found that I get sick less.

The key is repeating things you are comfortable with many times. Then slowly moving to things less comfortable and repeating those until they became comfortable.

Stick with it, it can be conquered

GARY Specketer
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  #20  
Old 01-22-2018, 07:04 PM
Tankerpilot75 Tankerpilot75 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 534
Default Oh what a relief it is!

Quote:
Originally Posted by jklusman View Post
When I was an instructor pilot in the Air Force teaching young lieutenants to fly their first jet, I used a popular method that helped the few of them who got airsick to overcome it. First, I made it clear that they weren't gong to solo until they could show me they could puke and fly the airplane at the same time. In other words, unless we were in the traffic pattern, I would not take control of the aircraft while they fumbled for a sick sack, etc. So, they had to:
1. Make sure, before takeoff that a sick sack was available and could be opened with one hand. When they felt they were going to vomit --
2. Disconnect their oxygen mask.
3. Trim the aircraft and hold the stick with their knees to keep wings level.
4. Throw up.
5. Tie up the sick sack and stow it carefully.
6. Re-connect their oxygen mask and continue with the mission.
As a retired USAF Command Pilot I can assure you that air sickness can be over come if you work at it. I held my UPT (Under Graduate Pilot Training) class record for air sickness incidents. Too many upchucks to count!! Some folks just have sensitive inner ears and when conditions of stress increase, combined with heat and motion, we can become a little “green.”

I do recommend you persevere and not give up your dreams. Follow the techniques others here have offered and most importantly ensure an air vent is directly pointed towards your face when it gets warm. I will also add something I haven’t seen recommended yet; that is get a cool, wet towel and keep it around your neck when flying it hot weather. Keep a cold bottle of water (in an insulated sleeve) next to your leg so that you can both take a drink and re-wet your neck towel. This will help settle your “green feelings” when they arise. Immediate water is also useful to clean things up a little when needed! (Laugh)

Like the above USAF instructor said, I wasn’t allowed to fly solo until I demonstrated the ability to take off my mask, up chuck into a freshly opened bag, tie it off with one hand, put it back in my leg pocket, reconnect my mask and continue with my instruction. Later on I had to demonstrate the same skill set maintaining position while flying wing tip formation aerobatics. (Like I said, class record!)

Eventually you will overcome this inner ear sensitivity and be a better pilot because of it. You learn to focus on what’s important and ignore the rest. Good luck and stay with it.

P.S. Do your friends and family a favor - don’t take them flying until you’ve conquered this sensitivity. They will quickly lose confidence in your newly arrived skill set and be grossed out too. It may take a couple of years. But flying is worth it!
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Last edited by Tankerpilot75 : 01-22-2018 at 07:23 PM. Reason: Writing errors
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