Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
If you have ever been in the altitude chamber, and gone to FL350, you would demand that someone wear the mask in the airplane above 350.
When I was a 2Lt and student USAF pilot, the chamber went to 35,000 (now they only go to 25,000, I've been told). You get oxygen-stupid amazingly fast, except, in my case, I didn't even realize it--until someone put my mask back on for me.
For civilians, if you contact the FAA at Oklahoma City, they will put you in touch with the closest military chamber--and you can get a free altitude ride. VERY worth the effort. It is space-available, though.
For what it's worth: the size of the fuselage makes a difference in how long it takes to equalize the pressure if you have a catastrophic window failure. They told us in the 747 it would take about a minute at FL350 if you lost THREE cabin windows.
In the Lear 35, best estimate is 2-4 seconds.
I always wear the mask.
Been in a chamber at 290. Yes you get weird and it happens fast. But not enough to freak me out the way you are. I still enjoy, with no nervous breakdowns, cruising in the bus at 390 with out.
As stated before its all because in the 121 world our oxygen is better.