7.5 or 9, does it really matter?

 

I max out at 4.5. Most dudes average 6 I hear...is this true?

 

now that was funny

 

Honest answer: it depends. The B version for the Navy might be 7.5 limited due to the wing fold mechanism. The wing fold mechanism, in addition to the Navy's need for the jet to be able to fly slower at the carrier for landings gives it a bigger wing and horizontal stab than the A and C versions. This will probably give it better alpha (AOA) control and pitch authority. If it can gain those two things while giving up a 1.5 G then it should be a big deal. F/A-18s are 7.5G limited and F-15s and 16s are 9G limited. All are very good jets and it will be the pilot at the controls that determines the winner of a fight, not the 1.5G difference in peak capability. It can effect the style of fighting a jet chooses, just like thrust available and AOA and pitch authority do.

Average resting G tolerance is around 5.0 if I remember correctly from my last centrifuge trip. I'm on the below average side with a resting G of just over 4. Despite my low resting G tolerance I still had to pass the 9G centrifuge ride to fly F-16s and I did. I just have to work harder than a guy who has a resting G tolerance of 6.5.

 

Cooper thanks for the academic lesson(insert sarcasm here). Surely you saw my humor/sarcasm in my response. The bottom line is it doesn't matter in my best guess. I don't recall the last time or any time for that matter where I needed to bypass the limiter in a Hornet to get more than 7.5 Gs nor would I have had any more than 7Gs available(configuration dependant of course) for any sustained length of time. About the only time I would have wanted more than 7.5Gs was during a demo and even then, not required. The 7.5Gs in the hornet like the JSF is not a function of jet ability or design but a function of FLE and the desire to increase the lifespan of the jet. The Swiss fly a 9G hornet for instance but they don't fly nearly the hours we fly on ours.

 

American hornets can pull 9Gs. They are restricted to 7.5 in normal operations, but the pilot has an override mechanism that allows him to pull more.

 

Anything over 8.1 and you're maintenance department will be doing a cat 1 overstress inspection and if you get too many of those you will only be pulling as many G's as you can while spinning around in your swivel chair with your head laid back resting your eyes after staring at the computer screen all day long!

USMCFLYR

 

Haaha well no disrespect sir, but that's just what I was told by a driver at VFA-154 in Lemoore. He said it's possible in a situation that requires it, such as the highly unlikely event of a real dogfight.

 

Of course it is possible - that is what the oride paddle is for - to override the 7.5 g set g-limit. The g-limit is set lower to keep the ham fisted from passing the 8.1 max. Can the aircraft do more? Absolutely!
Will that MSP 811 code pop - absolutely! Btw - it can pop at much lower g's depnding on config and weight. Now - pop the 811 code and it will cause an inspection. Become the regular cause of overstress inspections and I'm sure the -154 skipper will have a few choice words for his officer.

USMCFLYR

 

That clears it up. I'll pass that on and maybe keep that advice so I'm not that guy one day. I see on your info you're at the RAG...Oceana or Lemoore?