CONCEPTS DERIVED FROM INVESTIGATIONS PERTAINING TO HIGH ALTITUDE FLIGHT

Abstract

In the early days of aviation, just preceding World War II, it became apparent that the structural, biomechanical, psychologic, physiologic and chemical descriptions of man were scarcely more than fragmentary when he was 'considered in relation to the problems inherent to his most recently created environment. Of necessity considerable progress was made during the war in adding to these descriptions. Increased knowledge has afforded him at least partial protection against the formidable stresses of flight. In many cases expedient or makeshift devices based on none too well established conclusions have been employed in his behalf. Nevertheless, at the end of the war man was flying at speeds of about 500 miles per hour and at altitudes approximately 8 miles above the earth. The problems in aviation medicine are becoming even more numerous and more difficult in this postwar era,in which man, in flight, is pursuing and will soon be