When you see the world famous RAF Red Arrows performing their trademark loops and spins in the sky, you might be wondering how they stomach it all. With the Wales Airshow taking to the skies over Swansea Bay on July 2 and 3 this summer, we'll have the chance to watch some of the best pilots in the world pulling off incredible aerial acrobatics.
It is the first time the event has been held since 2019, having been called off last year as a result of restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. You can read more about that by clicking here.
But it's not just immense skill and experience that allows the famous Arrows to fly upside down at 400mph - there's something more simple at play too; pilots have their buttocks tightly clenched during the displays.
Read more: Wales Airshow 2022: Red Arrows confirmed for Swansea spectacular
That's according to current Arrows commanding officer David Montenegro, whose new book has revealed the reason behind the strange tactic is not due to being terrified (they've got steelier nerves than us) - it's actually to counter the effects of gravity, the Daily Mail reports. At the bottom of a loop pilots are ‘pulling 4G’, meaning gravity from the earth is putting four times more pressure on them than normal. This can lead to a pooling of blood in the lower legs, depriving the brain of its oxygen supply and possibly resulting in loss of consciousness. You can read more stories about Swansea here.
To counteract this, pilots squeeze their buttocks and leg muscles along with performing a special type of breathing that raises the heart’s output. They also wear ‘anti-gravity’ trousers, which inflate with pressurised air to keep blood in the upper body.
While such simple ways undoubtedly help the pilots, the level of skill needed to pull off their unbelievable displays can't be underestimated, and they're sure to get a warm welcome when they arrive in Swansea for the first time in three years later this summer. You can sign up to the latest newsletters featuring news from the Swansea area by clicking here.
