Fighting gravity

I started watching Jetstream, a documentary on Discovery Channel that follows a group of young pilots as they learn to fly a supersonic fighter jet.

After watching the premier episode of Jetstream, I'm not sure why anyone would want to be a fighter pilot.

Firstly, there is the physical stress. Jets, as they do their aerobatic moves, are basically fighting gravity. In doing so, the g forces reduce blood flow to the brain. This can lead to a loss of consciousness, which is called g-loc. You can prevent this by tensing your legs, arms and abdominal muscles to restrict the "downward" flow of blood.

On the show, they were sticking pilots in a centrifuge to see how they handled the g forces, and you could watch as some of them passed out. It was crazy.

Then there is the risk. When flying a jet, it's not if something goes wrong, it's when.

No thank you.