Aerobatics, Blood Pressure and the Heart
An aerobatic flight involves repeated changes in load. If you have a cardiovascular condition, take medication or have doubts about your health, discuss the planned flight with your doctor before booking. This page cannot assess your individual fitness to fly.
What positive G does
Positive G can reduce blood supply towards the head and cause visual disturbance or loss of consciousness. These do not necessarily occur in a predictable sequence. Report any symptoms to the pilot immediately.
What negative G does
The opposite, and the less comfortable of the two. Blood is pushed towards the head, pressure rises in the vessels of the face and eyes, and the heart slows in response. Human tolerance for negative G is much lower than for positive G, which is one reason a participant sequence spends far less time there.
Conditions that rule out a flight
- Uncontrolled hypertension.
- Ischaemic heart disease, angina, or any recent cardiac event.
- Significant arrhythmia, or an implanted device unless your cardiologist has specifically cleared aerobatic flight.
- Recent stroke or any history of intracranial bleeding.
- Epilepsy or any condition causing loss of consciousness.
- Pregnancy.
Conditions that need a conversation first
- Treated hypertension still needs individual advice from your doctor before booking.
- Age over 70. Not a barrier in itself, but worth a medical opinion before booking.
- Glaucoma or raised intraocular pressure, and any history of retinal detachment.
- Recent surgery, particularly abdominal, chest or eye surgery.
- Anticoagulant therapy.
We are not a medical service and will not overrule a doctor in either direction. What we will do is describe the profile accurately so your doctor can make a decision: bursts of up to +6G and down to -4G, each lasting a few seconds, spread across ten or twenty minutes, in a seated position with a five-point harness.
For healthy participants
Rest and hydration do not provide medical clearance. Anti-G techniques need appropriate instruction and do not work as a universal guarantee for everybody. Discuss your condition and medicines with your doctor, and tell the pilot immediately about visual changes or feeling unwell. The safe flight situation determines how the programme is changed.
In short
A website cannot confirm that an aerobatic flight is medically suitable for you. Discuss diagnosed conditions, symptoms and medicines with your doctor before booking, and provide the operator with the information required for participation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly aerobatics with high blood pressure?
Uncontrolled hypertension rules out a flight. Treated hypertension still requires individual medical advice before booking; the operator cannot provide medical clearance.
What does positive G do to circulation?
Positive G can reduce blood supply towards the head. Visual disturbance is a warning sign, but loss of consciousness need not be preceded by a warning that the participant notices.
Which heart conditions rule out an aerobatic flight?
Ischaemic heart disease, angina, any recent cardiac event, significant arrhythmia and implanted devices without specific cardiological clearance, along with uncontrolled hypertension.
Is there an upper age limit?
No fixed limit, but participants over 70 should obtain a medical opinion before booking, as should anyone with a cardiac history at any age.
What should I tell my doctor when asking?
That the flight involves bursts of up to +6G and down to -4G lasting a few seconds each, spread across ten or twenty minutes, seated and restrained by a five-point harness.
Fly it yourself
Aerobatic flights in the Extra 300L SP-EKS from Radom-Piastów (EPRP), 100 km from Warsaw. From 2,222 PLN, no licence or experience required. Gift vouchers are issued as a PDF after payment confirmation and stay valid for 12 months.