G-force, jerk, and a giant centrifuge

FAQs:

* Isn't 3.6g a really low g-tolerance? *
Yep. Turns out I would not qualify to be a fighter pilot. The average range for g-tolerance is 4-6; no-one was expecting me to pass out. The centrifuge team do not deliberately try to G-LOC people! To be fair, though, I'd done a few earlier runs with only minor effects.

* What g was the RAF person at the start pulling? *
That's Marcus, from the Starrship team, and he was successfully pulling 6.5g with the help of g-trousers: they plug into a compressed air source in the plane (and in the centrifuge) and act as a lower-body tourniquet to keep the blood up top. They are very effective.

* Why did you shake and shudder when regaining consciousness? *
Those are called "myoclonic convulsions", which is a fancy medical term for "muscle jerks", and they're a common side effect of recovering from G-LOC.

* What did it feel like? *
I'll answer this in more detail in a video over on the Matt and Tom channel soon, but in short: I don't remember it. I was doing the breathing maneuver, then everything was wobbly, then we were stopped!

* Is this a sponsored video? *
No: the RAF and Starrship had no editorial control over this, and no money changed hands. Obviously, though, they gave me a spin in the centrifuge, and I'm collaborating with them over on their channel too!

THANKS TO:
The RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, the Starrship team, and the folks at Qinetiq.

STARRSHIP:

(you can find contact details and social links there too)

[TomScottGo]

If you have questions (what did it feel like? why did you convulse? isn't 3.6g a really low tolerance?) pull down the description, I've answered a few there! And if you see someone ask a question that's in the description, please point them there.

[eleventyeleven]

I think saying ‘blimey’ after you were resurrected from the dead is one of the most british things to ever do

[santiklingo]

I love how he just goes "PAH, ,,, puh , ᵖᵘʰ" and fuckin dies

[Spkq]

*temporarily "dies"*
*wakes up*
"B L I M E Y"

[soup]

*practically dies*
*wakes up*
*stares at his soul being sucked back into his body*

"B l i m e y!"

[Andrew-wbzq]

Funny that Tom was deathly afraid of roller coasters, but hopped right into this thing designed to drain the blood out of your head.

[FelixEA]

It's scary seeing him pass out that way and then recalibrate

[AcidGlow]

*Loses Soul*
*Goes to Heavens Doors... Gets pulled back to his body*
BLIMEY! ✅🙂

[connoremerick]

“The human body is an incredible thing”

the human body - *falls from standing upright and head hits the ground, dead*

also the human body - *casually vibes with 5Gs of force*

[jeezuhskriste]

I like that they had to add the “voluntarily” clause to that world record. What poor soul was yeeted into oblivion at 26 gs?

[LuisGutierrezG]

British people literally see Satan and be like:
“Odd looking bloke that one innit?”

[MsSweety]

*passes out* - *wakes up* ''BLIMEY''

[padawansound]

Tom Scott: Debilitating fear of rollercoasters

Also Tom Scott:

[YourFriendDevin]

“I’m getting a little bit of grey out.”
“I can’t quite see.”

“Ah.”

[wisnuyogapraditya]

My phone pulled 4G all the time. Beat that!

[longshot]

"I lost everything there"

CHECK HIS PANTS

[callmeshaggy]

The highest momentary g-force ever survived was *214 g* when Kenny Breck crashed his IndyCar. At 69kg, he momentary weighed over 14.7 metric tons.

[StrictlySteam]

It’s so cool to hear a genuine “BLIMEY”

[flosset]

Tom: *litteraly dies for a couple of seconds*
Also Tom: "01000010 01101100 01101001 01101101 01100101 01111001"

[wjsyejwjwmmeusmqwjieem]

My g force tolerance is when I stand up to fast and pass out