I've heard that too... as a non-smoker, I've not had the experience,
but smokers carry a load of carbon monoxide in their bloodstream
that's much higher than average -- and CO really cuts the oxygen
carrying capacity of blood.
I let my pilot's license lapse some years ago ... and I only briefly
got above 12,000 ft (over the Tehachapis) thanks to a strong updraft
(in a Cessna 152) -- which I then used to increase air speed to fight
one incredible head wind out of the north (and I was trying to go to
Sacramento). Probably one of the longest flights for the distance --
I could see the trucks on I-5 passing me.
Had the nasty choice -- fly high into a nasty head wind or fly low in
limited visibility due to one of the famous valley fogs common to the
winter season.
Other than commercial flights, I think I've spent more time above 10K
feet on the ground than I ever did in the air.
I much prefer "taking the bus" to flying, anyway... (besides, my wife
never 'bought it' that FAA regs required I have two stewardesses on
board...)
Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at CCW in RIverside, CA
On Jun 5, 2008, at 6:18 PM, Richard Gideon wrote:
> Pete: I'm told, at night, supplemental oxygen greatly improves the
> vision...some pilots use supp Oxygen when as low as 5,000 MSL. This
> would be especially beneficial for cigarette smokers...a smoker is
> more likely to become hypoxic at a much lower altitude. I've read
> that smoking pilots have a 'cabin altitude' of 7 or 8,000 when at sea
> level.
>
> Dick Gideon
> Freedom Bird
> 1989 35FC
>
> --- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
>>
>> A Blue Bird has an altimeter so you can fix it when it breaks.
>>
>> FAA rules require supplemental oxygen if you're above 10,000 ft
> for
>> more than 30 minutes in an unpressurized craft.
>>
>> I coulda used some supplemental oxygen in a few Colorado towns
> I've
>> been in...
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>> aeonix1@...
>> On the road at
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 5, 2008, at 5:07 PM, Leroy Eckert wrote:
>>
>>> This may be a weird question but I am weird. My bird does not
> have
>>> an altimeter.
>>> I have often wondered why an altimeter is required in a bird. I
> am
>>> 65 pressing on and the air is quite thin at 10,000. Is that it?
>>> Can't breathe? There is no provision to manually lean the fuel
>>> mixture.
>>
>
>
>
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