An Illusion on Carriers May Cause Pilots to Crash

If there is one thing that the film Top Gun has taught us about aircraft carriers, it is that landing and taking off from one is an exhilarating experience. But the foundation of all this high-octane exhilaration is grave peril. The majority of pilot fatalities are caused by factors like spatial disorientation, not enemy aircraft, which is something that movies like that leave out.

Somatogravic illusions, which affect pilots, are possible. Any sudden acceleration or deceleration, such as those experienced by pilots during takeoff and landing, is what causes this. Your body feels like it is tilting upwards as you accelerate. Rapid deceleration has the opposite effect. These deceptions are only deceptions. However, if you respond to them as some pilots do, the consequences could be fatal as you attempt to make up for movement that isn't truly happening.

You feel this way because of an issue with your inner ear. Aboard takeoff, a pilot on an aircraft carrier could feel the urge to lower the nose of his plane because they think their angle of attack is too high. They may practically dive off the side of the carrier into the ocean as a result.

This illusion can't force them to overcompensate and crash, which is one of the reasons why many aircraft carriers use catapult launchers for their planes and why pilots don't even touch the controls until the plane has been launched from the deck. In just a few seconds, planes may take off completely hands-free at speeds of up to 160 knots.