Alcohol and Flying

[z1010]

After eating and flying: now alcohol and flying.

We all know that there's been a lot of research done to the effect of alcohol and (car)driving. After one beer we drive a little bit better, after two beers a bit worse, after three beers ...

For the alcoholconsumers (I don't want to encourage anybody): did you ever fly - on the computer, of course - after drinking? How much did you drink? Did it have effect on your flying?

Don't tell me none of you drink ....

With one glass of wine I can see the difference; after two glasses of wine I miss the landingstrip - or forget the gear, or something (after three glasses I fall asleep).
But even sober not all my landings are a big succes, i'm afraid.

Some two years ago I read in the newspaper that a pilot was removed from the cockpit at EHAM because the police had noticed he had problems with walking. I guess the rest of his career he is a fellow simmer .... So, he doesn't have to answer.


(Let's see: this is not a political, not a xenophobical but maybe an embarrassing question - to embarrassing?)

[ozzy72]

Drinking and flying/driving/biking is highly irresponsible. And even one drink lessens your ability, anyone who says otherwise is trying to justify their stupidity!
However when simming I've been known to sink a few. Effects, keep hitting those darned bridges

[Craig.]

Don't tell me none of you drink

I personally dont touch alcohol of any sorts so i cant really comment on the effects.

[Mr. Bones]

i drink beer when i go out, but never when i'm with my car or still have plans to go airborne later that day. at EBZR, no one is allowed to take off after consuming one beer.  ;)

[Jared]

Well two different quotes from two different people:

"I don't drink anything stronger than pop, but pop, he sure would drink anything...."

"I only drink on two different occasions, either when I'm with somebody, or when I'm alone...."

On with this, I don't drink so I can't tell you any effects...

but I always remember a safe rule... eight hours bottle to throttle.... don't know how accurate that is...

[ozzy72]

I always keep myself under the 24 hour rule for parachuting.
And it takes your body at least 11 hours to clear alcohol from your system....

[WebbPA]

I follow Jared's rules.

And I assume we're discussing SIMULATED flying.  I rarely fly without some sort of buzz on but I would never consider piloting a REAL aircraft under the influence of anything - since I don't have a license that has never been a problem.

[Chris_F]

I do a lot of sim-racing (you know, cars).  With one drink my lap times inprove, probably because I'm more relaxed.  At two drinks they start to decay.  By about three I have a hard time keeping it out of the gravel and by four I have to concentrate to stay on the pavement even when driving slow.

[4_Series_Scania]

I'm testing this theory tonight and it works!  ;D

"Thai" is an extremely silly thing to try whilst attempting to shoot down HE111's in a Spitfire! I can quite assure you!

Plant not Person.  ;)  ;D

Man made alcohol, God made "Grass", I know whom I trust.  ;)

[WebbPA]

I beg to differ.  God made alcohol.  Man perfected it.

[Travis]

Thai!

Honestly . . .

PUT THE STICK DOWN, HOPHEAD!!!  

I'm just messing with you . . .

Drinking and flying . . . hummm . . . sounds like my usual cuppa.

I drink more often than most people go out, so I have a little experience with this sort of thing.  After a few rounds of beer or a couple of shots, getting on the simmer is a whole barrel of laughs.  You can do immelmans and split S's all day, and if you crash, well . . . it starts right over!  You are also more prone to having bouts of fun that would normally not interest you, simply for the fact that in an innebriated state, putting the flaps down correctly takes intense concentration.

But NEVER fly in real life drunk or drinking.  This guy found out the hard way.

Drunk Pilot Faces Prison

[ATI_7500]

There's nothing better than having a nice beer on a Saturday evening and doing some bush flying.
My flying doesn't seem to be affected by alcohol 'though.

[C]

but I always remember a safe rule... eight hours bottle to throttle.... don't know how accurate that is...

Normally I hear it as 8 hrs "bottle to throttle" and consuming no more than 4 (or 5 - heavy night last night, can't remember...) units the previous day, ie 2 pints of beer.

Considering the legal limit is a lot less drink drive limit over here in the UK you'd be silly to do anything other than this, although it does happen.

Charlie