330 - Parabolic Flights at AirZeroG

omega tau science & engineering podcast

Guests: Jean-François Clervoy, Eric Delesalle, Hervé Normand, Nicolas Barbotin
Host: Markus Voelter Shownoter: Andy Joiner

When I was in Bordeaux with the DLR to report about their science campaign in September, I also talked to the team from AirZeroG/Novespace about the technical and aviation aspects of parabolic flights. These interviews are in this episode. I chat with Jean-François Clervoy about the history of the company, with Eric Delesalle about piloting the parabolas, with Hervé Normand about the reasons for the potential sickness, and with Nicolas Barbotin about cabin safety. At the end of the episode I also provide some details about the technical problem that prevented parabolas during my own flight with the A-310 ZeroG.

Overview of Novespace

00:02:02

Jean-François Clervoy | Atlantis | Discovery | European Space Agency (ESA) | ISS Resupply Ship | Novespace | Airbus A310 | Air Zero-G | Flight Test Engineer | Parabolic Flight | Attitude | Velocity | Initial G | Pitch Angle | Ballistic | Alpha Jet | Mirage 2000 | Caravelle | DLR | NASA | ATV Resupply Ship | Fly-by-wire | Maneuver Margin | Limit Margin | Indicated Velocity | Airbus 300B | Airbus A310 | Supercritical | Trim | Accelerometers | Big City Beats Concert

Aircraft and Flying

00:23:38

Eric Delesalle | Experimental Test Pilot | ATR 42 | Flight Engineer | Basic Law | Range -0.5 to +2.5 G | Target -0.05 to +0.05 G | Angle of Attack | Orbit | Elevator | Ground Control | Buffet Zone | Injection | Hydraulic Control (Episode 324 – Air Traffic Control at Heathrow and RIAT) | Preventive Maintenance

Medical Aspects

00:57:22

Hervé Normand | Professor of Physiology | Université de Caen | Functional Testing | Cardiovascular Deconditioning | Vestibular System | Semicircular Canals | Position of head | Hypergravity | Intracranial Pressure | Scopolamine

Safety

01:07:34

Nicolas Barbotin | Chief of Safety (Episode 251 – Flying the F-16 Viper) | Loadmaster | Weight imbalance | Flight Envelope

Markus Experience in Bordeaux

01:23:45