Science: Prone Pilot

Fighter pilots of the future may take their flying lying down. This week Wright Field's Aero-Medical Laboratory told about a "prone position pilot bed" that it is developing to replace the conventional pilot's seat (see cut).

The pilot bed, an improvement on early German design, is made of strong nylon mesh hung between side boards curved to fit the pilot's body. The mesh can be loosened to make room for broad hips, and a rounded belly (which are among the occupational hazards of airmen). The pilot's jaw rests on a padded adjustable shelf. A...

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