Potentially Dangerous illusions for Pilots

Presenter: Gage Saxon

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 20-21

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Michiael Jones

Department: Physics & Astronomy

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1sO2GO-Ic5NVmmgVvXeOiU4_delcaJ9o1

Abstract:
There are many different types of illusions that pilots can encounter while flying- some more dangerous than others. I have selected four physics-related illusions and compiled information on how and why they happen, and then I rented a plane and experienced them for myself. The illusions I chose are as follows: inversion, elevator, the leans, and coriolis. In this poster, I will only discuss the inversion illusion. In my research, I have found that  pilots who are exposed to illusions in training learn to process and filter out the sensory overload that the illusions induce. When they encounter the same illusion later they are able to fly safely despite what they are feeling. This experience will carry to any aircraft, from Cessna 172 to a Boeing 747.