Message-ID: <003801c1b04e$21884180$26e3de9e@colwell>
From: "Steve & Claudette Colwell" <colwell@innercite.com>
To: "lancair list" <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
References: <20020205050932.AAA11067@pop3.olsusa.com> <5.1.0.14.0.20020206213537.00b41af8@pop-server.sc.rr.com>
Subject: Oxygen
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 19:10:14 -0800
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Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com

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My wife and I have been flying with Oxygen using the altitude adjustable
Nelson Flowmeters and reservoir cannulas for about 4 years.  12,000 to
18,000 is a great way to go; sometimes good tailwinds, next to no traffic at
12.5 to 17.5 except jets going up or down, usually less turbulence, very low
fuel consumption, better range and you (usually) feel fresh as a daisy after
4+ hours
at 10,000' and above because your body did not accumulate an oxygen deficit.

BUT, you have got to be careful!  We always monitor the Flowmeters to be
sure
everything is working and assumed we were OK.  However, on a 5 hour flight
at 15.5, followed by a 3 hour flight at 13.5 I had all the symptoms of
Hypoxia.  My judgment and ability to fly the airplane was definitely off, I
had a bad headache (and I don't get headaches).  After talking to a MD
giving a forum on OX use at Oshkosh (the destination), I bought a FlightStat
Pulse Oximeter  at
the Mooney Pilots Assn. booth on his recommendation.  Good Advice!

I found out that I absorb Oxygen at a lower rate than my wife.  If we are at
14.5 I need to have the Flowmeter set at 16 to 16.5 to get my blood at 90%
oxygenated, my wife doesn't.  I did not have a problem for years and many
hours of flying on OX, but I almost found out the hard way.  Your body
operates at density altitude too, or maybe it's ageing (nah, I am only 62,
exercise and quit smoking in the 8th Grade).  The little Oximeter that just
slides over your fingernail will tell you very quickly if you really are OK
or not on every flight.

Steve Colwell   Legacy 2K  Placerville,CA   (530) 621-3408


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