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Does your stomach drop during turbulence?

At this g-force, anything that isn't bolted to the plane, including your stomach, will float momentarily because the turbulence causes the plane to accelerate downward faster than gravity does.



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The sensation of “dropping” comes from the retraction of the flaps and slats. The rate of climb is reduced, causing it to feel like a descent. Q: Flying and cruising altitude and landing, not a problem.

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Light turbulence momentarily causes slight changes in altitude and/or attitude or a slight bumpiness. Occupants of the airplane may feel a slight strain against their seat belts. Moderate turbulence is similar to light turbulence but somewhat more intense.

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Some things you can do:
  1. Avoid having a full stomach when flying. The less weight you have in your stomach, the less force you should feel.
  2. Fly out of airports with longer runways, or that don't have buildings or ritzy neighborhoods at the end of the runway. ...
  3. Where possible, choose long-haul flights that are mostly full.


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It's a gut feeling, quite literally. Because those stretch receptors get excited when your guts literally fly up in the air with your body moving down around them. As a result it does feel like you have a sort of sinking feeling. The other reason you get a sinking feeling is because you might get a bit frightened.

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You may feel discomfort and notice minor swelling in your abdomen area as well. Luckily jet belly shouldn't last more than one week after you land and can be relieved using different techniques and by taking natural supplements.

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If you're seated with your belt on, it's like a roller coaster ride and nothing worse. Remember that I said it's rare, not unheard of, for turbulence to bring airplanes down.

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When you feel nausea, lean back and try not to move the head much. Always choose light foods before your flight and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid fizzy drinks and foods that can bloat you. You can chew mint gum before boarding the plane.

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At times like this, pilots will slow to a designated “turbulence penetration speed” to ensure high-speed buffet protection (don't ask) and prevent damage to the airframe. We can also request higher or lower altitudes, or ask for a revised routing.

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Turbulence is a sudden and sometimes violent shift in airflow. Those irregular motions in the atmosphere create air currents that can cause passengers on an airplane to experience annoying bumps during a flight, or it can be severe enough to throw an airplane out of control. (The pilots) aren't scared at all.

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Routes with the most turbulence
  • New York to London. One of the most popular routes which experience turbulence is flying from New York to London (and also London to New York). ...
  • Seoul to Dallas. ...
  • Flying into certain airports near the equator. ...
  • Flying into Reno, Nevada. ...
  • London to South Africa.


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So, if you're wondering where to sit on a plane for the smoothest ride, book seats up front or over the wing for less turbulence. Hot Tip: Sitting in the window, aisle, or middle seat doesn't affect turbulence.

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Eat Light. Contrary to popular belief, flying on an empty stomach doesn't help you combat air sickness. In fact, an empty stomach actually exacerbates symptoms. Eat a light meal such as crackers, fruit, and other light snacks.

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While pilots can't actually see turbulence, they often know what is coming up, thanks to reports from other planes, weather reports, and radar equipment. However, clear air turbulence (severe turbulence occurring in cloudless areas) can sometimes catch pilots off guard.

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The worst seats on an airplane for turbulence are the jump seats in the back of the plane, where the flight attendants sit, followed by the passenger seats towards the back of the aircraft.

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However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate. That said, flying is still the safest form of transport.

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(AP) — A pilot escaped with only minor injuries after a single-engine plane crashed nose-first into the roof of a hangar Monday at a Southern California airport, authorities said.

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