G-suits somewhat resemble the chaps worn by old-time cowboys, and are fastened over the pilot's flying suit, around the waist and over each thigh and calf by way of zippers. The suit is made up of pneumatic bladders, which operate very much like a blood-pressure cuff, again around the waist and each thigh and calf.

The g-suit will have a pressure hose that snaps into a fitting in the aircraft's cockpit. During maneuvering, a special sensor operates a valve to pump air into the bladders, to a pressure proportional to the amount of g force on the aircraft.

The idea is to retard the tendency for blood to drain from the brain at high g's. This can cause tunnel vision and even loss of consciousness.

Which, I shouldn't have to tell you, Nathan, is not acceptable.

A g-suit can give a pilot an extra couple of g's worth of tolerance. It is an indespensible part of every tactical pilot's wardrobe. I can testify from personal experience that they squeeze the crap out of you.