THE RELATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND PERFORMANCE IN T-25 UNIVERSAL FLIGHT AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Abstract

Physical activity and instructional flight are routine activities in the life of an Air Force cadet aviator at the Air Force Academy. The results stemming from these activities, such as physical fitness through physical activity and flight performance through instructional flight, are the main subjects of this study. The central objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between physical fitness and performance in primary instructional flight, which is conducted in the T-25 Universal aircraft, qualitatively determining the type of relationship and highlighting the importance of physical fitness for good piloting. Thus, it is proposed to conduct a literature review on factors influencing flight performance that may be affected by physical conditioning, observing how the highlighted factor manifests in flight and its consequences, and through existing  literature, whether physical fitness is capable of minimizing or excluding its adverse effects. From this perspective, it is observed that good physical health significantly aids in good flight performance, being positively related in all cases to the reduction of stress, fatigue, nervousness, and anxiety, with increased academic performance and psychomotor skills, and improved concentration ability.