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37 Hour Flight Profile. Could you drive that long? Play Royal Match or Clockmaker that long?

Posted by Austin Powerz on 6/22/2025, 16:15:01

There was a time when the military allowed only caffeine to ward off drowsiness. That has changed.

The military now uses a range of pharmaceutical aids, beyond caffeine, to manage fatigue and sustain alertness during extended operations.

These medications, called “go pills” include:
Modafinil (Provigil): A wakefulness promoting agent used by various branches to maintain cognitive performance during long missions.
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine): A potent stimulant historically used by Air Force pilots, especially during high-tempo air operations.
Methylphenidate (Concerta): Sometimes issued to enhance focus and alertness.

These are typically reserved for exceptional circumstances, such as:
Long-duration sorties or special operations behind enemy lines.
Nighttime combat or surveillance missions where sleep isn’t feasible.
Situations where fatigue could jeopardize mission success or safety.

Their use is tightly regulated. Service members must be medically cleared, and trained. Then the drugs are administered under strict supervision to avoid dependency or misuse.

Meanwhile, the Department of Defense continues to invest in non-pharmaceutical countermeasures too like wearable sleep trackers, fatigue management protocols, and even behavioral training to optimize rest and recovery.

Yes, When I was 19 years old

Posted by Johnny Salt on 6/22/2025, 16:25:25, in reply to "37 Hour Flight Profile. Could you drive that long? Play Royal Match or Clockmaker that long? "

I drove straight from Phoenix to Buffalo non stop. 39 hours. I was eating that no-doze caffeine thing that was popular back then. When I got to Buffalo, I slept for damn near two days. Wasn't worth it.

You make it sound like there was only a crew of one...

Posted by Allah Fubar *= on 6/22/2025, 16:31:40, in reply to "37 Hour Flight Profile. Could you drive that long? Play Royal Match or Clockmaker that long? "

...which we all know isn't the case.

That's right. There was a crew of 2. One qualified pilot and one flight commander

Posted by Austin Powerz on 6/22/2025, 16:41:08, in reply to "You make it sound like there was only a crew of one..."

who was not necessarily a qualified pilot. Their entire 37 hours was spent in a flight seat. There is no lavatory, and the flight attendant didn't make the flight.

One word...

Posted by Allah Fubar *= on 6/22/2025, 16:47:31, in reply to "That's right. There was a crew of 2. One qualified pilot and one flight commander"

Catheter.

...or two words...

Posted by Allah Fubar *= on 6/22/2025, 16:49:53, in reply to "One word..."

"Texas Condom"

It's called a Gus Grissom.

Posted by Austin Powerz on 6/22/2025, 16:50:10, in reply to "One word..."

Re: That's right. There was a crew of 2. One qualified pilot and one flight commander

Posted by Johnny Salt on 6/22/2025, 19:50:28, in reply to "That's right. There was a crew of 2. One qualified pilot and one flight commander"

They did have a portable lavatory, and they had a refrigerator that they had snacks and drinks in it. I read that in an article today about how long the flight was. If I can find it again, I will post it.

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