Initial Photos: Zero G Fliers From LB Airport Float In Weightless Wonder; LBREPORT.com Publisher Pearl Describes Experience As "Ethereal, Other-Worldly, Gentle Physically But Intense For One's Senses" (As Earthly Moves Put His Feet On Ceiling)

+ Initial Photos: Zero G Fliers From LB Airport Float In Weightless Wonder; LBREPORT.com Publisher Pearl Describes Experience As "Ethereal, Other-Worldly, Gentle Physically But Intense For One's Senses" (As Earthly Moves Put His Feet On Ceiling)

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(Oct. 26, 2020, 5:25 s.m.) -- At 11 a.m. Sunday, LBREPORT.com publisher Bill Pearl joined 23 other fliers who took off from LB Airport aboard the nationaly famous Zero G aircraft...and by noon, we learned what weightlessness feels like. The Zero G plane performed 12 weightless parabolas in a row (preceded by three introductions with lunar gravity and martian gravity.)

On the ascents (45 degrees nose high), riders feel 1.8 G's (nearly twice their normal body weight), then the plane crests the top of a parabola and desecnds at about a 20-30 degree angle. To LBREPORT.com publisher Pearl, it felt like the floor gently dropped away...and suddenly everyone and everything began floating for about 15 seconds.

Pearl described the sensation as "ethereal, other-worldly, gentle physically but intense for one's senses." While some fliers focused on spinning and twirling, we tried to focus on maneuvering in Zero G and quickly learned that movements that make sense on Earth produce very different results in in weightlessness.

On one parabola (captured by a Zero G staffer) Pearl (in foreground with grey hair floating off his head) added to a tiny push from a Zero G staffer and ended up with his feet basically on the ceiling...and in weightlessness it didn't feel upside down. just floating above the floor.

[Scroll down for further.]

A few seconds later, the plane pulled out of its descent and began another 1.8 g ascent...and the floor rose up to meet Pearl's posterior as the plane entered the next parabola.

Zero G shot VIDEO (six GoPros mounted inside cabin) and stills (a Zero G photog aboard.) We'll hope to have those for you soon..

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The Zero G plane is slated to take passengers aboard in NYC (Oct. 31-Nov 1) and Fort Lauderdale (Nov. 7), followed by several days of research flights before returning to LB on March 13, 2021.

Further to follow.

Previous LBREPORT.com coverage:

Zero G Plane Producing Passenger Glee Also Quietly Enabled Scientists To Pursue These Space Exploration/Travel Advances

How Zero G Weightless Plane Flight Helped Pioneer Manufacturing Human Organs In Space

Famed Zero G (Weightless Flight) Jet Readies Latest Long Beach Flight; It's Way More Than An Amusement Ride, Because...

Nov. 15, 7:57 a.m.: Links added to previous coverage

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Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

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