What can we learn from military aviation, one of the most physically gruelling, male-dominated environments out there - with fighter jet pilots experiencing acceleration forces as high as 9 Gs?
Despite a difference in how G-forces are experienced across military aviation and motorsport, there are parallel challenges, including: lack of research and data around female pilots, equipment and kit design designed for male bodies, biomechanics that affect performance, outdated stereotypes and misconceptions, and the importance of mentorship and allyship.
More than Equal’s Head of Research, Dr. Fran Longstaff, sits down with Rosie Steevenson and Helen Seymour on their experience.
Helen Seymour is former Flight Lieutenant and the first woman to pilot the £75 million, 1,550mph Eurofighter Typhoon. With a distinguished 20-year career in the Royal Air Force, she has faced high-stakes challenges head-on, from leading missions over conflict zones to breaking gender barriers in military aviation.
Nic ‘Rosie’ Steevenson, is a former Tornado F3 navigator turned expert in human factors and performance optimisation. With a career that mastered the art of air combat and quick reaction alert missions, she leverages her unique experiences to help others navigate high-pressure environments.
Together, with Helen Seymour, they formed one of the few all-women flight crews.
From equestrian sports, to sailing, even going outside of sport into the fields of business and science, More than Equal looks at other high-performance, mixed-gender environments where women were once not welcome, to see what we can learn from their journeys of achieving excellence in demanding fields.