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barelytolerabled · 6 months

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Speeding Hearts part 1

lando norris x fem!driverReader

summary: you and your best friend, Pierre Gasly, had the same dream. but now that you’re living it together you start to want something else, someone else.

WC: 3k272

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From the moment you and Pierre Gasly met, you were inseparable. Growing up in the same small town, your shared passion for racing forged a bond that was unbreakable. As kids, you'd race each other on bicycles, then go-karts, and eventually in more powerful machines. Your dreams of Formula One burned brightly in your hearts.

The two of you made a pact, one that would echo through the years of your friendship: if you were ever fortunate enough to find a team in Formula One, it would be together or not at all.

Together, you endured the struggles and sacrifices that came with pursuing a career in motorsport. You celebrated each other's victories, consoled each other in defeat, and trained relentlessly to reach your shared goal. In the eyes of your friends and family, you were a package deal, a dynamic duo who stood as the epitome of friendship and teamwork.

As Alpine Racing welcomed both you and Pierre into its fold, the excitement was palpable. The realization of your childhood dream had become a reality. The gleaming Formula One cars stood before you, a testament to your perseverance and shared determination.

One crisp morning, the two of you found yourselves at a secluded test track. The air was charged with anticipation as you both prepared to unleash the power of the Alpine machine. Strapped into your respective cockpits, you exchanged a knowing glance that spoke volumes, this was a moment you'd both been waiting for.

The engines roared to life, and as you navigated the twists and turns of the track, the years seemed to peel away. The hum of the tires and the rush of wind brought you back to the days of karting on dusty circuits, chasing each other with unbridled joy. The camaraderie and competition were as alive as ever.

In a moment of complicity, Pierre signaled to you on the team radio. "Remember the karting days? Let's show them what we're made of." A grin spread across your face as you pushed the limits, mirroring the synchronized dance you'd perfected as kids.

As you tackled each corner, the memories flowed freely. The shared victories, the defeats that only fueled your determination, and the unspoken language you'd developed over the years.

The track became a canvas where your friendship was painted with every acceleration, every brake, and every perfectly executed maneuver. The thrill of speed merged seamlessly with the nostalgia of simpler times, creating a moment of complicity that transcended the confines of a Formula One test session.

For a fleeting instant, you and Pierre weren't just drivers for Alpine; you were the kids who once dreamed of this very moment, now living it together in the pinnacle of motorsport. The bond forged in those karting days had matured into something unbreakable, carrying you through the twists and turns of life and racing alike.

The checkered flag waved, signaling the end of the test session. As you and Pierre brought your Alpine monoplace to a smooth stop, a sense of accomplishment washed over you. The thrill of the track lingered, echoing in the air like a sweet melody.

With helmets in hand, you both stepped out of your respective cockpits, faces flushed with exhilaration and joy. A shared look passed between you, a silent acknowledgment of the journey that had led to this moment. The echoes of laughter from your karting days seemed to resonate in the pit area.

Unable to contain the elation, Pierre enveloped you in a spontaneous, tight embrace. The camaraderie and friendship that had weathered the years manifested in that simple yet profound gesture. The pit crew, observing the genuine connection between you two, couldn't help but share in the infectious joy.

Pierre grinned, his eyes reflecting the shared memories and dreams that had brought you both to this pinnacle. "We did it," he exclaimed, a mix of pride and excitement in his voice. You reciprocated the sentiment, "Together, just like we always said."

As the pit crew joined in the celebration, cheers and congratulations filled the air. It was a victory not just for Alpine Racing but for the enduring friendship that had withstood the test of time and trials.

The euphoria of the track still lingering, Pierre and you made your way to the first press meeting as Alpine drivers. The anticipation in the room was palpable as journalists gathered, eager to capture the essence of the new dynamic duo. With intertwined fingers under the table, a silent reassurance passed between you.

As the questions began, the room buzzed with curiosity. The first question, directed at you, cut straight to the heart of your connections. "A lot of people know your teammates thanks to his close friendship with Charles Leclerc. Are you also close to him?" The gaze between you and Pierre conveyed volumes. You took a moment, a smile playing on your lips, "Charles is a dear friend, and we've grown up together. But Pierre..." You glanced at him, a twinkle in your eye, "Pierre is my best friend. We share a connection that goes beyond the track."

The next question delved into the challenges of maintaining your friendship amidst the competitive world of Formula One. The room fell into a hush as the journalist asked, "Don't you think that your friendship could be destroyed by the sport, due to, for example, the rivalry?" Pierre and you exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between you. Pierre spoke with conviction, "We promised each other from the beginning that we'd do this together, and we meant it. No rivalry or competition will ever come between us. We're in this journey as one."

Then came the inevitable question, a sigh escaping the journalist's lips, "There are already rumors about you two being more than friends. What do you have to say?" The room seemed to hold its breath as you responded, "It's unfortunate that our friendship is questioned just because I'm a woman. Pierre and Charles have never faced such scrutiny. We're teammates, friends, and nothing more. The focus should be on our achievements on the track, not baseless rumors."

The room absorbed your words, and you and Pierre exchanged a knowing look. The unspoken promise echoed once more: no matter the challenges, your friendship would endure, unyielding against the backdrop of rumors and speculation.

The first practice session loomed, and the paddock buzzed with the energy of a thousand stories waiting to unfold. Cameras clicked and rolled, capturing the essence of the moment. You wander toward the bustling paddock, the echoes of conversations and the smell of rubber filling the air.

As you strolled through the maze of team motorhomes, a familiar figure caught your eye. Charles Leclerc, a smile lighting up his face, stood amidst the Ferrari team's setup. The two of you shared a brief but warm conversation, reminiscing about the times you spent together growing up. The camaraderie between you and Charles was evident, a connection that went beyond the competitive boundaries of the track.

Just as the conversation began to deepen, Pierre appeared on the scene, greeting Charles with a friendly nod. "Hey, Charles, good to see you," Pierre said, a sense of camaraderie evident in his tone. He turned to you, "Come on, let's head to the garage. We've got some work to do."

As Pierre guided you toward the Alpine garage, the whir of engines and the hum of activity filled the air. He led you to your designated spot, his focus on the task at hand.

Unbeknownst to you, the eyes of fellow drivers lingered. Some curious, some contemplative. The presence of a woman in the midst of Formula One, especially one closely associated with Pierre, had not gone unnoticed. The scrutiny, subtle yet palpable, escaped your attention as you familiarized yourself with the surroundings.

As the practice session approached, the noise intensified, drowning out the whispers of curiosity. The cameras continued to document every movement, focusing on Alpine's new dynamic duo. Little did you know, the world of Formula One was watching, captivated by the unfolding story that went beyond the confines of the racetrack.

In the heart of the bustling Alpine garage, the moment of focus and preparation had arrived. Pierre and you donned your racing suits, the familiar feel of the material a reassuring embrace. The air hummed with anticipation as the team worked swiftly around you, ensuring every detail was in place.

As you adjusted your gloves, Pierre caught your eye. There was a shared understanding between you two, a connection that transcended the spoken word. It was time for the pre-practice ritual.

Stepping closer, Pierre gently lifted his helmet visor, his eyes meeting yours. The world around you seemed to fade as you leaned in, pressing a brief but significant kiss on his helmet. It was a silent exchange, a gesture that spoke of shared determination and unspoken camaraderie.

The cameras, ever vigilant, captured the moment, freezing it in time for the world to see. The intimacy of the ritual wasn't lost on those observing from the sidelines. The team's photographer snapped candid shots, and rival teams' cameras discreetly recorded the exchange, curious eyes dissecting the dynamic between Alpine's inseparable duo.

With the ritual complete, Pierre enveloped you in a tight hug. The familiar scent of racing fuel lingered in the air as you embraced, drawing strength from each other. It was a ritual born from years of friendship and shared dreams.

A last exchanged look conveyed a silent understanding, this was the moment they had prepared for, the culmination of years of hard work and unwavering friendship. With a nod, you and Pierre headed toward the awaiting Alpine monoplace, leaving the garage behind.

The cameras continued to roll, capturing the start of a new chapter in your Formula One journey. The whispers of intrigue echoed through the paddock, but for Pierre and you, the only focus was the track ahead. As the engines roared to life, the world of Formula One awaited the unfolding story of Alpine's inseparable duo.

The thrill of the first free practice was still coursing through your veins as you faced a barrage of questions from journalists. Microphones and cameras surrounded you, capturing the essence of the moment.

A journalist inquired, "So, how was your first free practice?" A wide smile adorned your face as you responded, "It was beyond incredible. To finally be out there, on the track, living my dream alongside my best friend—there are no words to describe the feeling. I loved every moment of it."

"After this first try, who in the grid takes your interest?" A thoughtful expression crossed your face, and you replied, "That's a tough one. There are so many incredibly talented drivers on the grid. Lewis Hamilton, of course, is a legend, and the way he approaches each race is truly admirable."

You took a moment, considering the question further. "And then there's Lando Norris. His style of driving has fascinated me. There's a certain flair, a uniqueness to the way he tackles the track. It's inspiring to see a fellow driver bring such individuality to their performance."

As the questions continued, you shared insights into the challenges of the circuit and the exhilaration of being part of the Alpine team. The journalists, keen on unraveling the narrative behind Alpine's newest addition, hung onto your every word.

In the midst of the interview, a familiar presence approached. Pierre wrapped his arms around your waist, eliciting a giggle from you. "Sorry to interrupt," he grinned, "but the team is waiting for us. They want to film some content, heard about iced bath and whatnot. You ready for it?"

The unexpected interruption added a playful touch to the moment, and you nodded, "Absolutely, let's go." As you and Pierre made your way toward the waiting team, the journalists couldn't help but capture the candid scene—Alpine's inseparable duo, sharing laughter and camaraderie amidst the intense atmosphere of the paddock.

The team cameras were rolling as you and Pierre approached the iced baths, ready for the team's fun challenge. The atmosphere was light-hearted, and the paddock buzzed with anticipation as fans eagerly awaited a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes camaraderie of the Alpine team.

Pierre, sporting shorts, and you, in a two pieces bathing suit, exchanged playful banter, knowing what awaited. As the cameras zoomed in, you both shared a grin, playfully acknowledging the impending icy dip.

But as you hesitated near the iced bath, Pierre couldn't resist teasing, "Hey, remember when we used to take baths together as kids? You always made the water boiling!" You playfully retaliated, "What are you talking about? You were the one who poured only iced water!" The banter continued, each of you laughing as you relived childhood bath-time antics.

Ever watchful, Pierre stepped in front of you, wrapping his arms around you protectively. It was a spontaneous and genuine gesture, shielding you from the exposure to the cameras. Nestling against his shoulder, your shared understanding spoke volumes, conveying the comfort of an enduring friendship.

The fans caught your reaction, the laughter, the friendly bickering, adding a warm and familiar touch to the content. The rapport between you and Pierre was evident, showcasing the camaraderie that defined your partnership beyond the racetrack.

Encouraged by Pierre's support, you finally took a brave step into the iced bath. Pierre remained in front, still shielding you, until you were comfortably settled. With a nod and a smile, you acknowledged his support, feeling grateful for the friend who always had your back.

Fully immersed in the challenge, Pierre, with a playful grin, joined you in the iced bath. Laughter and playful arguments about the water's temperature ensued, each of you enjoying the icy challenge and the chance to share a moment of camaraderie beyond the intense world of Formula One. The team cameras captured these shared moments, providing fans with a glimpse into the authentic and light-hearted relationship that defined Alpine's inseparable duo.

As you relaxed on the bed, enjoying a moment of quiet, Pierre's phone buzzed, signaling an incoming call. Answering with a casual "Hello," Pierre's expression shifted as he listened intently. After a brief conversation, he hung up, a smile playing on his lips.

"Guess what?" Pierre exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "There's a dinner tonight, a celebration for the start of the season. All the drivers will be there."

Your eyes widened at the news, a mixture of surprise and anticipation. "Really? That sounds amazing," you replied, the prospect of meeting fellow drivers adding an extra layer of excitement to the already eventful day.

Pierre continued, "It's a great opportunity to mingle with everyone. Plus, they're hosting it to welcome you into the Formula One family officially. You need to know other drivers than just me and Charles."

As you considered the invitation, Pierre reassured you, "Don't worry, you'll love it. And besides, you've got me by your side. Let's celebrate the beginning of an incredible season together."

Emerging from the bathroom, you were dressed for the dinner in an outfit that reflected both elegance and comfort, a balance you hoped would fit the occasion. As you stepped into the room, Pierre turned from where he had been getting ready, a smile forming on his face.

"Wow," he exclaimed, appreciatively taking in your appearance. "You look absolutely wonderful."

A touch of uncertainty lingered, and you couldn't help but ask, "You think it's not too much, or maybe it's just ugly?"

Pierre stepped closer, "Not at all. You look fantastic. Elegant, confident, and perfect for the occasion. Trust me, you're going to turn heads tonight, and for all the right reasons."

His genuine compliment eased any lingering doubt, and a sense of confidence washed over you. With a grateful smile, you nodded, "Thanks, Pierre. I appreciate your honesty."

Together, you made your way to the venue of the dinner, the anticipation building with every step. The energy of the bustling paddock now transformed into a more relaxed, celebratory atmosphere as drivers, teams, and Formula One personalities gathered to mark the beginning of a new season.

You gracefully navigated the room, exchanging greetings and smiles with fellow drivers. Charles , standing nearby, caught your eye. With a familiar warmth, you said hello, and soon, a conversation unfolded, providing a comforting anchor amidst the sea of new faces.

As you engaged in a conversation with Charles, the ambiance of the room echoed with laughter and the hum of animated discussions. The camaraderie within the Formula One family was palpable, making the experience feel like a reunion of old friends.

However, the moment arrived when you were called to gather around the table. Pierre, of course, had reserved a seat for you right beside him. As you took your place, a sense of familiarity and comfort enveloped you. To your surprise and delight, on the other side of you was none other than Lando Norris.

"Hey there," Lando greeted with a friendly smile. "Excited for the season?"

You nodded, "Absolutely. It's a dream come true to be part of all this."

Pierre, leaning over from his seat, chimed in, "And having the best company, of course."

As the night wore on and the festivities continued, a sense of exhaustion began to weigh on you. The adrenaline that fueled the day now transitioned into a yearning for the comfort of the hotel bed. Sensing your fatigue, you turned to Pierre, "I think I'm going to head back to the hotel early. It's been a long day."

Pierre nodded and started to get up, ready to accompany you. However, you insisted, "No, stay and celebrate. I'll be fine. I just need some rest."

Pierre began to argue back, concerned about leaving you alone, but before he could protest further, Lando interjected. "Mate, I'm knackered too. I can walk her back if you want."

Pierre looked torn for a moment, torn between the desire to celebrate with friends and the instinct to ensure your well-being. After a moment's contemplation, he relented, "Alright, thanks, Lando. Just send me a message when you arrive, okay?"

Grateful for the compromise, you smiled at Pierre and kiss his cheek slightly, "I promise. Enjoy the rest of the evening. I'll catch up on all the stories tomorrow."

As you and Lando made your way out, the night air providing a refreshing contrast to the lively atmosphere inside, you exchanged a few words of gratitude. Lando, being the gentleman he was, assured you, "No worries. And don't forget to send that message to Pierre, else he'll be panicking."

Outside the hotel room, as you bid goodnight to Lando, he seemed to fidget nervously. "Hey, um, I heard you talking earlier about finding my driving fascinating to the journalists. Is that true?"

You chuckled at his genuine curiosity, "Yeah, absolutely. Your style on the track caught my attention. It's like watching an artist at work."

Lando blushed slightly, "Really? I mean, I just drive how I feel, you know?"

"Exactly," you reassured him, "That's what makes it fascinating. It's authentic, and it adds a unique flair to the races."

He grinned, "Thanks for saying that. It's just... I never thought people would describe my driving like that."

"Well, get used to it. You're making an impression out there," you replied, offering encouragement. "Now, get some rest, and I'll see you on the track tomorrow."

Just as you were about to close the door, Lando hesitated for a moment before asking, "Hey, would you be up for grabbing breakfast tomorrow before the second free practice? It could be a good chance to chat more about racing and stuff."

You smiled at the invitation, appreciating the camaraderie, "Sure, sounds like a plan. Text me the details, and I'll meet you in the morning."

With a final nod, Lando gave a friendly wave and headed down the hallway. Closing the door, you couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth from the connections formed in just one day.

Safe in bed, bonne nuit Pierre💗

#lando norris #lando norris x reader #f1 x reader #f1 imagine #f1 fanfic #f1 fic #pierre gasly #charles leclerc #f1

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spicyclover · 1 year

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Show me your scar

Summary: Being teammates isn’t always the easiest thing in the world.

Request

Hope you’ll enjoy this part. Let me know in the comments section! And to support me by tipping me!

I'm open to requests.

Little information, I will, for now, only post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Thank you, and Enjoy! :)

Lots of love, xxx Spicy Clover

Rivalry and challenge have always been the words to describe your relationship with Daniel. Never giving up. No matter the cause. No matter the consequence. He’s one of the tops of the top drivers, and you can’t afford to lose another race. It’s almost the middle of the season, and you’re way behind him.

You can’t sleep or eat as you should. All those worries and pressure put you in a state you can’t imagine. It’s eating you alive, even though you try to keep healthier habits. Seeing him perform more than you is painful. Eating less. Putting more hours in the sim or at the gym. You can’t even remember the last time you went out with friends.

You hate being the second driver. It’s a fact. We are at the Canadian Grand Prix, and you’re about to go in your car for the race. Your weekend has been worst than ever. You couldn’t or barely do the practice season since your vehicle had a mechanical problem. You have qualified in P12, way behind your teammates who are in P6.

Sat in the car, you’ve been focusing on your race. You haven’t eaten in a day and are throwing up everything you put in your mouth out of stress. You’re dehydrated, but the doctor cleared you for the race. You can feel the lack of sleep and food getting to you, but you suppress those feelings to focus. You need to focus. All you need to do is set your mind and mind to win and be better than him.

You do the formation lap, and the race begins. The first corner is the worst. Everyone turns around. And already two cars are hitting each other, causing a lot of debris to spread out on the track. You get through the dust cloud and are a little further away. A yellow flag is automatically displayed, and your engineer informs you as best he can of the situation. Three cars are off the grid, so you’re three places ahead on the grid. You’re no longer twelfth but ninth, three places to your number-one rival.

The red flag is on, and you all get behind the safety car and back to the pit. Once in the pits, everyone is allowed to get out of their vehicle, as the red flag may take several minutes.

Okay, here is the thing about Daniel. Is the best teammate in the world outside the track. Always been friendly and compassionate. He likes you. It’s a fact. Being the first woman in a long time in a formula one car and being his teammate is the dream for Daniel. So when you’re out of your monoplace, he’s already by your side, debriefing the incident.

“What a crazy start,” he says with his sexy Australian accent. “It was just pure chaos. I saw it in my mirrors. It’s a good thing you haven’t been it.”

“Yeah,” you mumble, eager to get away from him.

You like Daniel, he’s a great person, don’t let anyone fool you. But you can’t let the fact of being his teammate and being the less competitive one is so hard on you. You just can’t let things go, and every time, sometimes happens, you can’t let it go. You've always been like this. Making no difference between the race track and off-track. So even though you like him, you just can let things go. At some point, you just stop talking about anything and let him do all the talking.

Well, in fact, one night in Monaco, you allowed yourself a little party and ended up being drunk in a boat, almost falling out off the ship and into the Mediterranean. Thanks to Daniel, who passed by and caught you in time. You were in his arms when you started mumbling all you had in your heart. Letting your bag go and saying what’s been bothering you.

“You know. I hate being the second driver. You have all the glory and everything because the car is designed for you. What am I left with? Scrubs. It’s suck. I’ve been sick for three weeks now because I just can’t deal with my shit.” You cried on his shirt. “I don’t want to be second.”

He brought you back to your hotel room and stayed with you. Listening carefully to everything you’ve said to him. He knew this feeling of being second too well, and he couldn’t do anything to improve it for you. Before returning to his apartment, he brushes your hair and puts your pyjamas on.

You didn’t talk about this after. And a year has passed, and you’ve been in the same situation again. Making yourself sick to be at your best performance. The red flag is over, and you all drive off to race.

Your laps are getting good, and you feel good about the car. You managed to get behind, Daniel. Finally, you’re getting in the groove. Your laps are getting better than Daniel, and the team order Daniel to let you through. You’re in the long straight to the last corner. After insisting quite a bit, Daniel let you through at the last moment, making a dangerous move.

Your wheels lock up, and you’re enabled to finish your turn. You are going straight to the champion wall, full speed and no brake. The back of Daniel's car damaged your front wings, which blocked your brake and locked up the wheels. You don’t even have time to think you hit the first wall. Part of the barrier flies around, and you feel something touching your chest.

The second wall came quickly as the first one. You can feel pressure on your chest, and you have difficulty breathing. You can hear on the radio your engineers calling your name. You want to say something, but the words are stuck in your throat.

After that, you don’t remember much. Everything is blurred. You are in great pain and somehow hear Daniel's voice calling your name. Then you black out.

The first thing you hear when you wake up. It’s the rhythm of the monitor. Then you smell sanitizer. When you can open your eyes. You are met with the worried looks of your family. And then everything became a blur. The doctor's announcement. The end of your career. The beginning of this new rehabilitation. The world kept turning, but you felt stuck in your bed. Well, you are stuck in bed. Time flies, and the vacation finally arrives. You’ve been discharged, and you went back home to the UK.

It’s the first in three months that you and Daniel will see each other again. At first, you’ve been angry at him, wondering why he made that move. When he enters your apartment, a weird silence takes place. Neither of you knows what to say to the other. Deep down, you must keep your mind open and calm to any outcome. So when you see how uncomfortable he has been, you can’t help yourself to hug him. A weight is lifted from your shoulder and Daniels. Something forgiveness is the way to find peace.

You converse for quite a while, talking about everything other than racing. It’s been long since you opened up to him that way. Making yourself vulnerable again, just like at the beginning of this journey. Really being friends with him.

“Show me your scar.” He says tenderly after seeing you scratching through the fabric of your shirt.

You take your top off, showing yourself in your sports bra. He sees it for the first time. This scar on your chest’s forever grave in your skin because of his mistake is like a fantom reminder of his action toward you. His gaps silently.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers, tears in his eyes.

“I’ll heal.” You simply say, putting your shirt back on.

“Scars don’t disappear.”

“No. But they heal, and I think I need to heal now.” You say, stocking his cheek and removing a few tears from his eyes. “I’ll be better, and it’s time I care for myself.”

#daniel ricciardo #daniel ricciardo x reader #daniel ricciardo x you #Daniel Ricciardo fluff #f1 x reader #f1 imagine #f1 #f1 fluff

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frenchcurious · 10 months

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Monoplace GRD 375-047K, utilisée en 1976 par Stefan Johansson en Formule 3. - source Ruote da Sogno.

#grd #stefan johansson

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photos-car · 1 year

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AlphaTauri AT04 2023 - Championnat de formule 1

#Formule1 #Monoplace #MoteurV6 #ScuderiaAlphaTauri #VoituresSportives

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frenchcarssince1946 · 1 year

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1966 Fournier et Marcadier Monoplace Aral

My tumblr-blogs: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/germancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/frenchcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/englishcarssince1946

#1966 #fournier marcadier #monoplace

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usafphantom2 · 9 months

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"Top Gun" School will modernize its F-16

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 08/18/2023 - 19:46 in Military

The U.S. Navy awarded a contract worth US$818 million to the U.S. government defense engineering company, Amentum, which is expected to allow the support and modernization of the "Aggressor" unit equipped with F-16 fighter planes operating inside the famous "Top Gun" school.

The F-16 multimission fighter is not part of the U.S. Navy's endowment but is used in a certain number to simulate enemy fighters. Since 1998, the U.S. Navy has used 26 units of the F-16 (22 monoplaces and 4 biplaces). In 2002, 14 other F-16 fighters initially planned for the Pakistan Air Force joined the prestigious "Top Gun" school at Fallon Naval Station in Nevada.

The F-16 aircraft thus complement the old Northrop F-5 E/F Tiger II, the F/A-18 Hornet and a first squadron of F-35s to simulate the latest generation of Chinese aircraft in particular. But also very useful for working on combat tactics against 5ª generation stealth aircraft.

As part of the modernization of the F-16 "Aggressor", the company Amentum will ensure the operational maintenance of the F-16 A/B/C/D aircraft and will ensure the full maintenance of the system and the support of the supply chair to ensure the continuity of flight operations. During the term of the contract, Amentum will help the U.S. Navy increase its F-16 "Aggressor" fleet at all locations.

Under the Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) contract, Amentum will provide technical, support and logistics solutions for U.S. Navy F-16 aircraft based in Fallon, Nevada.

This contract begins on August 31, 2023, has a base period of five years and an option period of three years, and is contracted through the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) supporting the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) and the Naval Air Force Reserve, Tactical Support Wing (TSW).

One of Amentum's main objectives will be to track the cracks that appear in some of the cell partitions. This problem is not unique to F-16, it occurs in virtually all cells over time. The F-16 is designed to support a load of up to 9 Gs with a lifespan of 8,000 flight hours. In addition, the wing hardpoints have been reinforced to support the expected higher G rates. A consequence of extreme dogfights inside the "Top Gun". By strengthening this part of the aircraft, it is possible that a weaker link has been created elsewhere.

Amentum is a global leader in engineering, project management and solution integration, trusted to modernize the most critical missions in the world. Supported by a strong culture of ethics, safety and inclusion, Amentum is strongly committed to operational excellence and successful execution. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the company employs more than 44,000 employees.

Tags: AggressorMilitary AviationF-16 Fighting FalconTop GunUSN - United States Navy/U.S. Navy

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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populationpensive · 2 months

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Hyperbaric Medicine (HBO)

I'm sorry, what is that?

I have a side hustle as a hyperbaric medicine provider and I am here to give you the down and dirty!

Sometimes referred to as HBO (hyperbaric oxygen), hyperbaric or dive medicine is a specialty that utilizes oxygen at high pressure to treat a variety of conditions, primarily things involving wounds. We place a patient in a chamber, deliver 100% oxygen to them, pressurize the chamber, and keep them in there for about 120 minutes. Since oxygen is the number one thing you need to heal a wound, we use a lot of it to try and speed up the process.

The Basics

Wait - what? HOW? Try not to have PTSD from your days in chemistry, but remember these?

The treatment physiology of hyperbarics relies on gas laws. Recall that it takes a lot of pressure to dissolve a gas into a liquid.

We use pressure to force oxygen into the blood stream at high rates to facilitate wound healing. For reference, most of your oxygen content is bound to hemoglobin (~98%). You do have dissolved oxygen in your blood, represented by your PaO2/PvO2 in a blood gas. However, this makes up a fraction of O2 content (~2%: if you want a clinical soap box, you should hear me talk about blood gases to students lol). A normal ABG would have a PaO2 of 65-100. An ABG acquired during hyperbaric treatment would be well over 2,000.

As an aside, recall that ambient air is 21% oxygen. Also, as a reminder, we exist at 1.0 ATA of pressure (one atmosphere).

How is it done?

Delivering oxygen this way requires delivery of a lot of pressure. We utilize dive chambers for this purpose. There are two types of chambers:

Monoplace: literally looks like a class coffin. Holds one patient and delivers oxygen at pressure through the entire chamber. These are very popular at wound centers.

Multiplace: literally looks like a submarine. Holds 2+ patients and delivers oxygen at pressure to individual patients hooked up to hoods or masks. These are found at tertiary care/academic medical centers.

Literally, the multiplace hoods make you look like a silly space person.

The reason oxygen is delivered this way in a multiplace chamber is to reduce the risk of fire. Oxygen at pressure can go boom. Having an entire chamber full of O2 is a big risk. So, we deliver the gas individually to each patient.

How did it start?

Dinking around with gases at pressure has been a thing for 400 years. However, it didn't become a more focused endeavor until the first dive suits started to be a thing in the 1870s. The specialty itself is relatively new, developed in the 1930s due to advent of decompression illness with divers. Things really progressed in the 1950s.

One pivotal study was "Life without Blood" in 1959. Dr. Boerema proved that he could keep a pig alive with HBO alone. The ethics of this experiment are questionable but he exsanguinated a pig under hyperbaric conditions (3.0 ATA, 100% FiO2). Plasma was left behind. By doing this, he proved that, at pressure, an organism does not need hemoglobin to live. Kind of a radical thing to prove! Don't worry, the pigs did get their blood back and recovered without issue.

What is treated with HBOT? (hyperbaric oxygen therapy)

Anything related to wound healing can be treated with HBOT. We also treat carbon monoxide poisoning, air gas embolism, and decompression sickness with HBOT. I'll start with those since they are (imo), the most clinically interesting. ;-D

Carbon monoxide poisoning: The physiology of using HBOT to treat CO poisoning is based on the binding affinity of CO to hemoglobin. CO has 200 x the binding affinity for hemoglobin than O2 or CO2 does. Because the binding sites are taken up by CO, hemoglobin cannot pick up O2. It also can't offload whatever O2 is already bound. The goal with HBOT is to bombard the blood with massive amounts of O2 to force CO off.

For reference, it would take about 6 hours for CO to offload on its own from hemoglobin on room air. It would take half as long at 100% FiO2 delivered at standard air pressure (1.0 ATA). CO is rapidly forced off within 30 minutes with HBOT. With very severe CO poisoning, particularly in cases of LOC, this is vital for limitation of hypoxia and neurological sequelae of exposure. Treatment is 1-3 "dives" depending on clinical context. The patient is treated at 2.8 ATA (60 feet of sea water) for about 120 minutes.

Air gas embolism: This occurs when gas is accidentally introduced into circulation. It can either be venous or arterial. The venous system has much more flexibility in tolerance for air bubbles. 15 cc or less of gas introduction is probably not going to result in symptoms. Higher volumes go to the lungs and can result in local lung infarction.

The real danger with this is air introduced into arterial circulation. Depending on where it is introduced, it can go directly to the heart causing an MI, or to the brain causing a stroke. Any volume of air introduced into arterial circulation is bad news bears. Treatment is usually 1 "dive" but could be more based on the context. The patient is treated at 2.8 ATA for 30 minutes and then the ascent is extremely slow. The whole dive takes about 5 hours. Why so long? If we ascend too quickly, the air bubble will reform.

Decompression sickness: This occurs primary with scuba divers who ascended too quickly. Scuba divers generally breath mixed gas, most commonly air (21% O2, ~79% N2) or nitrox (35% O2, ~65% N2). As someone is diving, the nitrogen they breath is also dissolved into their blood since they are at a pressure greater than 1.0 ATA. If a diver ascends too quickly, the nitrogen dissolved in the blood will rapidly reform air bubbles in the blood. We just mentioned how that is problematic.

Since air bubbles can go everywhere in circulation, the symptoms are variable ranging from headache, vertigo, nausea, joint pain, chest pain, stroke symptoms, loss of bowel/bladder function, etc. The treatment for this is to recompress the patient and very slowly ascend in the HBO chamber. Treatment is usually 1 dive but could be more based on the context. The patient is treated at 2.8 ATA for 30 minutes and then the ascent is extremely slow. The whole dive takes about 5 hours. Why so long? Again, if we ascend too quickly, the air bubble will reform.

Wound related conditions: there are roughly 15 approved diagnoses for HBO by Medicare in the USA. This is important to mention because if a condition is not covered, paying out of pocket is extremely cost-prohibitive. Insurance is billed $6,000 per treatment! Some of the most common conditions treated are osteoradionecrosis, soft-tissue radionecrosis, irradiation cystitis with hematuria, and refractory chronic osteomyelitis. Wounds created from radiation exposure have the best evidence to support the use of HBOT. These are considered outpatient conditions so patients come to be treated Monday-Friday. We dive to 2.4 ATA for 120 minutes. At minimum, patients are prescribed 20 dives but most treatment protocols for radiation induced injuries is at least 40 dives.

As you can see, this is a HUGE commitment for the patient. One dive is not enough for these wound related conditions. As a hyperbaric provider, I can say that we have patients with such significant symptom relief from HBO. For example, irradiation cystitis with hematuria is extremely debilitating. Patients are fatigued from chronic blood loss, deal with painful bladder spams and pelvic pain, pain with urination, and increased frequency. The blood can clot and obstruct their urethra or foley catheter. Symptoms like this limit quality of life. HBOT makes a huge difference for them.

Benefits

Anyone who has barriers to wound healing can benefit from HBO. Barriers include vascular disease, CKD, COPD, DM, heart failure, and immunocompromised status. The goal is symptom resolution/improvement or healing of the wound. Some patients get approved for far more treatments than we typically do. Usually the maximum insurance will cover is 60. However, in some situations, the clinical benefit of continued treatments is recognized by insurance and treatment is extended.

As a provider, I get to know these patients pretty well. They show up every day that I am staffing in HBO and it is rewarding to see them improve. Compared to my critical care role, this is a nice change of pace.

Adverse Reactions and Risks

There are risks and side effects to HBO. The most common are barotrauma, pneumothorax, seizure, temporary worsening of cataracts/vision, and abdominal distention.

Barotrauma of the ears and sinuses is by the most common issue we face in HBOT. If patients are not able to clear their ears as they descend ("pop" their ears), they can rupture their ear drums. Patients that cannot descend without extreme pain may need myringotomy tubes (ear tubes) to assist with equalizing pressure.

Seizure is a risk of HBOT and that primarily comes from oxygen reducing the seizure threshold. We mitigate this with "air breaks". These are 5 minutes intervals of the treatment where the patient is receiving air rather than 100% O2. Example, we treat at 100% for 30 minutes, have a 5 minute air break, repeat x 2. Obviously the people at highest risk are those with epilepsy or taking seizure threshold reducing medications.

HBOT can worsen cataracts and vision temporarily. The mechanism of this is poorly understood but we know it is reversible. Distance vision is affected the most.

Contraindications

The only absolute contraindication to HBOT is an untreated pneumothorax. There are many relative contraindications that require a risk benefit analysis. An example of this is pregnancy. HBOT has not been thoroughly studied in pregnancy and is not recommended EXCEPT in cases of CO poisoning where we know that the CO concentration is higher in fetal circulation than maternal. Always treat a pregnant person with CO poisoning.

Other potential contraindications include use of certain chemotherapy agents, COPD with blebs/bullae, severe heart failure, epilepsy, sinus/HEENT disease, claustrophobia, certain implanted devices, or active infection.

With certain chemo agents, they can lower the seizure threshold putting patients at higher risk of seizure in the chamber. People with COPD and blebs are at risk of those blebs popping under pressure and causing acute respiratory distress. People with heart failure can experience flash pulmonary edema after an HBO treatment. If people are claustrophobic, obviously spending time in a monoplace chamber can trigger panic attacks. At my center, we sometimes have people referred to our multiplace chamber for exactly that reason.

Most implanted medical devices are HBOT compliant. Generally, pacers and other devices are tested at 4.0 ATA of pressure. We double check with the manufacturer that the device is compliant. If it isn't, we cannot safely treat and have to deny the consult.

Obviously, if someone is sick, we don't want them in the chamber. Particularly colds, severe allergies, fever, or anything that is affecting HEENT. People with acute sinus infection are unable to clear sufficiently to dive. Even if they can clear, they feel miserable. No need to go through that.

Safety Issues

I mentioned that high O2 environments are at risk for explosion. Safety is the number one concern with any chamber. The goal is to reduce risk of fire by removing fabrics that create static (anything synthetic), removing electronic devices that are not HBOT approved, and going through multiple levels of safety checks for patients and for chamber preparation.

At our chamber, only 100% cotton is allowed in the chamber. All patients have special scrubs that they wear during treatment. No electronic devices can be brought in the chamber which includes phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers, watches, pagers, etc. We do have HBOT approved IV pumps and radio headsets that we use. These have been tested at 4.0 ATA. The radio headsets are for the attendant (staff member) who is in the chamber and this is also for safety purposes. Since we have a mulitplace chamber, a staff member is always in the chamber with the patient(s).

One thing I do want to address is that some people are concerned about putting a patient with active cancer into the chamber. There is concern that the high O2 environment will "feed" the cancer. There is simply not data to support this. Active cancer is not a contraindication to HBOT.

And there you have it! The down and dirty of HBOT! Hopefully you learned something cool. If you think you have a patient who would benefit, find your local HBOT provider. We are always happy to talk with you about the process. If you care about a soapbox of how insurance companies suck, see below. :-D

Soapbox: I will say, I have definitely been frustrated with insurance companies. They are the gatekeepers of this treatment. You can have several providers supporting the use of treatment and an insurance company can still say "no". Very frustrating.

A prime example of this are patients who have avascular necrosis that is steroid or chemotherapy induced. These are often younger patients (late teens, early 20s) who have/had leukemia of some kind. They end up having necrosis at a joint, usually the femoral head, that will likely result in complete joint replacement at a young age. No orthopedic surgeon wants to replace joints on a young person. It comes will all kind of problems and always needs revision later in life.

Insurance companies will say "we only cover radiation induced necrosis" because that is what the literature supports. Yes, they are correct that the vast majority of studies support HBOT for radiation induced injury. However, the pathophysiology of the tissue destruction, while a little different, ends up with the SAME problem. There are studies that support HBOT use in these situation but not nearly as many as radiation induced injury. The result is that patients suffer, get a joint replacement they could have avoided (or postponed until they are fully developed), and generally are shafted.

*end soapbox*

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