Why warbird pilots don't wear real warbird flight gear 2

[FG1D Pilot]

Tim Savage said

Doug Jeanes should post some photos of his helmet and flight suit from his fire...it will make a true believer out of anyone.

I had some photos taken by a studio so I could use them for safety briefings I conduct on the use of Protective clothing, but they are slides and I never got around to getting them put on CD. I finally took quick shots of my helmet to post. As you can see, the inflight fire in the P47 burned my helmet. Also my flight suit, and gloves which I don't have handy to take photos of. I recieved 2nd and 3rd degree burns on the unprotected parts of my neck and face. Luckly there are only minor scars that aren't that noticable. I truely beleive that I would not have survived without the equipment I was wearing. The visor is melted, but doesn't show up well in the photos. If I hadn't had the visor down I really would have had it. I also lost most of the hair on my face and head. I can't figure out why it grew back except the top of my head which wasn't even burned

[Jerry O'Neill]

Doug;
I'm glad your still with us because of your equipment.
Fantastic visual testimonial as to why good safety gear is so important.
Jerry

[Taylor Stevenson]

Mr. Jeanes,
how long were you in the flames before getting out ? On another note, have they started on the cowling yet?
thanks
taylor

[FG1D Pilot]

from about 200ft. on takeoff, to the ground and stop sliding. But I was out before it completely stopped.

[Ztex]

WOW!

Doug, I think you were very fortunate and very smart to wear your "modern" flight gear. Great job getting that beast stopped and getting out!

I remember hearing about this incident...WOW...

from Warbird Alley.com

[Bill Greenwood]

I don't wear any authentic RAF or combat gear because I would feel pretentious in something I didn't earn,same reason I don't wear CAF uniform. No dispute for those who do. I certainly wear a Nomex flight suit socks, gloves, and I carry one in the rear cockpit for a passenger. I don't have room to store a passsenger helment, they get D Clark headset, I use DC helment, not as good as HGU, but more comfortable for me. I usually wear jogging shoes, I've never tried flying in big boots. There are times I have riden in or flown someone's warbird without everything, but I try to stay smart. I think jeans and a long sleeve cotton shirt offer a little more protection than bare skin. I really hate to see someome in T shirt and shorts flying a 51 or similar. Of course I have seat belts, shoulder harness, and parachutes for my self and passenger. I don't see how in good conscience you can do less, but some guys have only a seat belt for the back seat. I remember Doug showing his helment and Stallion 51 video of burns from crew with bare skin.

[PatM]

I plead guilty to taking my one-and-only P-51 ride with shorts, t-shirt, and sneakers. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. I remember signing all of the release forms, and thinking.....I'll take my chances. If I was a regular flyer like you guys, however, my attitude might have been different.

[Jerry O'Neill]

In a safety side note:
There was one airshow we worked just about 4 years ago where the "Jet Truck" act was going to give a ride in the truck, during the act, to an airshow offical.

The driver suited up with everything you'd see a NASCAR driver wear, but this poor guy in the right seat only had a T-shirt, shorts and a helmet!
And there was this big, honkin, screaming engine between the two seats!!!
I wasn't even going for a ride and I felt uncomfortable!
Jerry

[Eric Friedebach]

I don't wear any authentic RAF or combat gear because I would feel pretentious in something I didn't earn,same reason I don't wear CAF uniform. No dispute for those who do.

I hung up the green suit with the patches a while ago. Seemed to cause more confusion than necessary (one time at an airshow a guy hands me a scrap of paper – all the fuel you need, just call this number – heh, AUTOVON).

These days I’m a natural fiber guy. As far as Nomex in a warbird, first I need to put together all the stuff in the hangar…

[needle]

Doug explained his escape from the P-47 as follows:

"I climbed out of the cockpit, ran along the left wing, stepped off the end, and then ran until I was well clear of the plane".

Other than the burns he suffered, he also had painful ankles for a few weeks. At first, he didn't know why. Then he saw a post accident picture of the P-47 (may have been the same picture of the P-47 posted by Zane) and realised just how high that "step off the end of the wing" actually was.

[oscardeuce]

Bill,

On the other hand, former FACs that I've met are happy I wear a "party suit" to help tell their story.

[FG1D Pilot]

More humor to the chaos, I was still wearing my chute when I "ran" off the end of the wing, as opposed to "step". When they brought in a medevac helicopter, I was their first transport. They couldn't figure out how to get the gurney to unlock and swing out. I got off the streacher and unlocked it for them, and then climbed back on. They told me this was a new helicopter and they hadn't practiced loading and unloading. They asked me not to help when we got to the hospital as that "wouldn't look good." When I got to the hospital, the Dr. commented that they get very few accident victims, in Albuquerque, that are sober.

[Jerry O'Neill]

More humor to the chaos, I was still wearing my chute when I "ran" off the end of the wing, as opposed to "step". When they brought in a medevac helicopter, I was their first transport. They couldn't figure out how to get the gurney to unlock and swing out. I got off the streacher and unlocked it for them, and then climbed back on. They told me this was a new helicopter and they hadn't practiced loading and unloading. They asked me not to help when we got to the hospital as that "wouldn't look good." When I got to the hospital, the Dr. commented that they get very few accident victims, in Albuquerque, that are sober.

Doug,
Glad you're in one piece, but boy...is that FUNNY!
Jerry

[RickH]

How many times have we all seen Howard Pardue climb out of the Bearcat in his golf shirt and kakhi shorts ?

In the jets the flight crews wear all of the safety gear. It's silly not to use it. The gear has been developed for a reason and it's available. Of course along with the associated risk of an aircraft malfunction we also add the potential operation of a hot seat.

We don't fly in tennis shoes, if you have to eject you will probably land in the scrub barefoot !

[Tim Landers]

Glad you got out OK! Not sure who to credit for the photo