Warbird Information Exchange

Can anyone recommend a decent pair of nomex gloves? Has anyone tried Hatch or Damacus nomex flight gloves?

Anyone input would be appreciated.

Being in the Guard my flight gloves are issued. Go to Gibson and Barnes and get yourself a geniune pair if GI issue gloves.


Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

http://www.gibson-barnes.com/index.php?id=53

great quick service a little spendy but good quality milspec gloves

This is what I'm flying with currently: the Camelbak flight glove. They are much better than the GI issue GS/FRP-2 gloves; the stitching doesn't come apart at the fingertips, there is a velcro strap around the wrist to help them stay on your hand, and the touch surface is much more durable than the leather.

http://www.camelbak.com/en/government-m ... ripnt.aspx



I've worn out many a pair of flight glove in my day, and these are by far the most durable and most comfortable.

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Alot of this depends on what you're flying. C-172, P-51, T-38? Ejection, manual parachute, or staying with the airplane to the bitter end? They need to protect against flash flame, abrasion, egress, etc, but still allow for comfort during daily ops.

The discerning quality, to me, is the ability to thumb through an approach book, etc with the gloves on. When they're not comfortable, then you're apt to remove them in flight, losing the protection they offer. Clipping the tip from the thumb and pointer finger from the dominant hand is a compromise, accepting that the tips of those two digits are no longer fully protected. Restitching the cut areas is also necessary or the seams will unravel.

If you don't get what Randy recommended, then I'd try to find a pair of genuine GI gloves. Not that they're the greatest, but too many times (gloves, boots, whatever) items that are advertised as "mil spec" or "mil style" don't match 100% of the quality. Getting a GI 1st quality item at least ensures the product met the gov't standard. As long as you take care of 'em and let sweat-soaked leather dry gradually, the GI ones aren't too bad.

Ken

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Randy.......are those Mud Hen specific gloves?
I've not seen them too often.
Thx,
VL

They're newly approved, as of about last summer. I was actually issued my pair while going through the T-38 instructor course at Randolph. I don't know if the long term plan is to have those fully replace the standard flight glove, or to have them just be an option for issue.

I was actually skeptical when I was first issued them. They certainly wear a little different than the standard glove (they're a little 'heavier' initially), and having to fasten and unfasten the velcro strap was something I wasn't used to. I wasn't so sure that I liked them the first couple times I flew with them.

Now that they're broken in, I really dig them. Definitely recommend.

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I meant to mention, I've seen some of our Loadmasters get a hold of Army tank crewmen's nomex gloves. Appears to be the same sage green fabric, but with a heavier duty black leather palm. Looks like a trade-off for touch dexterity (for instance, touching small buttons) but easier on the hands when handling chains/devices and the leather lasts longer than the traditional flight glove.

Randy, how does your fingertip "feel" compare with the Camelbaks? Are you just as comfortable flipping FLIP?

Ken

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Thanks, I'll stick to the genuine mil spec gloves.

Note that the Camelbak gloves *are* mil spec. I was issued them by the USAF as active flight crew.

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IMHO better once they're broken in.

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back in the early 90's i visited my ex wife's cousin at keesler afb. his squadron were the hurricane hunters who flew through the eye of the storms. in the back of the c-130 was a pair of nomex gloves sitting on a desk by a flare shoot used to calculate hurricane wind speed etc. he told me to swipe them as they are very prized. no wonder...... they are the best fitting pair of gloves i've ever had!! yes their hot, but my tax dollars paid for them. honestly, they fit so well it's almost like skin!! i can light a smoke, bait a hook etc. try that with a civvie pair of gloves!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Using Tom's example of tax dollars paying for them, the next time Randy brings a T-38 down to Houston, I'm going to have a tug and towbar ready. Oh, and a Greyhound Bus ticket back to Enid, OK for Randy !

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Me: <searching ramp> "Where the hell did that thing go?"

Rick: "Sometimes those things just get stolen...south Texas just isn't as safe as it used to be. Did you lock it up when you left it? Hey, next time you come down here, we'll have to show you the Foundation's new T-38C!"

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My question is why wasn't he ready with the towbar the last time you were here

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Robert "JP" Spivey