Why warbird pilots don't wear real warbird flight gear 2
Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:06 pm
Tim Savage said
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
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
Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:28 pm
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
I'm glad your still with us because of your equipment.
Fantastic visual testimonial as to why good safety gear is so important.
Jerry
Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:38 pm
Mr. Jeanes,
how long were you in the flames before getting out ? On another note, have they started on the cowling yet?
thanks
taylor
how long were you in the flames before getting out ? On another note, have they started on the cowling yet?
thanks
taylor
Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:43 pm
from about 200ft. on takeoff, to the ground and stop sliding. But I was out before it completely stopped.
Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:06 pm
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
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
gear
Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:52 pm
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.
Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:34 pm
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.
Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:42 pm
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
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
Re: gear
Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:10 am
Bill Greenwood wrote: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…
Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:01 am
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.
"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.
Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:55 am
Bill,
On the other hand, former FACs that I've met are happy I wear a "party suit" to help tell their story.
On the other hand, former FACs that I've met are happy I wear a "party suit" to help tell their story.
Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:06 am
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. 
Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:14 am
FG1D Pilot wrote: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
Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:34 am
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 !
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 !
Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:46 am
Glad you got out OK! Not sure who to credit for the photo
