Why dont warbird flyers wear the real warbird flightgear?

[RyanShort1]

On the Warbird thing, everything said here is right, except, there is no way I would wear "Vintage" junk, on a warbird flight. It's junk. I know it's been said already, but let me say it again, it is junk. The other part of that is, you go ahead and sit or stand around the plane on the ramp in that stuff in freakin Salinas, just to be "Authentic". I'll give you 5 minutes until you wish you were crawling through a river of molten lava just to cool off a little. I'll leave that kind of fortitude to the reenactors.

I actually am interested in finding an affordable helmet now, and I do sometimes wear one of those green Air Force suits that I picked up locally, but it's still fun to work with the plane in the gear. Oh, and the gear really isn't that bad all things considered. I've worn it to at least 5 airshows here in South Texas (for 4-8 hours) and would still do it again. Wool is not as bad as it sounds.
Here are a couple of pics:




Ryan

[Edward Soye]

FAST events already require the full chebang safety wise.

Ahh.. sorry Ollie but not from my experience. At the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association I only know of one individual who flies with a helmet (the organization has 6 aircraft and probably two dozen pilots) and while most wear flight suits I don't believe many of them are nomex. Furthermore, running shoes are worn widely amongst the pilots while flying (at least thats one department where I agree that its silly not to wear good flying boots).

They are a FAST signatory organization and issue tickets reguarly. So FAST events (thining particuarly about the annual CHAA formation clinic) do not require helmets or nomex. Perhaps parachutes are stipulated in the FAST regs (I haven't checked in a while) but personal protective gear is not. Or if it is, the rule is definatley not enforced.

[Ollie]

The one FAST event I attended was a Red Star Pilots one, and they wouldn't let anyone fly without the flight suit, gloves and chutes. So I guess it is up to the organizer of the event to enforce those rules...

[Matt Gunsch]

The FAST rules as they were written did not require flight suits and gloves, but did require chutes.

[L2Driver]

I actually am interested in finding an affordable helmet now, and I do sometimes wear one of those green Air Force suits that I picked up locally, but it's still fun to work with the plane in the gear. Oh, and the gear really isn't that bad all things considered. I've worn it to at least 5 airshows here in South Texas (for 4-8 hours) and would still do it again. Wool is not as bad as it sounds.
Here are a couple of pics:




Ryan

Ryan: Depending on your preferences, David Clark makes a nice helmet that fits around most of their headsets. Alternatively, I'd recommend an SPH-4 or one of the leather Soviet flying helmets -- either of these are relatively inexpensive. I have an L-2 and have used a number of different helmets over the years. I've settled on an SPH-4 with upgraded electronics (electret-mic and 300-ohm receivers) and modified connector. I think I'm into it for $125.

Your in-cockpit photo is a great illustration of how close your head is to the steel frame overhead and wing roots to the sides. With a helmet and decent straps (which you appear to have), you should be in good shape.

[RyanShort1]

I'm all too aware of those struts... That and the fact that the gas tanks are on either side of your head with fuel lines visible all the way around. I guess my main idea is not to crash or at least to set the bird down gently if I have an engine out. I've groundlooped that plane once (no damage thankfully) and managed to plant both main gear into gopher holes resulting in a prop strike and subsequent engine teardown that taught me about $, warbirds, and engines... ! Lessons learned (hopefully)!

Ryan

[Beachy]

I've got to say, this discussion has really made me stop & think! I've never worn ANY kind of "gear" in a T-6! Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, running shoes, boots.........pretty much "whatever" -- I always looked at the flight suit thing as kinda goofy...........Hmmmm.............some reconsideration seems to be in order!

[Ollie]

I like women pilots in flying suits.

It's what I call proper clothing.

[Beachy]

I like women pilots in flying suits.

It's what I call proper clothing.

Ha Ha Ha!

[EDowning]

I wear a helmet, flightsuit and parachute on any flight in any of my warbirds. I also wear a pair of black "Pyrotec" nomex racing shoes (they are like high top tennis shoes in comfort, very durable, and about $120). I wear all of these for the same protective reasons that were hammered into me in my military flying days...for the most part.
There are some other reasons behind some of it, the helmet is completely rebuilt and has ANR and O2 receivers. I NEED the ANR protection on EVERY flight, as a I have left a good portion of my high frequency hearing in an attack helicopter in the past.

Even in the Yale and T6 I want to take advantage of the noise attenuation but I think both of these airplanes are much more likely to experience some type of HEAD BANGING accident (read minor ground loop) than in the Skyraider. My biggest fear in the Skyraider is carbon monoxide, hence the O2 available for both front seaters for take off and landing.

Parachutes- I have 8 Strong parachutes that I go to the trouble to keep packed and current, so I have one for each of the six seats of the Skyraider and 2 that I move back and forth between the Yale and T6. I don't give anyone a ride in any of the aircraft, without a thourogh briefing of how and when the chute can be utilized and proper egress procedure.

I don't give any rides to chilren or small adults that don't fit properly in the parachute or the seatbelt and shoulder harness for that matter. More than once this policy has P.O.ed, friends and airshow promoters.

I really think it's important to get kids involved in aviation, but I would much rather take them for a flight in the Bonanza or Cub, than put them in a situation where they haven't got a chance in an emergency.

I am really surprised that the insurance companies haven't gotten involved in trying to regulate this. As far as I'm concerned I hope I never need any of it, but I can't imagine being in a situation where my life depended on it and sitting there and wishing I had it on.

I love warbirds, but once they stop making noise they belong to the insurance company, and it might be time to depart.

[mlenoch]

Thay can make those girl flight suits as tight & tailored as you like!!

(Aggghhh........couldn't help it!!! No wonder my wife is suspicious about airshow weekends!!)

[tom d. friedman]

i 2nd the opinion!!! there....... it's an official dress code for women warbirders!! .... tell me it's true!!!

[bdk]

I like women pilots in flying suits.

It's what I call proper clothing.

I prefer birthday suits myself... Did I just write that?

[Ollie]

Brandon, that's so obvious a statement that I didn't bother to mention it.

[Beachy]

Aw, you guys are all a laugh a minute!

Seriously, I never considered the safety aspect of it all, just considered it more of a "look at me, I'm cool" kinda thing......No offense intended!

As I said, perhaps a reconsideration is in order.........