Forum: General F-16 forum

Last edited by Rexxxx on Dec 08, 2005 - 02:22 AM; edited 1 time in total

Just flew with the gradient visor for the past few days and HATED it! (I guess when you don't fly for 6 months your stuff gets cannibalized and you end up with everything that no-one wanted). Anyway, I finally got it replaced with my regular dark visor, and I'm much happier!

Don't get me wrong, I think the gradient visor is a cool idea. The problem was that it's just not dark enough overall. If I wanted to shade the sun, I had to lower my chin and look directly through the very top of the visor. Not very tactically sound. It would probably be good for flying on an overcast day, but like someone else mentioned, I fly with the gradient visor for that.

I had LS somewhere modify my visor straps so I could fly with two visors (just so I don't have to swich them out in flight), so I fly with the HCV and dark visor on my helmet (no, I don't have them both down at the same time!). The HCV is GREAT for overcast days when you're doing air-to-ground stuff, but in normal sunlight, it will definitely blind you!

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Quote:

no, I don't have them both down at the same time!

Haha, and here I thought all Viper pilots flew with 3 visors on! a pair of sunglasses and their NVGs all at once! Man am I dissapointed!

-Aaron

Rexxxx wrote:

I had LS somewhere modify my visor straps so I could fly with two visors (just so I don't have to swich them out in flight)

That was a pretty common practice for us. We'd install a double-lug (almost looks like two blue jeans buttons back to back). They were great for the drivers that had a gray and a high contrast, OR they were good for late afternoon missions that went into the night. Otherwise, you'd have to slip an extra visor into your helmet bag.

Angela, I'm not a driver. I was an Aircrew Life Support troop. I built, fitted, and refitted equipment for pilots. Somewhere, I have a pic of me building a helmet. As soon as I find it, I'll post. As for the boots the aircrews wear in the sandbox, they wear steel-toed DCU boots. They feel (and look) like brown suede, and, unlike the standard black leather boots, are not polished.

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

How come you guys have to buy your own pilot gear? Doesn't the Air Force supply them? I love men in uniform, so can you post or send me your photos of you in uniform, in pilot gear?

Newbie Joined: Aug 14, 2005 - 04:35 AM Posts: 18

Military pilots are given all of their flightgear free of charge, it goes with the job. We get our flight suits, boots, gloves, helmets and G-suits while in pilot training. If you're lucky enough to fly an F-16, F-15C, F-15E or A-10, then you'll be fitted for additional gear that is specific to the airframe. i.e. Ejection seat harness, combat edge vest, etc.

As far as the picture thing, I feel it cheapens and exploits military personnel. Plus my wife would think something was up if I was sending pictures of myself to an anonymous person named "Angela". -JK- Very Happy

Only the airshow guys like JR and Tyger have to buy their own equipment. I had a flightsuit that I wore on special days. It was kinda cool, but as an LS troop, I always felt kinda like a "wannabe" when we'd wear them, especially in the near-constant presence of the flyers.

Then again, I'd take a flight suit over BDUs anytime! The only time I preferred BDUs is when the alternative was blues...which I fortunately hardly ever had to wear after tech school. Wink

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

FCI wrote:

As far as the picture thing, I feel it cheapens and exploits military personnel. Plus my wife would think something was up if I was sending pictures of myself to an anonymous person named "Angela". -JK- Very Happy

Good one, FCI Laughing

! Just don't forget that there's a sticky thread down in the "Introduce Yourself" section about faces to go with screen names Wink

! Mine's the first one in the topic, how about seeing one of you?

Of course, we've been waiting for TC's pic since Gums was in UPT Very Happy

...

Sorry to go so Off Topic

, I'll return the show to the guys with the gear - take it away boys!

We now return to On Topic

...

F16VIPER wrote:

Hey Tyger:

Thanks for sharing the photos of your set.
Please do not hesitate to post them, specially any new items like the vest.
Do you think you could post more images of it, including the labels.

By the way, just a quick comment. The PCU-15 is the one used by F-15 Eagle drivers. You can tell because of the different quick release compared to the one used by the F-16 drivers.

regards

Yeah as soon as I get it back from the manufacturer in its final production form, i'll pile all the gear in it... so to speak, & take some better pictures.

It was great to work with a company who wanted a pilots perspective on actually making a product. We made custom individual & compartmentalised pockets both inside & out to incorporate all the gear that most pilots fly with.
I basically looked at a total overhaul on what is out there for us folk at the "Pointy End" of things, so to speak, which to be brutally honest... Was foxtrotting terrible!
After two years of looking long & hard, so to speak, for a viable solution & I had racked my cranium to Over-G, I finally decided we had to come up with something better, SAFER, more comfortable & more practical for pilots.

We've still got ALSS's that have 80's & 90's dated SRU-21/P Survival vests out there. Plain & simple its OLD & IT SUCKS!! The LPU-9 was terrible! I found it uncomfortable, the new LPU-33 & 38 are better, but we're attaching a life saving device to something with a two inch zipper? The equipment does the job, but the DoD has finally realised the Air Force NEEDS something better.

The new product is rated to 800KIAS!! Its all Nomex. I think the Ergonomics of the thing are great. Perfectly placed pockets, you can put alot of gear in it & its not bulky

I started with everything the Air Force used in their survival vests & found companies that made something BETTER. Alot of things Eagle, Viper & Hog Drivers that have recently come back from OIF will find alot of familiar things. There are a few new toys in there that people will like!! Wink

I got a new pyro.. smoke & flares, its smaller than the AF version & puts out about 30 more seconds of smoke. I picked up a PLB, I still don't know if the USAF flys with one, no one would tell me. The next thing I did was find a company that did a "Newer" version of the Survival & Med kits. They're now in waterproof plastic containers & have about 40% more content than its AF rival, in the same amount of space. I had a bitch of a time finding the IR Cyalume sticks & got two of those & two of the green ones. Got my paws on a box of 2005 Sea Dye Markers pretty cheap... The most difficult thing of all was trying to get the AN/PRC-112 GPS Radio!! I'm not kidding it almost took an act of congress for me to own one!!
Basically i've put MAJOR emphasis on ACTUALLY getting rescued. You want as many comms & signalling devices as you can get your hands on, with enough survival gear to see you through til the PJ's come over the horizon!

I'm not naming the companies involved with making the product or showing pictures of labels because, A.) Joe Public can't buy this stuff & B.) I'm getting the contract finished for the DoD to purchase this product in several spec assys & I've got my seeker cranium on a certain MiG-29UM when the contract is won.

Yeah F-16Viper, you're absolutely right. The Viper community fly with the "Frost" type Fittings on their harnesses. We don't have a 30' reclined seat in the L-39 & L-159. The L-159 has the same fittings as the F-15, thats why i've got a PCU-15/P harness with the "Koch" fittings.

Fencing Out...

Tyger.

Hey Tyger:

Great to read your comments.
I understand your desire things develop before more info comes out.
Hope you let us know how things are developing when time is right.

I always wondered why the USAF has such a disparate array of gear issued to their pilots, instead of an integrated approach to the issue.
I guess the F/A-22 is sucking up all the money. Even the Raptor is using the same gear except for the CSU-20 speed jeans.

Really looking forward to seen the other photos, whenever you've got the time.

I do not see this topic as old, to me it is a repository of lots of flightgear information.

Regards

F16VIPER

I had to swtich back to the dark visor after using the gradient visor. Just hated being blinded by the sun all the time. Now I'm just waiting to get some PNVGs to replace the old school stuff.

Laxman.... "SHACK!"

The gradient is a great concept, however.. Like everyone else that checked in. I fly with my regular dark visor & sometimes fly with the HCV too.

Quote:

As for the boots the aircrews wear in the sandbox, they wear steel-toed DCU boots.

I was under the impression that the steel toe boots are not authorized for flying. I know that we at one time bought the Belleville (spelling wrong) 770 series boots for our pilots. This could have changed since I haven't purchased any within the past few years. TC do you have any idea how our job title got changed to Aircrew Performance? I missed this years conference and wanted to ask ACC.

PhthaloType wrote:

I'm interested in the flight gear configuration F-16s pilots currently use in Iraq.

The only pictures I've seen of pilots in tan gear are of them in flight, taken from tankers, so I can only confirm that the flightsuit and survival vest are tan. What about the gloves, anti-g suit, and boots?

In none of the pictures I've seen does it appear that the Combat Edge vest is worn. Is this the norm? Also, I've seen some pilots with life preservers and some without.

Something I don't think has been brought up yet, knee maps. How is it held in place? (pictures would be good) Is it always used, and if you have something on each leg, what is the other one?

Great thread, [Link pending approval]

Well they are no longer required to wear the CE Vest since it has been proven to be only semi affective. The G-Suits are green and the survival vest or atleat the Airace which is the tan one is stationary tan there boots are the standard pig skin desert boots the gloves do come in tan but pilots are funny about there gear so for the most part they wear whats more comfortable for them unless Lifesupport finds it [Link pending approval]

Bloke wrote:

F16VIPER wrote:

Hey Tyger:

Thanks for sharing the photos of your set.
Please do not hesitate to post them, specially any new items like the vest.
Do you think you could post more images of it, including the labels.

By the way, just a quick comment. The PCU-15 is the one used by F-15 Eagle drivers. You can tell because of the different quick release compared to the one used by the F-16 drivers.

regards

Yeah as soon as I get it back from the manufacturer in its final production form, i'll pile all the gear in [Link pending approval] so to speak, & take some better pictures.

It was great to work with a company who wanted a pilots perspective on actually making a product. We made custom individual & compartmentalised pockets both inside & out to incorporate all the gear that most pilots fly with.
I basically looked at a total overhaul on what is out there for us folk at the "Pointy End" of things, so to speak, which to be brutally [Link pending approval] Was foxtrotting terrible!
After two years of looking long & hard, so to speak, for a viable solution & I had racked my cranium to Over-G, I finally decided we had to come up with something better, SAFER, more comfortable & more practical for pilots.

We've still got ALSS's that have 80's & 90's dated SRU-21/P Survival vests out there. Plain & simple its OLD & IT SUCKS!! The LPU-9 was terrible! I found it uncomfortable, the new LPU-33 & 38 are better, but we're attaching a life saving device to something with a two inch zipper? The equipment does the job, but the DoD has finally realised the Air Force NEEDS something better.

The new product is rated to 800KIAS!! Its all Nomex. I think the Ergonomics of the thing are great. Perfectly placed pockets, you can put alot of gear in it & its not bulky

I started with everything the Air Force used in their survival vests & found companies that made something BETTER. Alot of things Eagle, Viper & Hog Drivers that have recently come back from OIF will find alot of familiar things. There are a few new toys in there that people will like!! Wink

I got a new [Link pending approval] smoke & flares, its smaller than the AF version & puts out about 30 more seconds of smoke. I picked up a PLB, I still don't know if the USAF flys with one, no one would tell me. The next thing I did was find a company that did a "Newer" version of the Survival & Med kits. They're now in waterproof plastic containers & have about 40% more content than its AF rival, in the same amount of space. I had a bitch of a time finding the IR Cyalume sticks & got two of those & two of the green ones. Got my paws on a box of 2005 Sea Dye Markers pretty [Link pending approval] The most difficult thing of all was trying to get the AN/PRC-112 GPS Radio!! I'm not kidding it almost took an act of congress for me to own one!!
Basically i've put MAJOR emphasis on ACTUALLY getting rescued. You want as many comms & signalling devices as you can get your hands on, with enough survival gear to see you through til the PJ's come over the horizon!

I'm not naming the companies involved with making the product or showing pictures of labels because, A.) Joe Public can't buy this stuff & B.) I'm getting the contract finished for the DoD to purchase this product in several spec assys & I've got my seeker cranium on a certain MiG-29UM when the contract is won.

Yeah F-16Viper, you're absolutely right. The Viper community fly with the "Frost" type Fittings on their harnesses. We don't have a 30' reclined seat in the L-39 & L-159. The L-159 has the same fittings as the F-15, thats why i've got a PCU-15/P harness with the "Koch" fittings.

Fencing [Link pending approval]

Tyger.

The PCU15 is the standard combat edge harness the diffrent releases depend on the majcom like my last base used Uwars this new one uses [Link pending approval] The newest thing to hit the seens is JHMCS both this base and my last one had it but F15 pilots get the best results since I have worked with both Aircraft the 15 guys get the full display 16 guys are not even aware of from the [Link pending approval]

cmjohnson wrote:

I'd like to know a few specifics about how your manworn gear is set up, and in some cases, which gear is used.

To be precise, I want to know what equipment you wear, starting at your flight suit and working your way out, top and bottom, when you're strapped in and equipped for safety and survival for a long duration, transatlantic flight.

I know the following:

The CSU-27/P flight suit is worn, followed by either the CSU-13/P or CSU-15/P anti G pants. Plus boots, of course. That takes care of the lower body equipment.

If you are using the Combat Edge system, you wear an MBU-21/P pressure vest. If not using CE, I would presume that some sort of survival vest is used. but I don't know which type, and I don't know if that vest would be worn ionjunction with the pressure vest if you are using CE equipment.

I understand the headgear well enough. HGU-55/P helmet, (CE variant if using Combat Edge), oxygen mask (MBU-5/P, obsolete but usable, MBU-12/P, standard for non-CE use, MBU-20/P if using Combat Edge)

So, what I don't know is (I think) limited to what you wear on your chest and how your mission changes this selection.

There is a reason why I want to know this. There is a good chance that I will be taking a flight in an F-16B in the near future, and it will be a long duration (11 hour) flight over the Atlantic Ocean. If I can provide suitable and serviceable manworn gear on my own, it helps my chances of getting on the flight as I'm a civilian and don't have easy access to ALSE shops, and the circumstances surrounding the flight make it better for me to provide my own gear. I already have most of it or have arranged to borrow it.

CJ

MBU 5/P is never ever ever worn and never will be again as far as the HGU 55/P if you hope to get one it needs to be custom fitted by a professional also the Air Ace survival vest is whats worn and it needs specific components depending on the Majcom the clothing items you can get from a surplus but as far as the gear itself good [Link pending approval] With the helmet you need a visor and the masks of all kinds from the 12/P to the 20/P which is all I have ever built come in peices and have certain torque values and safety standards as well as screw lenth lock tight brands tackings and 100 pound test cord the life support gear aka pilot gear requires alot more than people know so I wouldnt buy the stuff if I were you it may cost more harm than [Link pending approval]

Forum: General F-16 forum

Gear worn by Viper drivers