WIX Archives

Re: What to wear in Warbirds?

Posted by bdk on Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:09:59 PM

In reply top What to wear in Warbirds? posted by Olivier Lacombe on Thu Jan 29, 2004 07:27:34 PM

When flying my Stearman, I always wore a brain bucket- even when flying in a t-shirt and shorts. Turnovers are fairly common in Stearmans, so I felt that was the most important piece of safety equipment to have.

You're plane is a little different though. A helmet really cuts down on the noise, so I even used one in 310's rather than a headset. The helmet clamps up a lot less than a headset as well on a long trip.

In a crash, your head is probably the part of your body most worthy of protection. I would start there. Your grey matter can get scrambled in an otherwise survivable crash.

Unless you are wearing an aluminized firesuit and a respirator (or O2), Nomex (TM) won't be much better than just wearing cotton. Even so you would need someone at the wreck with an extinguisher within moments to be of much value. If you couldn't retain consciousness through the crash and get out yourself, you would likely asphyxiate before you would burn to death anyhow.

Leather boots should be OK, I don't know that you need any more than that.

I didn't consider my Stearman to be anything but a Cessna 150 as far as operating it, other than the helmet usage. It flies slowly and would put you at no more risk- other than the turnover propensity. Your Focke-Wulf should not be much different than a Bonanza as far as safety requirements, unless you are flying acro.

Of course if you only want to look cool and impress the ladies, that is another story altogether... :-)

All that being said, you would be better off flying in body armor surrounded by a space suit (or staying on the ground), but that would be carrying safety to an extreme that is beyond what most people consider prudent.

All this is only my opinion of course as I am not a safety expert. Hopefully other pilots will chime in with their opinions and experiences too.

: this is something that has been bugging me quite a while.
: I always read with much interest the safety articles in E
: AA Warbirds, and have come to the conclusion that you inde
: ed needed to dress properly when flying a Warbird. I alwa
: ys put pants (non-nylon) with cottons socks and leather sh
: oes, and when going to a fly-in/airshow, I put the whole c
: hebang of flight suit, boots (actually work boots), chute
: if I'm alone (I only have one certified, am planning to ge
: t another one this spring) and nomex gloves (this reminds
: me I need a new pair!). When flying over water or using a
: n aiport that'll have me taking-off or landing over water,
: there's a flotation device with me in the plane.
:
: Now the question. Should I get myself some worthy flight
: boots and a helmet? What do you guys put on when flying i
: n your Warbird?

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