Whirlwind,
Having played the wiener roast scene as a weenie....WEAR GLOVES!
The sticks get pretty darn hot quick when flames are filling your cockpit.
My gloves burned off but they saved my hands from truly serious injury....seven weeks and I was good as new almost. Without them I would have claws instead of fingers I think. I hate the nomex/leather style our DOD thinks so highly of....whereas the RAF leather gloves are a treat.
The nomex did as advertised....charred and did not stick to my legs. Where the trousers pullled tight and had but a single layer of cloth....I got my worse burn. Where the pockets were I got by with superficial burns.
Nomex does not stop bullets however so skip that idea.
I would suggest all leather above the ankle boots....again...it is nice to have feet vice stumps as clogging to Bluegrass is a bummer without toes.
I hate to wear a helmet but even as hard as my noggin is....Gentex hats are a whole lot stronger and don't bleed when hit firmly with a sharp instrument like speed selects, door posts, cyclic sticks, and fence posts.
Safety gear is only useful if worn correctly when exposed to some hazard.