Gravity knifes or MK1 strap cutter

[jonnyloove]

Thougth I would ask a quick question and seak opinions out there...
What is the prefer cutting tool in circulation the older issued gravity knifes or the new MK1 star cutter for flying with.
The company I work for are about to change over from the gravity knife to MK1 cutters.

[Sloppy Link]

The gravity knife that was issued before the banana shaped one. This was a knife in the traditional shape complete with ridge for parting the ribs, held an edge and was actually useful. Probably why it was withdrawn.

[Wensleydale]

Health and Safety:

You can't have a knife - it is sharp and you could hurt somebody. Use a cutter that is b*gg*r all use to anybody and a waste of space on your flying suit (and carry a decent pen knife/multi-tool which is what most of us do)

W

[diginagain]

....if you travel on AT, will the Movers still confiscate it?

[Background Noise]

The dinghy knife was originally just that - to deflate uncommanded dinghy inflations in the cockpit. It wasn't supposed to be a survival knife.

[Pontius Navigator]

The dagger knife could certainly deflate a dinghy. With the advent of hard seat packs there was no need, and indeed you could not, deflate a dinghy pack. Well, that is what they said.

The banana, OTOH, was safer in the hands of children and could be used to cut parachute rigging lines if you got snarled up.

Theory.

Practise.

The knife was very good at opening tin cans and tinnies and could still be used to deflate the soft dinghy packs as carried in the Shack etc. If used to cut rigging lines the first thing you had to do was cut the knife lanyard as well.

[Spam_UK]

The only thing the aircrew cutter is good for is opening carboard box's. I wouldn't trust it to cut through straps, and I have been told it is only designed to cut if used at a set angle.

[cornish-stormrider]

Great, so another issued tool about as much use as tits on a fish (and for once I am not abusive to the boat driving service.......

So what you do is to take a knife of your own and if you get it past the movers and plod, get to your A/C and fly away.

You are then unfortunate enough to be involved in an incident which requires the services of a company who will give you a tie (or for multi engines etc and rotary wing ) involve a very scary descent to anywhere you can get it down........

On climbing out of the somewhat damaged A/C you are sitting back thinking "Thank the Lord for the fact I have walked away" when up comes a civvy plod and nicks you for carrying an offensive weapon........

My advice, find the best tool you can and keep it close.

Fly Safe.

[Seymour Belvoir]

Get the Squippers to get hold of some lifex seat straps and have a go at cutting them with the aircrew cutter. Knife, butter etc.

If you want to open bottles of beer on det, the old banana shaped knife is the weapon of choice; if you want to get out of the burning wreckage in a hurry, I'd go for the cutter every time.

[Jucky]

The new aircrew cutter is far better at cutting through straps than the old one. Just like a hot knife through butter!