Why wear gloves?
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Scoffed At
Talking to colleagues about this subject today... was scoffed at for saying that I'm not going to be flying in the issued polyester trousers and nylon based flying jacket, and would be looking to get some flying gloves. Their opinion is that you shouldn't be planning to crash...
Bol**cks to them I say, as I've served in the Army and you always plan for the worst.
Suggestions for places to source decent kit which won't turn me into a roman candle would be kindly received.
Bol**cks to them I say, as I've served in the Army and you always plan for the worst.
Suggestions for places to source decent kit which won't turn me into a roman candle would be kindly received.
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It's thanks to flying gloves that I still have all four fingers on my left hand....or so said the surgeon who examined my badly mashed hand after a particularly nasty crush injury a la Wokka.
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General Aviation & Gloves
You have loads of advice - it's really down to your own tolerance of risk in the event of a crash. It doesn't have to be a crash to hurt. Forced landing or even a 'ground event' can be unplesant enough. Before making a decison based on 'style choice' consider this:
You Gen Aviation types usually sit much closer to your fuel tanks than a typical Mil Crew, and there's usually less metal between you and the tank. You also prefer AVGAS (high octane petrol) where we tend to make do with AVTUR (paraffin).
As a fire accelerant AVGAS definatley wins - got a much lower flashpoint so its much easier to ignite from a broader range of ignition sources (electrical sparks, static etc), it vapourises easier (easier to get an flammable atmosphere build up) plus it has a really high calorific value so it burns with a much hotter brighter flame.
Unfortunately, plenty of Mil Crew can testify that even lowly AVTUR can produce a mean fire. Bitter experience drives our preference for gloves. A BBMF Hurricane once forced landed at Wittering with engine failure. The landing was very rough but fortunately the Crew got out relatively OK. However, the Hurri burst into flame and was totalled. Soon after all BBMF went over to their black Nomex suits and natural fabric clothing - their black outfits white roll-necks aren't total posing!
We subsequently re-built the Hurri (literally from its ashes) and it flies today without any fire mark - we have yet to learn how to do that with flesh.
Your choice - personally I stick to the coolest looking set of low flammable clothing I can find (still look a tragic sight!) and wear light gloves.
Regards
Moosejaw
You Gen Aviation types usually sit much closer to your fuel tanks than a typical Mil Crew, and there's usually less metal between you and the tank. You also prefer AVGAS (high octane petrol) where we tend to make do with AVTUR (paraffin).
As a fire accelerant AVGAS definatley wins - got a much lower flashpoint so its much easier to ignite from a broader range of ignition sources (electrical sparks, static etc), it vapourises easier (easier to get an flammable atmosphere build up) plus it has a really high calorific value so it burns with a much hotter brighter flame.
Unfortunately, plenty of Mil Crew can testify that even lowly AVTUR can produce a mean fire. Bitter experience drives our preference for gloves. A BBMF Hurricane once forced landed at Wittering with engine failure. The landing was very rough but fortunately the Crew got out relatively OK. However, the Hurri burst into flame and was totalled. Soon after all BBMF went over to their black Nomex suits and natural fabric clothing - their black outfits white roll-necks aren't total posing!
We subsequently re-built the Hurri (literally from its ashes) and it flies today without any fire mark - we have yet to learn how to do that with flesh.
Your choice - personally I stick to the coolest looking set of low flammable clothing I can find (still look a tragic sight!) and wear light gloves.
Regards
Moosejaw
Another good reason for wearing gloves...
Many years ago an RN Venom crew were held at altitude while the deck was being cleared of an obstruction. Pressures grew, and eventually the pilot, who had a manky old pair of gloves with many holes, casually asked his looker for a loan of one of his new ones, which he proceeded to pee into.
Problem. The pilot was holding a full glove, the fuel was getting decidedly low and as the deck had been cleared they were invited to descend into the circuit. They depressurized, opened the DV panel and attempted to chuck the contents of the glove out. Unfortunately, it blew back in and froze all over the cockpit glazing. They were reduced to desperately trying to scrape the stuff off before it melted all over them during the descent. It was not a great success, and I'm told that RL and AH had special seats in the crew room allocated to them for some time afterwards.
Many years ago an RN Venom crew were held at altitude while the deck was being cleared of an obstruction. Pressures grew, and eventually the pilot, who had a manky old pair of gloves with many holes, casually asked his looker for a loan of one of his new ones, which he proceeded to pee into.
Problem. The pilot was holding a full glove, the fuel was getting decidedly low and as the deck had been cleared they were invited to descend into the circuit. They depressurized, opened the DV panel and attempted to chuck the contents of the glove out. Unfortunately, it blew back in and froze all over the cockpit glazing. They were reduced to desperately trying to scrape the stuff off before it melted all over them during the descent. It was not a great success, and I'm told that RL and AH had special seats in the crew room allocated to them for some time afterwards.
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Wearing gloves is about the same as taking out a life insurance: you may think you are not going to cop it in an accident -- and the majority of people may not! -- and yet, there are those unfortunate few who do and the wives/families are the ones who are grateful that the insurance was there!
Those of you never involved in a fire situation in an aircraft may feel wearing the gloves = being a pansy, but that is not really true!
I remember from my milaviation days, ALL of us ALWAYS wore gloves for flying and a lot of us wore them while riding the mo-bikes, too!!
cheers
Those of you never involved in a fire situation in an aircraft may feel wearing the gloves = being a pansy, but that is not really true!
I remember from my milaviation days, ALL of us ALWAYS wore gloves for flying and a lot of us wore them while riding the mo-bikes, too!!
cheers
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Also aircraft have sharp edges and hydaulic oil under pressure can do wonders for micro surgery.
The number of cuts in my gloves! As BEagle said, great for checking the pie is properly cooked. Also you can handle hot soup tins and meals with gloved hands.
They are also great at BBQs for picking the sausages out of the fire.
The number of cuts in my gloves! As BEagle said, great for checking the pie is properly cooked. Also you can handle hot soup tins and meals with gloved hands.
They are also great at BBQs for picking the sausages out of the fire.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Why wear flying gloves?
The definitive answer is in today's (23 May) Daily Telegraph on page 19.
The definitive answer is in today's (23 May) Daily Telegraph on page 19.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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That picture made me shiver. He doesn't appear to be wearing any protective gear at all, never mind gloves! God only knows what was going through his mind (For those who haven't seen the picture or can't see it - there's a close up photo of a Bede burning up at an airshow in Australia with the pilot clearly visible trying to clamber out and grimacing in pain. He's got no gloves on or head protection and is enveloped in flames).
I'm getting gloves before I next fly and ensuring I'm wearing low flammable gear all over - but what about the head? Can't see the wearing of bone domes in spam cans taking off really (I've read the previous posts on this topic).
Lunchmaster
I'm getting gloves before I next fly and ensuring I'm wearing low flammable gear all over - but what about the head? Can't see the wearing of bone domes in spam cans taking off really (I've read the previous posts on this topic).
Lunchmaster
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Picture Link
Here is a link to a couple of photos of the Bede on fire. They are not the same as in the DT.
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ontentID=29246
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ontentID=29246
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
I've just seen the pic in the Telegraph, yes he hasn't got any gloves on, nor for what its worth a helmet which may or may not give any fire protection anyway, but my main concern would be what is he breathing in?
If that pic makes you change your mind about not wearing gloves, does it also change your mind about not having an independant breathing apparatus in the aircraft!
I don't think it's a look of pain, just realisation that he is in the brown and smelly and needs to get out!
If that pic makes you change your mind about not wearing gloves, does it also change your mind about not having an independant breathing apparatus in the aircraft!
I don't think it's a look of pain, just realisation that he is in the brown and smelly and needs to get out!