Flying Boots...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: See that little island just above France? Yeah, there...
Age: 37
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flying Boots...
This may seem like a bit of a daft pointless question, but what are the difference between special flying boots, and 'normal' boots, like a pair of Lowa's or issue Combat Boots - High. What advantages do they give over normal boots?
Can you tell that there isn't a lot going on in life at the moment :P
Can you tell that there isn't a lot going on in life at the moment :P
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 81
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't speak for the new pattern but my '67 pattern were also lighter than a pair of DMS shoes. Also, unlike the later, but not the latest, combat boots they also had a leather lining. With proper treatment they were also water proof. My 1981 pair are still fine.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 81
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,046
Received 2,919 Likes
on
1,249 Posts
Damn, you beat me to it, I was going to say they convey it to the cockpit
Fly-Friendly
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Around the middle
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flying boots have also been through the burn chamber ie can protect the feet from the cartridges on an ejection seat.... I think but stand to be corrected.
They are all of the above; however, because they are hand-made and are very expensive. It is highly likely that, when resources become available (manpower), the Mk1 Aircrew will be withdrawn from service for all but a few.
As with most of the AEA, the boot has it's origins within the FJ world, but as many are aware they are not very effective for other users. More importantly, the requirements for other users are not so specifc and a selection of boots will be cleared for use by RW and FW aircrew.
Watch this space..............
As with most of the AEA, the boot has it's origins within the FJ world, but as many are aware they are not very effective for other users. More importantly, the requirements for other users are not so specifc and a selection of boots will be cleared for use by RW and FW aircrew.
Watch this space..............
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: See that little island just above France? Yeah, there...
Age: 37
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So say you had a pair of Altbergs or Lowas, they would be fine to wear, basically, there is little to no difference at the end of the day beyond what is acceptable with uniform and comfortable?
So say you had a pair of Altbergs or Lowas, they would be fine to wear, basically, there is little to no difference at the end of the day beyond what is acceptable with uniform and comfortable?
"You can't have something better than what everyone else is wearing... Have you got an extra pair for me?"
Guest
Posts: n/a
Given that flying boots are designed to minimise FOD in the aircraft how does that sit with the AT/SH world? They regularly pick up loads of people with Dirty Great Boots which could quite easily carry in all sorts of grot? I've heard tell of horror stories about the lifting of floors in C-130's, Wokkas, etc and finding all sorts of alien life forms lurking in the bilges!
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Warboys
Age: 55
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had an ATCA stude on a jolly be so ill we set down in a field to let her out to be sick.
When she got back on and lifted we found that she had trodden in some nasty excrement, walked it in and was now sitting with her feet in front of the blower/heater.
We had to set down again to let the other 2 studes hurl
My '88 boots are still going strong, I remember us testing their flame/heat proofing by standing in a bonfire whilst on CSRO training in Otterburn...the gloves worked quite well as well.
When she got back on and lifted we found that she had trodden in some nasty excrement, walked it in and was now sitting with her feet in front of the blower/heater.
We had to set down again to let the other 2 studes hurl
My '88 boots are still going strong, I remember us testing their flame/heat proofing by standing in a bonfire whilst on CSRO training in Otterburn...the gloves worked quite well as well.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Europe
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not sure about the latest flying boot, but the 65 pattern had a wooden strip in it which prevented hot metal slicing through the sole like it was butter and several layers of leather in the sole too. Also the polish was silicon based? And supposedly fire retardant, that was our excuse for not polishing them as it was always difficult to find some. The polish issue was solved by stopping the supply totally and providing normal Kiwi black, must have been a reason why they didn't use it before?
All the modern boots look and feel great but I am not convinced they would last 5 seconds if you had to stay and fight the fire or travel through it to escape, all very likely for multi types if the worst should happen. I vaguely remember a documentary where Simon Weston (I think) described escaping the fire on Sir Galahad; he fell over as his feet kept slipping due to the soles melting. What temperature do the laces, nylon sides, soles, linings, etc. of non aircrew boots melt at? We should be striving to improve AEA not dumb it down.
Oh no I'm a boot geek now
All the modern boots look and feel great but I am not convinced they would last 5 seconds if you had to stay and fight the fire or travel through it to escape, all very likely for multi types if the worst should happen. I vaguely remember a documentary where Simon Weston (I think) described escaping the fire on Sir Galahad; he fell over as his feet kept slipping due to the soles melting. What temperature do the laces, nylon sides, soles, linings, etc. of non aircrew boots melt at? We should be striving to improve AEA not dumb it down.
Oh no I'm a boot geek now
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Road to Nowhere
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ISTR the 'price' on the box mine came in was £186.
Far softer and more comfortable than DMS, the latter because (I think) they come in a greater range of sizes for those with non-standard feet mine are size 272/107.
The laces are about 8-feet long, or at least that's what it feels like!
Yes they have a different tread pattern, but they aren't much good in snow and ice, and I note they are also wearing quite quickly. Mind you, the last DMS I had lasted less than 6 months before the soles rotted like the previous pair.
STH
Far softer and more comfortable than DMS, the latter because (I think) they come in a greater range of sizes for those with non-standard feet mine are size 272/107.
The laces are about 8-feet long, or at least that's what it feels like!
Yes they have a different tread pattern, but they aren't much good in snow and ice, and I note they are also wearing quite quickly. Mind you, the last DMS I had lasted less than 6 months before the soles rotted like the previous pair.
STH