Aircrew knife - HELP!!
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Aircrew knife - HELP!!
Hi there!!!
Im doing a university dissertation on the proposed replacement for the current issue aircrew knife, the 'MK 1 cutter'. Im after any opinions or information regarding this piece of kit. Do you think it needs replacing? Do you as aircrew carry an additional knife (if so which one)? Have you used it for its intended purpose? what kind of knife would you prefer? Plus anything else you feel is relevant.
Thank you in advance of your help.
Im doing a university dissertation on the proposed replacement for the current issue aircrew knife, the 'MK 1 cutter'. Im after any opinions or information regarding this piece of kit. Do you think it needs replacing? Do you as aircrew carry an additional knife (if so which one)? Have you used it for its intended purpose? what kind of knife would you prefer? Plus anything else you feel is relevant.
Thank you in advance of your help.
"....a university dissertation on the proposed replacement for the current issue aircrew knife...."
Please tell me you're kidding? Dare one ask what degree course you're on?
Please tell me you're kidding? Dare one ask what degree course you're on?
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Covert - Double Bevel 154CM, Black, Serrated
I always carried one of these. It was a perfect fit in the flying suit knife 'pocket'. Could also be carried quite comfortably as a boot knife.
I always carried one of these. It was a perfect fit in the flying suit knife 'pocket'. Could also be carried quite comfortably as a boot knife.
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Please tell me you're kidding? Dare one ask what degree course you're on?
Nope, not kidding, degree is in applied aviation studies. we had to pick a project to do our dissertation on and this seemed fairly easy.
Nope, not kidding, degree is in applied aviation studies. we had to pick a project to do our dissertation on and this seemed fairly easy.
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well, in the 1970's, we used to carry an aircrew knife that had a straight blade on it. This was the preferred style. However, it was decided that in order to avoid puncturing the dingy and to aid skinning when in survival mode that it should be relaced with this one (around the mid to late 80's).
Basically, you could do more with the straight blade but they didn't like us playing with knives! I believe the current issue is even more useless.
Basically, you could do more with the straight blade but they didn't like us playing with knives! I believe the current issue is even more useless.
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Back in the early days of the Sentry (1990s), we were issued with the old curved blade dinghy knife. It was (quite literally) a pain. The mission crew carried the mission paperwork onto the aircraft in large metal "suitcases" which were both heavy and at "knife height" causing an almost permanent bruise on the outer thigh and occasional damage to the knife (the black handle broke off one in flight and therefore was a FOD hazard). The knife also frequently snagged the mission crew seats causing tears to the fabric and occasionally rips to the flying suit. Seeing as the E-3D did not carry a parachute (and ditching a 707 with its scoop engines is not recommended) we wrote a case for the mission crew not to wear the knife, although a knife had to be carried for flight (I had a 3" very sharp pocket knife bought from a USAF BX in my survival kit). The CSRO was not happy initially, but after we had pointed out that we wore orange survival suits for ditching and the flying suit knife was therefore completely inaccessible then he was convinced that we need not wear it day to day and it was better in a survival bag.
Unfortunately although we did not have to have the knife attached, the survival equipment section refused to remove the knife patch from the mission crew flying suits (the AP stated that it had to be there and therefore there it would be - even if no knife was attached). All went well for a few months until we got a new Station Commander who demanded that we wear knives again because an empty patch looked untidy! Back to bruises it was and the aircraft seat covers had to be regularly replaced because of excess wear. (The same Stn Cdr also banned us from wearing brown warm weather flying boots because he did not like to see crews with a mix of brown and black boots, but that is another story).
Moral of the story.... one type of survival knife may be good for fast jet/ejection seat compatibility, but it can be completely unsuitable for those of us in more luxurious "airliner" surroundings. One type does not fit all!
Unfortunately although we did not have to have the knife attached, the survival equipment section refused to remove the knife patch from the mission crew flying suits (the AP stated that it had to be there and therefore there it would be - even if no knife was attached). All went well for a few months until we got a new Station Commander who demanded that we wear knives again because an empty patch looked untidy! Back to bruises it was and the aircraft seat covers had to be regularly replaced because of excess wear. (The same Stn Cdr also banned us from wearing brown warm weather flying boots because he did not like to see crews with a mix of brown and black boots, but that is another story).
Moral of the story.... one type of survival knife may be good for fast jet/ejection seat compatibility, but it can be completely unsuitable for those of us in more luxurious "airliner" surroundings. One type does not fit all!
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It could be more significant to do your dissertation on what pocket knives the technical groundcrew carry and use.
I always did, and still do carry a Swiss Army knife. The 'features' were selected for their suitabillity while I was an Air Radar Fitter, and fixed many a small problem on an a/c without having to resort to lugging a full toolkit around with me.
I always did, and still do carry a Swiss Army knife. The 'features' were selected for their suitabillity while I was an Air Radar Fitter, and fixed many a small problem on an a/c without having to resort to lugging a full toolkit around with me.
Old knife - 1980s, was not very secure. My UAS instructor's knife + sheath came out & slipped down the side of the seat unseen (See Pingdit's pic - the press stud came undone). On the subsequent solo aeros, I got knifed in the head during a reverse stall turn. Fortunately it was still sheathed & hit me on the side of the bonedome. Even more fortunately, I'd been very well taught & remembered to recover to S&L before sorting out the problem.
I recommend the Canadian Army Knife, by Grohmann, partly because I have one & am very happy with it, and partly 'cos they're made locally, with love
I recommend the Canadian Army Knife, by Grohmann, partly because I have one & am very happy with it, and partly 'cos they're made locally, with love
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Only ever used mine to open bottles of beer, and it was pretty pap at that as I recall 
Do remember trialling the Machete in the PSP vs the venerable Wilkie knife - that was a serious improvement and way more useful...
Do remember trialling the Machete in the PSP vs the venerable Wilkie knife - that was a serious improvement and way more useful...
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My UAS instructor's knife + sheath came out & slipped down the side of the seat unseen (See Pingdit's pic - the press stud came undone)
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Weren't supposed to wear them in the Chipmunk for fear of upsetting the compass (that's the old P type compass between the knees) ... most did though through a sense of self preservation should it have been necessary to cut the seat straps to get away from a burning aircraft
Also ... very good for laying turf ... so I'm told
Am I correct in assuming that this is the MK1 Aircrew Strap Cutter under consideration ?
If so ... it looks like Elf & Safety don't want aircrew playing with anything too dangerous these days
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 12th Nov 2013 at 15:41.
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I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I remember we resisted the change and hung on to the earlier one as long as we could.
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This knife sticks in my memory as one of the most useless tools I've ever come across. While it might seem a blindingly silly question, what's it for? I was told for puncturing an accidentally deployed liferaft then the new, literally pointless, one came out. It's almost useless as a survival knife as issued to US forces so we're talking about cutting parachute shrouds in a dinghy situation? In which case why not look along the lines of some of the excellent yachting rescue knives made by Gerber (no I don't work for them) which, while razor sharp, (designed for hi tech fibre like dyneema so goes through paracord like spaghetti) have a rounded tip which won't easily puncture a raft.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Of course its main purpose was to cut the painter from your sinking machine.
From a maintainers POV the MK.1 Cutter is okay, its job is to cut parachute rigging lines (i.e. Typhoon kevlar lines) and straps, with a secondary function of stabbing life preserver stoles/liferafts to deflate them (I'm told this was included as a result of GW.1 shot down aircrew experience). The only down side is it has moving parts, which means it could potentially cause a FOD hazard.. and you have to stitch it's retainer pouch on to lots of gear..
Perhaps 'Flyboys' could produce a combined kneeboard/flI-pad/knife?
Perhaps 'Flyboys' could produce a combined kneeboard/flI-pad/knife?
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Having said that, I rapidly sourced an earlier (straight bladed) dinghy knife for use when flying on the UAS. Unfortunately, when I got to BFTS the F/S Squipper confiscated it and gave me one of the blunt things.
He also changed my Mk 3C helmet from Medium to the Small size (because he thought he knew best) which caused me untold problems with headaches. He then attempted to deny me a Q mask (anti-allergenic), again on the grounds that he knew best.
Right up until the Medics got involved that was.
Then again he was a particularly 'bandaged headed' individual so I guess he wanted us to experience his pain.....
The convex bladed aircrew knife was believed to pose too great a threat of accidentaly puncturing floatation devices in the hands of aircrew that were only allowed to use blunt-nosed scissors in real life. Hence the concave blade on the trditional version pictured above.
It could, given enough time, cut paracord and webbing, but it was really best for sharpening pencils, which we weren't allowed to carry in the aircraft.
It could, given enough time, cut paracord and webbing, but it was really best for sharpening pencils, which we weren't allowed to carry in the aircraft.