Flying Safety Stories
 

Has any military aircrew got any short stories about how safety equipment has saved their lives?

I'm trying to convince some friends of the benefits of wearing helmets and flying suits. They complain of it being hot and uncomfortable, whereas I prefer to think of it as beneficial.

Please PM me if you prefer.

You might like to look on Rotorheads as well. Here's one of many topics on the subject.

Asa astarting point, I'd suggest you get them to look at the online safety slideshow given by former USAF BGen Spruance:

This is work-safe, but it contains images that show the effects of not wearing fire-retardant (nomex) gloves, suits and flying helmets.

If you don't want to see an image of what a simple cockpit lamp did to the unprotected head of one unfortunate aviatior, then don't follow the link.

Safety Briefing

Spruance has been instrumental in saving the lives of many, many people over the years. I've seen his safety lecture, and it is truly humbling.

I really dont/cant understand why some people make such a big issue about safety equipment and how much of an inconvience it is.

If you dont wear/use it then you might die.

Whats the issue?

British Safety equipment is amongst the best in the world.

Blimey, the Spruance presentation was sobering. If that doesn't convince you to wear safety gear nothing will.

Thanks Ewan,

That brief is exactly what I want. Very blunt, and shocking. Top marks.

He makes a point part way through that his leather gloves shrank in the heat of a fire and cut off circulation, exaggerating his injuries. He says the US style nomex-backed gloves would've been better suited.

Not something I had ever previously thought about.

It was a while ago (20 years maybe) but I remember reading an accident report about a HAWK landing with a tech problem and it flipped upside down on the runway with the back seater still in it. The top of his helmet was rubbing on the runway at a great many knots and I actually saw the helmet at Farnborough. Not pretty. The back seater lived and the fireman who helped extricate him got a medal for bravery as he crawled in amongst it all while the seat was live to render assisstance to back seater.

Does anyone have any more details?

A helmet of mine finished up at Farnborough as well many years ago ....... control restriction/malfunction in a Huey in the mountains, hit the ground very very hard and rolled down the hill a bit ... my (Mk 3 IIRC) helmet finished up with a hole in the left hand side you could put your fist through .... and STILL some guys on the squadron carried on flying with lightweight headsets only.....:rolleyes:

[probably shot my incognito to shreds with that, but in a good cause!!]

I believe there's also a bone dome at Farnborough from a Meteor crash in the 1950s. The boffins deduced that the brunt of the 38-g impact against the gun sight was absorbed by the helmet, consequently saving the pilot's noggin/life.

He ended up with a broken back and all kinds of other things, but eventually returned to flying on Javelins and, more importantly, walking and talking.

Seem to recall there's a photo at a secret Shropshire training unit of a UH1 (or similar) which came to rest on a bone dome still being worn. Bloke was pinned down by the heeeeeeed but lived. Woke up with a head-ache to die for I bet!

whilst I was at Laarbruch on Harriers, one of our pilots had a birdstrike and the bird came through the canopy and hit the parachute headbox. The headbox was dented quite badly and there were remains of the bird everywhere. On inspection by the squippers, the Helmet had suffered quite a lot of damage due to broken bits of canopy and bird. It was lucky that the Harrier mate had his visor down, because the remains of the bird had impacted straight into his face, and if the visor wasnt there the chap would have more than likely died.

The inverted Hawk on the runway event was actually at RAE Bedford. Wake Turbulence was concluded as the cause, the Hawk ran out of roll control authority just above touch-down. The pilot ejected very close to the ejection envelope limit and was injured as a result.

The unfortunate nav in the rear seat and his supporting fireman also had to contend with fuel dripping all around them whilst the rescue proceeded.

lm

TR

Do you mean this one posted at the bottom of page 15 of the other thread?

Dented

Having just perused the latest copy of RAF News (Oct 28 05) whats the puma loadie on the front page doing with the positioning of his harness?

Surely, if he fell out of the cab, his arms would be pulled through the harness, sending the good chap to his doom.

Any thoughts/comments?

ISITD

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...rpk/helmet.jpg

This helmet was a pilot's one.... Took the weight of a Huey.

On a Puma, does he really have to fall out his harness to be doomed? :E

Sitting on the door step of a Whirlwind 12, legs dangling in the breeze, - no helmet, just the headset - waving to the earthbound peasants as we passed. Arrived at Benson and turned to unhook the safety strap. It wasn't hooked on. Never forgot it again!