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

I believe it's mainly due to tread patterns...I think flying boots have an 'anti Fod picking up' pattern...

Do they have a +2 modifier when using a 20 sided dice?

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.

GPMG - yeah I heard that too, but they cost over 600 Gold Pieces, way out of my price range

As mentioned earlier, the RAF flying boots have less tread, which is meant to drag less crap into the cockpit.

They still allow crap into the cockpit though.









But we try and weed them out in training :}

hat, coat, scarf

Damn, you beat me to it, I was going to say they convey it to the cockpit

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 It is highly likely that, when resources become available (manpower), the Mk1 Aircrew will be withdrawn from service for all but a few.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..............

The new dotty-style flying boots also come in random sizing structure (304/118); unlike DMS/Field boots which come in standard British sizes such as 8M, etc

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?

The random sizing structure is not that random, it merely states the length/width of the sole of the boots in millimetres.

Unless somebody with a morbid fascination with standards takes an interest.

"You can't have something better than what everyone else is wearing... Have you got an extra pair for me?"

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!

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:yuk:

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.

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 :8

Was there not a case where non standard (modded) footwear led to death by hypothermia viz a torn immersion suit bootee ?

Why is it that the RAF flying boot comes in grey but the Army and Navy version comes in black?

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