Flying suit
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 366
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From: Horsham UK
Flying suit
OK at the risk of sounding a bit geeky does anybody know where I can lay my hands on a flying suit- Here's the scenario Over the Xmas - New Year period I've fallen in lurve with the Chippy and see myself doing a lot of Chippy-vation in the coming months and indeed, years. So I 'd like to get my hands on a flying suit to help stave off the chills and oil that go with Chippys. (They have a few that you can borrow where I'm renting but due to a combination of Rimmer dimensions (LOA and crossection) they are how shall I say? A bit on the snug side - actually nut crunchingly tight might be a better description. I've seen the ones at Transair but they seem a bit light weight. So anybody got any ideas?
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 195
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From: South East
Hi Ace
www.martaviation.co.uk or www.silvermans.co.uk or if you want made to measure www.flightsuits.com
Very sensible bit of kit for a chippy
Regards
Wide
www.martaviation.co.uk or www.silvermans.co.uk or if you want made to measure www.flightsuits.com
Very sensible bit of kit for a chippy
Regards
Wide
Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 680
Likes: 2
From: An Airport Near You
I agree with both EVO and Wide-Body. Mart Aviation is especially good for anything you could possibly want! They stock various 'grades' of kit to suit your budget!
360
360
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 187
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From: England
Chaps,
Be wary of using Mk14 (or any RAF flying suit for that matter) and "Nomex" in the same sentence, it might give a false sense of security. Once they've been in the washing machine a few times they aint Nomex any more - unless you get them reproofed. I wear one every day and mine certainly hasn't been for a few years.
For my civilian flying suit I used Martaviation and got a brand spanking NATO flying suit (like USAF but with epaulettes) for around £80. It fits a lot better (I'm 6'2") and is harder wearing. And I sometimes wear it for work and nobody notices.
Reichman
Be wary of using Mk14 (or any RAF flying suit for that matter) and "Nomex" in the same sentence, it might give a false sense of security. Once they've been in the washing machine a few times they aint Nomex any more - unless you get them reproofed. I wear one every day and mine certainly hasn't been for a few years.
For my civilian flying suit I used Martaviation and got a brand spanking NATO flying suit (like USAF but with epaulettes) for around £80. It fits a lot better (I'm 6'2") and is harder wearing. And I sometimes wear it for work and nobody notices.
Reichman
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 366
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From: Horsham UK
18G
Real Flying Co at EGKA. Can't recall what the solo hire rate is off the top of my head - but the dual rate (I'm doing a tailwheel conv and spot of aeros) is £140 ex VAT and 'KA oh so cheap (NOT) landing fees. They also have a Stampe (immaculate) - but I think they'd like people to have bit of taildragging before having a bash at that.
Honestly though the grin per quid ratio is excellent
Real Flying Co at EGKA. Can't recall what the solo hire rate is off the top of my head - but the dual rate (I'm doing a tailwheel conv and spot of aeros) is £140 ex VAT and 'KA oh so cheap (NOT) landing fees. They also have a Stampe (immaculate) - but I think they'd like people to have bit of taildragging before having a bash at that.
Honestly though the grin per quid ratio is excellent
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 278
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From: UK
Just a tip. I got fed up being ripped by flying suit prices so I popped into my local "work wear" shop. They do proper no messing flame retardent suits (OK boiler suits but they have all the zips and pockets of a flying suit, including a zipped front) for about £25. These are sized for builders so plently of space(!!) for underclothes and space to move arms, legs, neck etc and what is more I believe the flame retardency (if thats a word) doesnt wash out anywhere near as quickly as with the RAF standard suit.
It seems like the classic case of anything related to aviation costing 3 times more than it would otherwise!!
It seems like the classic case of anything related to aviation costing 3 times more than it would otherwise!!
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 608
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From: UK
Evil J - long time no hear!
Anyway - I have an RAF and Germany Navy Flying suits hung up in the garage (both brand new - the Navy one a P3 Sqn with all the badges out of the packet!!!) - Both Remnants of RIAT.......
Not massive sizes - but always open to swap for flying!! lol
B-L
Anyway - I have an RAF and Germany Navy Flying suits hung up in the garage (both brand new - the Navy one a P3 Sqn with all the badges out of the packet!!!) - Both Remnants of RIAT.......
Not massive sizes - but always open to swap for flying!! lol
B-L
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 44
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From: Englandshire
Wash out Nomex
Just interested to find out where your info on Nomex "washing out of flying suits" comes from?
Do you think everytime an RAF aircrew mate washes his flying suit he has to "reproof" it? With the amount of curry/beer/sweat and pepper sauce that these things get covered in...I can assure you that they are washed fairly frequently and are not "reproofed". CW jackets require reproofing to keep them wter repellent (ish)
Nomex is what the material of the suit is constructed of, not "proofed" with. All the thread that is used on flying suits by SE fitters (repairs and attaching velcro for badges etc) is Nomex thread.
Even after Persil treatment at 50 degrees, your RAF Flying suit will still have the same retardant properties as before. As with all fibres, this will degrade with AGE, not whizzing around your Bendix 9000 super wash!
Reichman- just read your profile and am quite surprised to read your occupation. Many of your colleagues have expressed their surprise that any RAF aircrew still believe this myth!
Do you know that you are putting your squippers in a difficult situation by wearing flying clothing that has not been serviced or authorised for wear by your sqn?
PS Your colleagues (and squippers) must be blind if they cant tell the difference between an NATO suit and a Mk14 or 16!
Do you think everytime an RAF aircrew mate washes his flying suit he has to "reproof" it? With the amount of curry/beer/sweat and pepper sauce that these things get covered in...I can assure you that they are washed fairly frequently and are not "reproofed". CW jackets require reproofing to keep them wter repellent (ish)
Nomex is what the material of the suit is constructed of, not "proofed" with. All the thread that is used on flying suits by SE fitters (repairs and attaching velcro for badges etc) is Nomex thread.
Even after Persil treatment at 50 degrees, your RAF Flying suit will still have the same retardant properties as before. As with all fibres, this will degrade with AGE, not whizzing around your Bendix 9000 super wash!
Reichman- just read your profile and am quite surprised to read your occupation. Many of your colleagues have expressed their surprise that any RAF aircrew still believe this myth!
Do you know that you are putting your squippers in a difficult situation by wearing flying clothing that has not been serviced or authorised for wear by your sqn?
PS Your colleagues (and squippers) must be blind if they cant tell the difference between an NATO suit and a Mk14 or 16!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,085
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From: Canada
Be wary of using Mk14 (or any RAF flying suit for that matter) and "Nomex" in the same sentence, it might give a false sense of security. Once they've been in the washing machine a few times they aint Nomex any more - unless you get them reproofed.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
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From: UK
When I was flying both civvie(private) and military quite a lot and using separate Nomex suits for the two, I went and asked our flying clothing servicers that question. They assured me that the RAF suits simply went through a washing machine on a low temperature cycle and got no special treatment.
I really can't believe that the best air force in the world, where even the procedures for cleaning the floors go through formal assessment and approval would be missing a trick there and if some reproofing was needed, it would have been done.
G
I really can't believe that the best air force in the world, where even the procedures for cleaning the floors go through formal assessment and approval would be missing a trick there and if some reproofing was needed, it would have been done.
G
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 603
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From: Kent
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,085
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From: Canada
I really can't believe that the best air force in the world, where even the procedures for cleaning the floors go through formal assessment and approval would be missing a trick
(Apologies for the sarcasm, but I wish people wouldn't make ridiculous enthnocentric comments. Which nation has "the best air force in the world" is, at the very least, debateable, and depends upon what criteria are applied).
