VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > Safety
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-09-2020, 10:13 AM
Frankster13 Frankster13 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Sausalito CA in Northern CA near wine country
Posts: 45
Default First Flight Fire Resistant Clothing

I would be interested in recommendations for first flight clothing and other general safety considerations. I am thinking along the lines of general recommendations on test flights. I don't want to go overboard but I am thinking fire resistant clothing, gloves, Halon extinguisher, etc. Any thoughts welcome.
__________________
Frank Ketcham
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-09-2020, 10:21 AM
Mike S's Avatar
Mike S Mike S is offline
Senior Curmudgeon
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
Default

So, how was the visit from Dilly?
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909

Rv-10, N210LM.

Flying as of 12/4/2010

Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011

Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.

"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-09-2020, 10:28 AM
koupster's Avatar
koupster koupster is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SLC, UT (KBTF)
Posts: 240
Default

Full Nomex apparel is probably what you're thinking might be going overboard.

Consider all cotton clothing (socks, pants, and a long sleeve shirt) in at least a medium weight fabric. Cotton doesn't catch fire that easily and won't melt onto your skin while burning if it does. Add leather shoes or boots and gloves. Deerskin or goatskin gloves provide good dexterity.

Best of luck with your first flight. Seems the more one prepares, the luckier one gets.

Cheers, David
RV-6A USAF (retired)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-09-2020, 10:36 AM
ALagonia ALagonia is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 344
Default

I would suggest a nomex flight suit, nomex socks and a pair of flung gloves. Not a lot of money for safety.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-09-2020, 10:38 AM
joeboisselle joeboisselle is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: White Swan Wa.
Posts: 366
Default

Good question as you have no idea what's going to come loose, rub the wrong way, flex or simply break. I would suggest if you're dressing for a fire and bringing a halon extinguisher, bring a gas mask too. I've endured smoke in my rv-4, and it's no bueno.
__________________
Joe Boisselle
2010 RV-4
1941 Luscombe 8C

Last edited by joeboisselle : 07-09-2020 at 10:43 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-09-2020, 11:01 AM
RVDan RVDan is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Frederick, MD
Posts: 821
Default

Drifire fortrex is supposed to be superior to Nomex flight suits. They are Navair approved for flight use. A bit pricier though.
__________________
Dan Morris
Frederick, MD
PA28-140
Hph 304CZ
RV6 built and sold
N199EC RV6A flying
Learn the facts. "Democracy dies in darkness"
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-09-2020, 11:14 AM
krwalsh krwalsh is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 351
Default Nomex & Cotton

I've been on fire once before in my life (not in an airplane) and it is not something I'd wish on my worst enemy. So for my first flight, I went with the following:

Nomex Flight suit. Search eBay for a new old stock one and save some money.

Long sleeve cotton shirt underneath. You can buy fire resistant (FR) shirts from quite a few places too. I ended up getting an Oakley FR Carbon-X shirt for some of my flights, but only because I was flying faster than I could do laundry for my long sleeve cotton shirts, and I was flight testing in the middle of summer and would soak my shirts in sweat.

Lightweight, but calf-height wool socks.

Nomex high-top shoes. You can get them from the race shops online (Pegasus Auto Racing is one of my favorites). I have Piloti brand, but Simpson sells similar ones.

Leather gloves. Thin TIG welding gloves are great low-cost alternatives.

I wore a helmet (MSA Gallet), but no parachute. That's an entirely different discussion on those choices.

That's it. After my flight testing was done my flight suit and shoes have pretty much been sitting in a bag at the hangar. Everything else you can use in normal circumstances.
__________________
Kevin R. Walsh
Cozy Mk-IV
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-09-2020, 02:19 PM
koupster's Avatar
koupster koupster is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SLC, UT (KBTF)
Posts: 240
Default

Frank,

If you want to wear nomex and would like to borrow a flightsuit, please post your size. I'll be glad to ship you mine if you'll return it when you're finished.

If mine won't fit you, perhaps someone else will volunteer.

Wool socks are probably superior to cotton.

Leather boots are probably on par with nomex auto racing high-top shoes as far as fire protection goes; they are just a bit heavier and less flexible. Mine are probably 9 1/2 regular. Same offer as the flightsuit.

Cheers, David
RV-6A KBTF
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-09-2020, 02:47 PM
Toobuilder's Avatar
Toobuilder Toobuilder is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
Default

On my first few Rocket flights I went with my Nomex pajamas and gloves from my former gig as an FTE, and purchased high top Nomex racing shoes (Crow) from Summit (mil issue flight boots just don't work for me in the Rocket). Felt pretty silly wearing the monkey suit at the gas pumps (and it is back in the closet), but the shoes are a good addition to my normal flying attire.

I also had multiple fire extinguishers at close reach.
__________________
WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.

Michael Robinson
______________
Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-09-2020, 04:05 PM
Snowflake's Avatar
Snowflake Snowflake is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
Default

An ex-air force nomex flight suit, nomex flying gloves, cotton underwear, and some kind of footwear that won't completely melt to your feet in a fire would be a good choice, and won't break the bank. The suit and gloves can probably be borrowed from fellow local RV pilots, you might even be able to borrow a flight helmet.
__________________
Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:59 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.