(http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5238/2012loot.jpg)
Jetboil baby!
A coffee torcher. Makes the coldest day a happy day, still.
I got the gators I wanted, a set of Nikon Monarch 5 binoculars, a turkey choke for my shotgun, a remote starter for my truck, a new hard drive for my Playstation, and a number of other fun stuffs.
Wii U + Games.
RetroDuo Portable that plays NES/SNES and can add on Genesis.
Yep. Still a kid at heart.
32gb iPad 4, Big Bang Theory "Sheldon" bobble head
Out of everything I got, I got an HGU-56/P Army Aircrew helmet w/ the helmet bag and cold weather cover!
Spent the day with my wife, 3 daughters, 13 Grandchildren, and 1 great granddaughter. Lots of good conversation, hugs, laughs and just being happy and a large family meal. We, my wife and I, received a bunch of cards and a gift certificate to a resturant we both enjoy. Life really does not get better than a good strong family with love.
Quote from: AngelWings on December 26, 2012, 12:43:39 PM
Out of everything I got, I got an HGU-56/P Army Aircrew helmet w/ the helmet bag and cold weather cover!
Are you a collector, or will that see some use?
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550922_10151513527754409_903286615_n.jpg)
Merry Christmas to me....
Quote from: NIN on December 26, 2012, 02:22:36 PM
Quote from: AngelWings on December 26, 2012, 12:43:39 PM
Out of everything I got, I got an HGU-56/P Army Aircrew helmet w/ the helmet bag and cold weather cover!
Are you a collector, or will that see some use?
I'm a collector. I do however hope to find a use for it. I am hellbent on joining the military and either flying or being aircrew, so if I can use it I definitely will. I also know within the next 2-3 years I want to learn how to skydive, and I know that high altitude jumps do require an oxygen mask, so who knows ;)
Quote from: AngelWings on December 26, 2012, 03:11:17 PM
I'm a collector. I do however hope to find a use for it. I am hellbent on joining the military and either flying or being aircrew, so if I can use it I definitely will. I also know within the next 2-3 years I want to learn how to skydive, and I know that high altitude jumps do require an oxygen mask, so who knows ;)
As a collector of flight gear (although I've winnowed my collection down to nothing in the last 5 years or so) and a former Army flight engineer and crew chief, I don't mean to bust you bubble, but a couple things:
1) Generally, personally owned ALSE (Aviation Life Support Equipment) is frowned on. Mostly due to the fact that flight gear must be inspected and maintained by the Life Support shop. Buying your own flight gloves is one thing. Showing up with your own custom painted helmet with non-standard crap on it probably won't fly (pun intended). If something bad were to happen, nobody wants to have the words "Also contributing to this accident was the use of non-standard issue life support equipment" associated with them, so nobody will go out on a limb. (that being said, we often bought our own snoopy caps or bought after market visor covers so we could paint crap on our helmets and then return them to "stock" for the life support people's inspection with 5 minutes of work. A whole helmet is a little different)
2) High altitude jumps do require supplemental O2. However, unless you're a HALO jumpmaster, chances are that high altitude jumps with supplemental O2 will be such a small fraction of your overall jumps that having your own equipment (Helmet, O2 mask, regulator block and bailout bottle) is really not cost-effective. Most places that do HALO-style jumps will supply you with these items, because they can be 100% sure that the equipment they supply will work with their inflight console, etc. They don't want you getting to 28K and discovering that something in your personally-owned equipment isn't working and now you're becoming hypoxic instead of being able to jump.
3) The HGU-56/P helmet weights a LOT in comparison to the HGU-55 helmet that is used by the military for HALO jumps. The -55 is a lightweight helmet (think F-16 pilots, pulling 6-8Gs... light is good) whereas the -56 is not. This may not seem to be a big deal, but trust me: when you get a hard opening even a leather & foam frap hat seems heavy to your neck. (I owned a SPH-4/C with O2 bayonets for several years, and never got a chance to use it in freefall, or even have an O2 mask and distribution block that worked with it.)
But they are *nice* helmets.
NIN, don't worry, I get where you're coming from.
I would never paint a beauty like the helmet I got :) I was thinking more along the lines of having what you said, a cover, for it so I can paint that and switch it out. I do have some other uses for the helmet, so it'll definitely not be an investment as a space filler.
I never knew that high altitude sky diving places gave you some gear! I guess that is great to know so I can save my money! Thank you, really.
Another thing I didn't know. I've worn an HGU-55 once before just to try it on, and now that I do recall it was lighter than my HGU-56.
You did better than me, Darin. All I got was a recliner couch and a 42" flat screen.
Quote from: AngelWings on December 26, 2012, 04:18:02 PM
NIN, don't worry, I get where you're coming from.
I would never paint a beauty like the helmet I got :) I was thinking more along the lines of having what you said, a cover, for it so I can paint that and switch it out. I do have some other uses for the helmet, so it'll definitely not be an investment as a space filler.n't know. I've worn an HGU-55 once before just to try it on, and now that I do recall it was lighter than my HGU-56.
Yeah, we just replaced our visor covers. And since we had velcro all over our helmets for the old PNVS-5 NVG mounts, we'd hang state flags and all kinds of silly stuff on our helmets when we were flying. I was a fan of reflective tape.
http://www.gibson-barnes.com/prod-294460/Hgu56-Dual-Lens-Visor-Housing.html (http://www.gibson-barnes.com/prod-294460/Hgu56-Dual-Lens-Visor-Housing.html)
That part is $188 via G&B (formerly FlightSuits Ltd). Holy cow. In 1987 I bought an entire SPH-4 visor cover like that (single visor) for like $15 or something. Its just injection-molded plastic, I'm pretty sure.
I don't live far from where Gentex makes those things, maybe its time for some dumpster diving :)
Quote from: NIN on December 26, 2012, 05:50:37 PM
Quote from: AngelWings on December 26, 2012, 04:18:02 PM
NIN, don't worry, I get where you're coming from.
I would never paint a beauty like the helmet I got :) I was thinking more along the lines of having what you said, a cover, for it so I can paint that and switch it out. I do have some other uses for the helmet, so it'll definitely not be an investment as a space filler.n't know. I've worn an HGU-55 once before just to try it on, and now that I do recall it was lighter than my HGU-56.
Yeah, we just replaced our visor covers. And since we had velcro all over our helmets for the old PNVS-5 NVG mounts, we'd hang state flags and all kinds of silly stuff on our helmets when we were flying. I was a fan of reflective tape.
http://www.gibson-barnes.com/prod-294460/Hgu56-Dual-Lens-Visor-Housing.html (http://www.gibson-barnes.com/prod-294460/Hgu56-Dual-Lens-Visor-Housing.html)
That part is $188 via G&B (formerly FlightSuits Ltd). Holy cow. In 1987 I bought an entire SPH-4 visor cover like that (single visor) for like $15 or something. Its just injection-molded plastic, I'm pretty sure.
I don't live far from where Gentex makes those things, maybe its time for some dumpster diving :)
$188... hmm, sounds like I am not too short from getting that actually (I got a good deal of money for Christmas to get spare parts so I can repair the thing if need be).
Picked up some fuel at Dick's this afternoon, first test press.
Water hot in under 1 minute, pressed with no grounds. Sweet!
Only issue I see is cleanup if I make the coffee in the Jetboil - but a worthwhile price to pay for high-test caffeine on a day on the teaching range or hike, etc.
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6180/firstcup.jpg)
Quote from: Eclipse on December 27, 2012, 02:26:26 AM
Only issue I see is cleanup if I make the coffee in the Jetboil - but a worthwhile price to pay for high-test caffeine on a day on the teaching range or hike, etc.
Legit. You could avoid the mess by just using it to boil water and then mixing coffee with microground instant coffee like Starbucks Via in another container (mug, ziplock beverage bag, etc.)
^ Via and my X-Mug.
I am in beautiful Bagram Airfield for Christmas, however the wife surprised me with a battle mug.
Quote from: Terry W. on December 27, 2012, 08:33:10 PM
I am in beautiful Bagram Airfield for Christmas, however the wife surprised me with a battle mug.
God bless!
Snagged a Fenix 180 lumen tac flashlight w/ red lens from the wife. Ordering with Christmas $$ (thanks to my mother-in-law):
- Coleman 0-degree sleeping bag
- decent winter gloves
- headlamp
- and maybe a challenge coin for my collection if there's enough left over.
(Note: before people jump on me for *buying* a coin, here's the story. I'm creating a wall display that honors all of my friends & family that have served in the military. Still working on the frame, but it will have a coin representing each person's unit/branch or MOS with a small engraved nameplate under it. Many of these guys dont have coins because they served before they became so popular, so I try and buy one that best fits the person.)
Quote from: AngelWings on December 27, 2012, 08:38:56 PM
Quote from: Terry W. on December 27, 2012, 08:33:10 PM
I am in beautiful Bagram Airfield for Christmas, however the wife surprised me with a battle mug.
God bless!
Thanks. My oldest, who has been a Cadet since October this year is at her first encampment as we speak and is about to be promoted for the second time. About two months and I will be home and an active member again. I can't wait, I think 2013 is gonna be a great year.