I've been considering buying a flight suit to wear while flying with CAP. But it is a tad over my budget. Any alternatives?
I understand there is the CAP dark blue utility suit that is very similar to the green flight suit. And that there is also a dark blue NOMEX flight suit. I looked at used green flight suits, but some are in bad condition, and the better ones are still over $100. For that money, I rather get something new.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Sometimes you can get great deals on used stuff. Did you look on ebay?
Yeah, bunch of Halloween costumes and suits that don't fit.
There's always the gray slacks and polo combo. Slacks can be found for about $15-20 and shirt $20-35 depending on type.
You can get all cotton flight suits for a very reasonable price.
The dark blue utlility jumpsuit is fine for flying, and unless someone holds an ignition source against you, no one can tell the difference. ~$35 to buy and $50 w/ insignias, etc.
Otherwise, stick w/ the golf shirt.
If you're gonna get the dark blue utility uniform (aka faux blue flight suit), buy the Tru-Spec version. The version sold by Vanguard and The Hock is made by Rothco and sucks in quality. It's also available in sage green to substitute for the NOMEX green bag.
Here's a linky: http://www.tacgear.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=157&idproduct=621
Select 'Navy' for the dark blue.
Patch and velcro placement same as the flight suit. See my revised CAP Flight Dress Uniform Guide (http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=5628.0)
Quote from: stratoflyer on August 15, 2008, 11:59:14 PM
Yeah, bunch of Halloween costumes and suits that don't fit.
Use CWU-27/P as a search term for used green Nomex bags.
Depends on where you live. If you were in Pacific region you wouldn't have to wonder what to wear, it's Nomex or don't fly.
Quote from: PHall on August 16, 2008, 02:36:31 AM
Depends on where you live. If you were in Pacific region you wouldn't have to wonder what to wear, it's Nomex or don't fly.
Do you have a reference with which to back that up?
I got a used flight suit at an army/navy store. Still had the velcro attached and all. Cost? $40. Yes, it's Nomex.
You can also see if your unit has an Air Force/ANG base nearby. They normally throw away used suits and will be happy to let you pick one up from them. That's how I got my flight jacket.
Quote from: PHall on August 16, 2008, 02:36:31 AM
Depends on where you live. If you were in Pacific region you wouldn't have to wonder what to wear, it's Nomex or don't fly.
That supplement has been rescinded.
Quote from: lordmonar on August 16, 2008, 03:11:59 AM
Quote from: PHall on August 16, 2008, 02:36:31 AM
Depends on where you live. If you were in Pacific region you wouldn't have to wonder what to wear, it's Nomex or don't fly.
That supplement has been rescinded.
Recinded for rewrite because the CAPR 60-1 was revised last February.
Pat, you know as well as I do that a supplement is voided when the regulation/manual it supplements is revised.
And the CAPR 60-1 was revised in Feb 2008.
And for BTE, the nomex requirement was in the PACR Supplement to CAPR 60-1.
New Zoom Bags 70.00
olcnet.com
Quote from: PHall on August 16, 2008, 05:17:42 AM
Quote from: lordmonar on August 16, 2008, 03:11:59 AM
Quote from: PHall on August 16, 2008, 02:36:31 AM
Depends on where you live. If you were in Pacific region you wouldn't have to wonder what to wear, it's Nomex or don't fly.
That supplement has been rescinded.
Recinded for rewrite because the CAPR 60-1 was revised last February.
Pat, you know as well as I do that a supplement is voided when the regulation/manual it supplements is revised.
And the CAPR 60-1 was revised in Feb 2008.
And for BTE, the nomex requirement was in the PACR Supplement to CAPR 60-1.
NVWG has never followed that part of the supplement anyway. ;D
You all can claim to have NOMEX, but after about 6-10 washes, the NOMEX is all washed out......
Quote from: CadetProgramGuy on August 16, 2008, 12:28:31 PM
You all can claim to have NOMEX, but after about 6-10 washes, the NOMEX is all washed out......
HUH? ??? ??? ???
Missing a sarcasm tag here?
Quote from: CadetProgramGuy on August 16, 2008, 12:28:31 PM
You all can claim to have NOMEX, but after about 6-10 washes, the NOMEX is all washed out......
Try one wash in the wrong cleaner, and the protections are *poof*.
Not so much the fabric burning, but all the chemicals/lint you added to it in the washing
will burn. Nomex wont burn by itself without help.
Quote from: CadetProgramGuy on August 16, 2008, 12:28:31 PM
You all can claim to have NOMEX, but after about 6-10 washes, the NOMEX is all washed out......
Say what? If you're serious, then here's some light reading:
http://www2.dupont.com/Personal_Protection/en_US/products/Nomex/nomexind/nomex_industrial_faq.html#1QD
Pay special attention to questions 5 and 7. There are some things that will degrade Nomex itself, but washing them isn't one of them. Which is why it's been utilized by the military extensively for years.
When washing Nomex garments, it's usually smart to run it through an extra rinse cycle just to get any left over detergent out, and don't use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. If nomex is stiff, then wash it inside out. When it's done drying, leave it in the dryer on a "no heat" setting for a little while. Softens it up a little.
Also try www.flighthelmet.com
Limited sizes but some are new/unissued for about $75.00 including Navy Blue for the fat & fuzzies.
I frequently see non-issued, 'new', etc- CWU/27-P on eBay for under $50 including getting it to you.
Just search for 'CWU', and you'll see it all - some people don't list the 27, p, etc.. and eBay searches ignore slashes / and dashes.
Great suggestions guys! Here's the part that bugs me--plastic encased rank on the green bag...yuk! How are those attached anyway?
The blue utility uniform gets dark blue embroidered rank, right?
And here is my little $0.02 on NOMEX--I fly the same exact type airplane very often wearing nothing but cotton/polyster blends. Been doing that for 6 years. And the accidents I've heard about don't catch fire. So why wear NOMEX--IMHO a 172 ain't gonna catch fire unless you got a long list of things going wrong. Again, just a thought--I will happily stand corrected if someone can convince me that for some reason I should use NOMEX flying in a CAP airplane and civi's for my FBO airplanes.
Most of the accidents I have heard of here involved fire.
Heck one CAP check pilot here lost his personal plane while doing a runup due to fire.
I for one want the great insurance. Error on the safe side in my book.
The plastic encased is sewn on to the flight suit.
"Keep the dirty side down!"