Pilot Gloves History

Metasco® Flight Gloves, Pilot Gloves, Nomex Flyers Gloves, Air Force Pilot Gloves

Why Do Pilot Wear a Gloves

A pilot’s gloves are made of nomex, a fire resistant fabric. The primary reason for wearing them is to protect the pilot’s hands in the event of fire in the cockpit.

It offers protection and is a part of the military aviation tradition. A long time back, almost all aircraft were cable controlled. Basically, there are a bunch of cables connecting pilot controls to the aircraft outside control surfaces. This was the story even for the largest bombers (even the B-29). No hydraulics, pneumatics or electrics. This made the aircraft very difficult to control. The controls were heavy and stiff and took a lot of muscle power to operate. The flap, landing gear and other levers were also that rigid. Playing with these surfaces on a routine basis could easily rip off your skin. Wearing gloves thus provided that extra safety margin to your body.

Going much more further back, maybe to the World war I, you will see mostly biplanes in the military with no cockpit windows or anything of that sort. The pilot was completely exposed into the outside atmosphere. At altitudes, the temperature goes really low. The gloves then, served as a safe guard from the cold.
The gloves and flight suits (coveralls) are made from fire resistant material. During the Vietnam war era we changed from cotton flight suits to Nomex, which gives you more of a chance to escape from a fire with fewer burns. The same with Nomex gloves with leather palms. We did wear our older cotton flight suits when not flying in the hot, humid Southeast Asia weather. Soon after that we only had the Nomex gear.

Image result for Pilot gloves
 
In the air, a fighter pilot wears fire-resistant Nomex gloves, which protect his hands from extreme heat in the event of fire. The gloves also keep his hands warm in cold weather.

Flyer's Pilot Gloves Specifications

Air Force Pilot Gloves, Military Flight Gloves – Flyer’s Summer Type GS/FRP-2 – USAF Military Issue. Mil-DTL-81188C & MIL-DTL-81188B Heat & Flame Resistant 700-F & Anti-Static, These Nomex® Pilot Gloves offer superb dexterity and excellent flash and flame protection. They will not support a flame or melt, even after laundering. These Airforce Pilot Flyer’s Summer gloves feature  chrome-tanned sheepskin leather palm, giving excellent “feel” for flying, while providing your hands with the fire-resistant protection of Nomex® Although these Airforce flyer summer gloves are especially suited for aviators and aviation personnel, they are perfect for anyone who wants the ultimate in comfort, dexterity, and protection for their hands! Exceeds USAF specs MIL-DTL-81188C and MIL-DTL-81188B for thermal protection. 100% Dupont Nomex® brand fiber.

Metasco® Specialized in Flight Pilot Gloves

Metasco® Specialized in Nomex Flyers Gloves, Flyer’s Pilot Gloves, Air Force Pilot Gloves, Nomex Gloves Tactical Nomex Gloves, Cold Weather Nomex Gloves, Touch Screen Gloves, Tactical Operator Gloves, Since last 35-years

Nomex® fire-resistant Operator Gloves,  Aviation Gloves & FR-flight Jackets, have been worn by American military aviators since the 1960’s. These Nomex® flight gloves are manufactured to USAF Military Specification, MIL-G-181188C. The palms of these Nomex® gloves are made from soft sheepskin leather to give you delicate sense of touch you need for flying. The back of the pilot gloves are made from a soft fire resistant Nomex® knit fiber that stretch to fit snugly. The aviator gloves remain soft and pliable even after they become wet or are washed in warm water and hand soap.

sage green pilot gloves, pilot flight gloves, military flight gloves, nomex flight gloves, nomex gloves, pilot gloves leather
tan color pilot gloves, pilot flight gloves, military flight gloves, nomex flight gloves, nomex gloves, pilot gloves leather
pilot flight gloves, military flight gloves, nomex flight gloves, nomex gloves, pilot gloves leather by Metasco® Industries
Flyers Pilot Gloves, Nomex Flyers Gloves, Pilot Flight Gloves, Military Pilot Gloves By Metasco® Industries

Flight Suit History

Flight Suit History & Specifications

Flight Suits, Nomex Flyers Suits by Metasco®

Flight Suits History
The first concept for Flight Suits appeared during the First World War where heavier clothing was worn to protect Pilots from the cold. … In the 1920s, Flight Suits began incorporating oxygen masks and built-in thermal protection though they offered no protection against electrocution! These are the Flight Suits worn by United States & World Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps pilots. They are manufactured in accordance with military specification MIL-C83141A using producer-dyed fabric made from 92% meta-aramid fiber, 5% para-aramid fiber, and 3% conductive fiber. The zippers are made from meta-aramid with solid brass teeth and the thread is made from para-aramid. Meticulous in detail, these are genuine, first quality flight suits. 

Tan Flight Suits, Desert Tan Flight Coveralls
Aviators Nomex Flight Suit, CWU-27/P Flight Suits, Nomex Flyers Suits by Metasco® Industries
Flight Suits, Nomex Flyers Suits by Metasco®

Current Standards of Flight Suits

The current flight suit that is standard for most air forces and navies is made of Nomex, a fabric made from spun aramid that is lightweight and fire-resistant. The flame-retardant capabilities of this material make it ideal for protecting aviators in case of a fire. The suit is often green or desert tan in color, with multiple pockets for specific pieces of gear (such as a clear plastic pocket on the thigh intended to house a map of the aircraft’s planned flight path), but color, style, and cut vary greatly from country to country. The current model flight suit for the US military is the CWU 27/P and is available in sage green and desert tan. Commercial flight suits for civilian flying are also available, and are frequently used by helicopter crew (including non-pilots such as flight engineers, paramedics, and nurses), aerobatic pilots, and others who desire a practical “uniform”. The other colors of flight suits are details by Royal Blue  – Red Color  –  Black Color  – Orange Colors

Although there are multiple pockets on the current CWU 27/P flight suit, all pockets are placed on the front of the flight suit or on the arms or legs. There are no pockets on the back of the flight suit. This design allows easier access to the pockets while the wearer is sitting (such as in the cockpit of an aircraft), and ensures that the wearer in a seated position does not have to sit on any items in a back pocket (such as a wallet).

Members of the United States Marine Corps wore flight suits during most vehicle patrols and ground combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, because their standard camouflage utilities were not flame-resistant. Flight suits have now been phased out among ground personnel with the introduction of the Flame Resistant Organizational Gear, or “FROG” suit, which resembles the standard camouflage utilities.

Why The Pilots Wear The Flight Suits

PURPOSE OF FLIGHT SUITS

A flight suit is a full-body garment, worn while flying aircraft such as military airplanes, gliders and helicopters. These suits are generally made to keep the wearer warm, as well as being practical (plenty of pockets), and durable (including fire retardant). Every Nomex Flight Suit from Propper is the product of 50 years of innovation as a leading supplier of the United States Department of Defense.  Nowadays, most helicopter pilots are wearing a  Nomex suit since it is lightweight and fire resistant

Nomex® is known to be comfortable fabric developed and owned by DuPont® USA, practical, flame resistant, breathable, and offers much protection, which makes it a good choice for a helicopter pilot. METASCO®  use the original Nomex® fabric by DuPont® to maintian the required standards of Flight Suits.

WHY THE PILOTS WEAR THE FLIGHT SUITS

Originally they were worn for protection against the elements, mainly the cold and for protection against dirt because the early airplanes were always an oily and hydraulic fluid mess, especially while crawling under them during a preflight. But these days cockpits are closed, and most aircraft are cleaner, so that is not the reason anymore.

By the way, they are called “flightsuits” not jumpsuits. And in these modern times they are designed mainly for protection against fires, since most are made of Nomex, a fire resistant material. Some are made of pure cotton as well, for comfort and appearance rather than specifically for fire protection.

The many pockets in flight suits have a practical use during flight because the cockpit can be rather cramped and pilots always need a convenient and readily reacheable place to put small stuff that they may need in flight such as pens, small notebooks, checklists, gloves, glasses, handkerchiefs, chewing gum, perhaps a sandwich, maybe a few survival items, etc.

These days, other than the military and the police, Flightsuit are usually worn mainly by specialized civilian crews that work in harsh or potentially dangerous environments such as aerial fire fighting etc. and by civilian Helicopter-Crews working search and rescue, external load, construction, etc. For civilians it is more a matter of choice than a requirement. Most civilian airplane pilots don’t wear them.

Most civilian pilots that fly in normal passenger and cargo transportation, like the airlines and the corporate flights, do not wear a “flight suit”, they simply wear a normal suit-and-tie uniform, and may have the traditional three of four bars on their shirt shoulders and jacket sleeves to distinguish them in the airport environment.

 Metasco® Flying Pilot Suits History

Metasco® International, is one of the leading and OEM Manufacturing & Exporting Company in the Aviators Clothing with our more than 30-years of manufacturing experience of Flight Suits, Bomber Pilot Jackets, Pilot Nomex Gloves, Helmet Bags, Pilot Shoes, Flyers Under Garments, in Flame Retarted Nomex® material. Metasco also produce the Flying Coveralls in Non-FR materials, like Cotton, Polyesters blended fabrics for Ground Crews, Technicians, and for Technical Staff.  Feel free to contact us for more details of your requirements, or you don’t find any products here that you are looking for.