Comprehensive Guide to What Fighter Pilots Wear Inside the Plane

From the exhilarating rush of taking to the skies in a fighter jet to navigating the complex missions they undertake, fighter pilots must be fully prepared and equipped for any situation. This intricately detailed article delves into the essential gear and attire worn by these highly trained professionals. We will explore the wide range of equipment—from the basic flight uniform to specialized survival gear—that ensures safety and readiness for both combat and training environments.

Basics of Fighter Pilot Uniforms

Fighter aircrews wear a variety of equipment depending on their mission and the environment they encounter. The cornerstone of their attire is a coverall made of fire-resistant Nomex. This all-in-one uniform offers comprehensive protection of the body, covering everything except the head, hands, and feet. Nomex is renowned for its fire-resistant properties, a critical feature considering the proximity to high-heat environments.

Combat boots and Nomex/leather gloves further enhance foot and hand protection. These boots are designed to withstand the rigors of takeoff and landing, while the gloves combine the benefits of both Nomex (fire-resistant) and leather (impact-resistant). Additionally, a helmet with an integrated oxygen mask completes the basic flight equipment, ensuring both safety and a steady supply of oxygen.

Pre-Flight Preparation

Before heading into the plane, aircrews put on a g-suit. This critical piece of equipment resembles cowboy chaps and fits tightly around the waist and legs. The g-suit includes a hose that connects it to the aircraft. In case of a malfunction with the parachute or if a parachute gets tangled during egress, a switchblade parachute knife is stored in a special pocket on the left leg for cutting away the parachute.

Survival and Winter Gear

Depending on the weather conditions, additional layers are necessary. If the forecast predicts cold weather, wise fighter aircrews will don a Nomex flight jacket to keep them warm. This jacket provides insulation, particularly when making a vertical descent. Other pilots may also wear a turtle neck or mock turtle neck to protect their necks from fire or cold, and thermal underwear for extended winter flights.

Upon leaving the squadron building, the aircrew will attach a parachute harness to their flight gear. This harness integrates seamlessly with the aircraft's parachute system, ensuring rapid egress in case of emergency.

Warfare and Exercise Gear

In wartime or during exercises, aircrews may be issued a survival vest to wear under the harness. This vest, weighing approximately 10 pounds, includes essential items such as a radio, basic survival gear, a semi-automatic pistol, and a combat knife. These elements are vital for ensuring the pilot's wellbeing and readiness in various scenarios.

Technology and Media Gear

To enhance navigation and training, pilots often bring along checklists, navigation documents, and other equipment such as pens, greasepens, paper, flight logs, and maps. These items, typically stored in a handled bag, ensure that pilots have all the necessary tools to execute their missions accurately and safely.

Specialized Gear for Unique Situations

For missions involving water, pilots may wear a water-activated life preserver. In particularly cold weather or for overseas flights, pilots may be required to wear an anti-exposure poopie suit. The latter is specifically designed for extended flights, necessitating the use of an adult diaper due to the lack of easy ingress or egress from the flight suit.

Emergency and NBC Gear

In the event of exposure to nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) environments, fighter pilots receive specialized gear that includes an NBC suit, a special helmet with a gas mask, a NBC hood, and an additional pair of gloves and boots to cover their basic flight suit.

Visual Aids and Technology

For nighttime missions or visual target identification, pilots may attach night vision goggles (NVG) to their helmets. Many pilots also prefer to bring binoculars to enhance visual target identification. In the past, some pilots used voice recorders or MP3/disc players, but modern dashcams and Gopros have largely supplanted these older technologies.

The aircraft itself includes survival and escape systems, such as a parachute, survival pack, and life raft. These systems, tailored to the specific environment, provide critical support for safety and rescue operations.

Aircrew Integration and Logistics

Given the extensive list of gear and equipment required, aircrews are typically transported to their aircraft in a coordinated manner, ensuring that all necessary items are swiftly and effectively integrated into the planes. This streamlined process is crucial for maintaining mission readiness and safety.

Combined, these items and gear provide the comprehensive package of protection, equipment, and essentials needed for fighter pilots to perform their duties with excellence in the most challenging of conditions.