Kitting Up

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A-11 Alpaca Lined Trousers

 Over my basic uniform goes my A-11 Alpaca lined flying trousers. These trousers feature full length zippers down the front of each leg make it easier to put the trousers on while wearing shoes. Press studs located at the top of the zip prevents the fabric pulling the teeth apart.

There are several pockets located on the legs and also an opening to access pockets in trousers worn underneath.

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While still quite heavy, they are lighter and more flexible than the leather/fleece trousers that preceded them.

 

Braces are pulled up onto the shoulders next. This view also shows the hose from the H-2 Bailout Oxygen bottle, which is fitted into fabric loops inside the left pocket.

Q-1 Heated Boot Inners

Over the service shoes go the electrically heated Flying Boot Inners. These have cotton laces to tie them in place.

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These heated boot inners would also be connected to a heated flying suit. These suits were a light blue in colour and had a network of wires sewn in to the material to provide all over heat.

Wire breaks inside the material, could result in heating failure, and the older heavy fleece lined leather clothing remained popular.

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A-6A Flying Shoes

Next comes the A-6A flying shoes. The A-6A's were an improved vresion of the A-6. The buckles and zipper are undone to allow the service shoes and heated shoe inner to fit inside the boot easily. 

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Originally the A-6's were just fitted with a zipper up the front, but it was found that they could come off the feet as the parachute deployed. The A-6A version had two leather straps with buckles to help keep the boot securely in place.

While very big and awkward to walk in, they are quite comfortable, but not suited to walking any distances.

B-3 Winter Flying Jacket

The B-3 Fleece lined Winter Flying Jacket was also essential to help keep out the sub-zero temperatures. It weighs about 7 pounds with a thick fleece lining. 

 

The zipper is designed inset from the centre seam which forms a wind flap to prevent the cold from penetrating through the teeth.

 

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Seen on the side of the waist, the jacket is also fitted with straps and buckles to allow the waist size to be adjustable. 

The back panel of the jacket has been painted with a copy of the aircraft name and artwork. If the owner wasn't artistic, it could cost him quite a few dollars or drinks to have the artwork done by a friend.

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