USAF - New flight suit on the way

[Jumpshot724]

Am I missing something?? With all the budget and program cuts, they're going to spend $99.4Milion over 7 years to design a new FLIGHT SUIT?? What's wrong with the current one....????


http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/ ... t-112610w/



New Air Force flight suit in development
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 26, 2010 12:50:45 EST

Pilots and aircrew members, get ready: You’re getting a new flight suit.

Don’t toss out the old green one just yet, though, because its replacement is a long way off, according to Carl Medeiros, who’s overseeing the uniform project at Air Force Material Command’s Human Systems Division.

The Air Force doesn’t know what the flight suit that it has dubbed the “Integrated Aircrew Ensemble” will look like — style or color — or when it will be delivered.

A couple of things are sure: There will be at least three styles — fighter/bomber, helicopter and transport. And the only deadline right now is one for testing, set to begin in 2013.

TIAX LLC of Lexington, Mass., which bills itself as a technology processing and commercialization company, is getting $99.4 million over seven years to research, develop and manufacture the flight suit. The Air Force awarded the contract Nov. 4, ending a nearly three-year bidding process.

In information provided to prospective bidders, the Air Force stipulated the ensemble — the flight suit and the protective gear with it — must protect airmen from flames, all kinds of weather, chemical attacks or radiation, and high gravity that can cause aircrew members to black out.

Medeiros, though, declined to cite specific performance standards, such as temperature extremes or G-forces.

A top TIAX official, too, declined to talk about the ensemble; Ron Spangler, director of government business development, told Air Force Times any comment would be inappropriate since the contract could still be contested.

The Air Force does know it wants the flight suit and protective gear to be designed as a unit, not as separates. Instead of putting on a dry suit to prevent hypothermia in cold water or layers of long underwear to keep warm, the flight suit and protection gear will fit together — coordinated.

“We’re trying to integrate everything as much a possible,” Medeiros said.

Today, about 30,000 airmen — from pilots and airborne linguists to loadmasters and boom operators — are qualified to wear the flight suit, and they will be qualified to put on the new one, too.

As for the old green one, you need to hang on to it no matter how long it takes to get the new one. You’ll probably be wearing it for nonflying duties.

The ensemble “will not replace the flight suit aircrew members wear when they are not flying; today’s flight suit will continue to have a role,” division spokesman Brad Jessmer said.

[MIKE JG]

And here it is.....

[jetmax]

Don't you know by now that is what we do in the Air Force.... We Love Change!! I can't wait to retire.....

[Victory103]

I hope they don't get what we have in the Army to wear, just so we "look like the Joe's on the ground"!

[reconmercs]

so... their still gonna wear their "old" flight suit when their NOT flying and wear this new one??????? WTH...am I the only one that finds this retarded? whats wrong with the current one? There's just been way too much BS with uniform changes over the last couple of years with all the branches, I also heard the army is dumping their current ACU's and moving to MCU (Multi-cam) in the next couple of years...

[jetmax]

I can't believe I am saying this but I liked it when Congress told us how to dress. Back in the 80's congress told all the branches of the Mil to decide on one combat uniform for all braches, and the BDU was born.

[Joecoastie]

$99.4 Million ? ? Over seven years ? ? That's just shy of 39 thousand dollars a DAY ! What the _ _ _ is wrong with this country ?

[reconmercs]

$99.4 Million ? ? Over seven years ? ? That's just shy of 39 thousand dollars a DAY ! What the _ _ _ is wrong with this country ?

tell me about it.... but I guess they figure in the grand scheme of things, that's a deal....

[maddog65]

Don't even get me started on uniform changes. The Navy has been the most retarded on it all.

[Victory103]

so... their still gonna wear their "old" flight suit when their NOT flying and wear this new one??????? WTH...am I the only one that finds this retarded? whats wrong with the current one? There's just been way too much BS with uniform changes over the last couple of years with all the branches, I also heard the army is dumping their current ACU's and moving to MCU (Multi-cam) in the next couple of years...

Tis true, hopefully I'll be out by then!

Green "pickle" suits/Aviation BDU/2 piece tan or Tan "pickle" (<--my fav)/currently sporting Aviation ACU's.

[james84]

Well, the designer of the new suit is Armani, that's why it's so expensive!

[Garysb]

And Jimmy Choo combat boots in red would look nice

not to tall heels though!

Gary

[ahs06]

Having spent two years in AFROTC before being medically booted five weeks before field training, I have some idea of the reckless spending in the DoD. We had to press our BATTLE dress uniforms and starch them. The uniform said clearly not to starch but uniform regs said differently. Ironing was the justification for the ABU. Really? Don’t even get me started on the dress uniforms. They are torn between the Billy Mitchell and the old four pocket my dad wore when he first got in the air guard. Time for Secretary Gates to step in and issue one uniform across the services and stop the uniform boards. The DoD has so much waste it's scary!

[BadPvtDan]

/cough
And black berets only for Ranger-qualified personnel
/cough

[jetmax]

/cough
And black berets only for Ranger-qualified personnel
/cough

actually I kinda like the newer Sand color ranger berets

[Victory103]

/cough
And black berets only for Ranger-qualified personnel
/cough

Agree, takes 2 hands to put the stupid thing on, no sun protection and most people don't even wear it right!

[flyboy]

You got to hide the funding for new "black projects" somewhere. Remember the $2000.00 toilet seats and $1000.00 hammers used to hide the F-117 development years ago. Maybe they are hiding it in their new flight suit.

[LEBTowerGuy]

Don't even get me started on uniform changes. The Navy has been the most retarded on it all.

Tell me about it, I about barfed when I saw the new "camies" they have folks wearing now. I am so glad I got out when I did.