Z-10 thread

[pendragon]

Leather is preferable to synthetic, due to its better resisance to mechanical, chemical and thermal agression. So in case of a crashlanding or an on board fire, I would prefer a leather jacket. New is not Always better!

 

[Ultra]

Leather is preferable to synthetic, due to its better resisance to mechanical, chemical and thermal agression. So in case of a crashlanding or an on board fire, I would prefer a leather jacket. New is not Always better!

While I can't find any literature comparison of the flammability between leather and Nomex,
But are you sure about this? Why are all firefighters, tank drivers, race car drivers, pilots, Hazmat workers all wear Nomex/Kevlar/Aramid composite material as their suit? Its not like leather are hard to come by in western countries, but nowadays you will be hard to find leather used in these suit.

 

[JayBird]

Maybe they don't want animal rights group protest at their door steps everyday?

I'm kind of surprised there are so few Z-10 pics from Pakistan. I thought we will see a lot more pics from them just like the JF-17.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Leather Flight jackets are also popular as Cultural Icons. and have more or less remained in flight service in both the east and west since WW1. The PLA is not the only service to keep them in the Closet. The USAF, USN USMC all have retained Leather jackets of the WW2 vintage the A-2 and G-1 being the most Prized.
Leather has it's good points but also it's bad Humidity can destroy it and it's sweltering in heat. NASCAR and Firefighters don't wear them on the job as it's not regulation also highly more likely to be exposed to moisture which can lead to decay unless regularly treated Also both tend to want bright colors for there uniforms. Fire fighters to allow for reflections from light and allow easy identification Nascar and Auto racing because there sponsors pay good money to emblazon there logo across there driver's arse.
As for Hazmat there uniforms have to survive exposure to even worse compounds then moisture of even accidental fuel or fire and for them there entire uniform has to be either decontaminated via harsh methods or tossed plus the whole thing has to be hermetically sealed.

 

[plawolf]

Motorcyclists usually prefer leather suits as if offers good protection and warmth. I think it was for those reasons fighter pilots initially wore them.

But I think the main thing that made leather unnecessary was the invention of the ejection seat.

With those, pilots no longer needed to physically climb out of their cockpits to escape a dying (and often buring) bird. So their suits no longer needed to be able to protect them against fire.

With air conditioning, good insulation became less of an issue.

Leather flight jackets were most likely phased out in the west for cost reasons since they were no longer strickly necessary.

Those Apache pilots were wearing plain regular multicam, no different from army grunts or marine jarheads.

That's less a sign of modernity and more of practicality. Go ask any western aviator and I doubt many would look down their noses at a nice leather jacket as part of their uniform than some here have.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Motorcyclists usually prefer leather suits as if offers good protection and warmth. I think it was for those reasons fighter pilots initially wore them.

At the time world war 1 and world war 2 Leather was a popular material used across a wide breath of industry and wear.

But I think the main thing that made leather unnecessary was the invention of the ejection seat.

With those, pilots no longer needed to physically climb out of their cockpits to escape a dying (and often buring) bird. So their suits no longer needed to be able to protect them against fire.

With air conditioning, good insulation became less of an issue.

No, the Ejection seat did not change the risk of Fire the aim is still to try and get out of the jet before the Fire. But Fire risk is still present. Modern Aviation Flight suits issued by the Military are made of Nomex a material that is designed for Fire resistance. Fire risk and Aviation has not changed and will not. Additionally Most helicopters and fighter Aircraft are not pressurized or operated with open exposure.In the Case of Rotary wing aviation remember with the exception of a few token Russian types Almost none of the Worlds Helicopter use Ejection.

Leather flight jackets were most likely phased out in the west for cost reasons since they were no longer strickly necessary.

They were for many militaries phased out but have also been retained by many. Its a matter of choice and function. from time to time there have been synthetic jackets used in there place like the MA-1

Those Apache pilots were wearing plain regular multicam, no different from army grunts or marine jarheads.

NO. The US military issues to it's rotary wing flight crews special uniforms sets. They are made in the Same Camouflage patterns for the Sake of Escape and Evasion.
The Us army uses the A2CU of Army Aviation Combat uniform before this set it used the Improved Aviation Battle Uniform. USN, USMC, USCG, As well as many other foreign nations issue Fire resistant Clothing sets to Aviation and vehicle crews. There is some over lap but it's from the other way around. in recent years fire resistance has spread as a requirement in Infantry and ground forces.

That's less a sign of modernity and more of practicality. Go ask any western aviator and I doubt many would look down their noses at a nice leather jacket as part of their uniform than some here have.

The USAF issues Leather Flight Jackets to it's pilots as does the USN and USMC. and others. out of Tradition and Function.

 

[SteelBird]

Some nice photos of the Z-19

 

[MwRYum]

I do remember that China doesn't have equivalant of Nomex fabrics, because if they do they'd have their naval crews issued with anti-flash gear, as well as protective gloves for fast-roping, and one-piece aviation suit, along with other things.

 

[Preux]

I do remember that China doesn't have equivalant of Nomex fabrics, because if they do they'd have their naval crews issued with anti-flash gear, as well as protective gloves for fast-roping, and one-piece aviation suit, along with other things.

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[Ultra]

BTW, what is that suitcase they are carrying? PLA's annual budget report? The makeup kit? The lunch box? In my opinion the way the PLA pilots dressed just seems bizzare and impractical to me. They look more like factory workers with fancy helmet. They don't seem to be carrying a holster for sidearm, the uniform is bright blue even though chopper operations are mostly inland which makes their blue uniform a big target (compare to western pilots who wear camo), they don't seem to be wearing load bearing vest for various essential survival gears, nor do they seem to have that many pockets on their pants for the maps and gear that's needed.

I suppose maybe th rationale for the PLA right now is because WZ-10 / WZ-19 operate solely inside Chinese border, so in the event something do happen there is little need for them to "blend in" to the background to evade capture, or needing sidearms to fend off pursuing hostile force, or survival kits because Chinese cities are almost always nearby. But as China global responsibility grows, they will start deploying these choppers beyond the Chinese border, and these deficiencies will soon be very apparent.

But for now, I suppose these PLA pilots can even go flying NAKED and they will be fine