21st Century Clothing for Aircrew; a top to toe solution Dr Denise Tracey Product Specialist, W.L. Gore & Associates Major Philipp Ostertag (ret) Project Manager Pilot Flight Equipment Autoflug GmbH, Germany Agenda

• Previous Situation • Product requirements • Material tests • Flight Clothing System • Safety and Rescue System

W. L. Gore & Associates Pre-existing situation • Flight jacket, leather – limited flame retardency – not antistatic – no protection against foul weather

• Flight coverall, Aramid – flame retardant – no protection against foul weather

• Flight boot – not waterproof – insufficient anti-g-performance – not good for walking

W. L. Gore & Associates Aircrew garment requirements:

• Aircraft specific requirements – Flame retardent – Wind blast

• Environmental requirements – Comfortable Global use, desert and polar regions – Wearer can safely undertake a range of activities – Design appropriate to situations of use – Harmonised Clothing System

W. L. Gore & Associates Test methods

• Tests to assess if Aircrew garments meet end user needs: – Flame retardency • Material, ISO 15025 • System, Thermoman – Windblast – Waterproof – Windproof – Insulation – Breathability

W. L. Gore & Associates Waterproofness test Test methods

Windproofness test

W. L. Gore & Associates Insulation

Fleece jacket with Fleece jacket with no membrane WindstopperTM membrane

W. L. Gore & Associates Why is breathability important?

Core temperature as a function of breathability Work rate: 450W / External temperature: 10°C / Relative humidity: 50% 39

38,8 Low breathability

38,6

38,4

38,2 38

37,8

37,6 High breathability 37,4

37,2

37 0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 Time [h]

W. L. Gore & Associates Four season Aviation Suit

GORE-TEX® Flight Jacket and Overtrousers • Full weather protection •Can be worn comfortably for long periods of time

Thermal Protection Under jacket (no Gore fabrics) • Designed to be worn with GORE-TEX® Flight Jacket

WINDSTOPPER® Flight Suit • Shower and wind protection •Comfortable enough for daily use

W. L. Gore & Associates GORE-TEX® Flight Boots

• Multi season boot

• Comfortable

• Robust

W. L. Gore & Associates Personal Survival Pack

GORE-TEX® Sleep System • Bivy bag can be fully closed for warm micro climate and aiding better sleep •Packable and lightweight 32 x 11,5 cm, 900g

WINDSTOPPER® thermal jacket, trousers, socks and GORE-TEX® Mitten

• Replaces sleeping bag • Packable and lightweight 26 x 16 cm , 800 g

W. L. Gore & Associates End User References

• Complete system: – German Air Force • Eurofighter approved • Personal Survival Pack Items – UK RAF • Typhoon (Eurofighter) • Over water flight suits – UK RAF – UK Offshore companies – Italian Offshore companies – Scandinavian Offshore companies – US Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Navy

W. L. Gore & Associates