Aviator Lifejackets

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NDCDA62
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Aviator Lifejackets

Post by NDCDA62 »

For those interested, I came across and purchased recently a really brilliantly thought out lifejacket from Andark in the U.K., specifically designed for Aviators. The Owner is also a pilot and had the lifejacket specifically designed and produced in conjunction with Spinlock, the well-known lifejacket manufacturer.

It is extremely comfortable, very light, has high buoyancy, is inflated manually and, what really sold it for me, has a built-in spray hood. The attached YouTube link explains everything: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEdWODUOq1E
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blsewardjr
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by blsewardjr »

Looks good. However, I went to the website listed with the video but could not find any information on the lifejacket.
Bernie Seward, IR, AGI
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NDCDA62
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by NDCDA62 »

Just tried the link again and it works OK ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEdWODUOq1E
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blsewardjr
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by blsewardjr »

The video works fine. It's the company website that has no mention of the jacket. Tried search under aviation and aircraft but found no mention of it.
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Steve
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by Steve »

That appears to be a very well designed product. It might be a good idea to take one in the pool and try it out, including manual (blow hose) inflation. We did quite a bit of pool and bay training with our LPU-23/P in the Navy. The ones we used in Patrol aviation had the automatic inflators disabled, since you don't want your life vest inflating with you still inside the fuselage after a ditching. With ejection seat aircraft they were retained, since >50 percent of those aviators were unconscious when they hit the water.
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by NDCDA62 »

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blsewardjr
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by blsewardjr »

That worked, thanks!
Bernie Seward, IR, AGI
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blsewardjr
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by blsewardjr »

According to the video, manual inflation simply means you have to pull the cord that activates the CO2 inflator, i.e., the inflator is not activated by contact with water.
Bernie Seward, IR, AGI
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NDCDA62
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Re: Aviator Lifejackets

Post by NDCDA62 »

Correct Bernie -

There is more risk with automatic inflation if we are still in the aircraft which is filling with water. Safer to pull the cord once we are outside.
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