Face Mask

[Adam L]

I know there are a few new products on the market in the europe for racing equipment. One of them is a carbon based which I have heard is fairly cool from rally drivers. I'll try to track it down. I know there are a few others that haven't crossed the pond. I'll try to find my info on it. I think one of them is in one of my issues of Racecar Engineering.

[Cavguy]

I'm not telling your guy not to spend its money, but we never had an issue downrange with facial burns - only IED shrapnel fragments. And I've been in some of the worst IED enviornments, especially on the last tour. Wearing ballistic eyewear (I recommed yellow lenses so you can transition from bright/dark environments quickly) is key for eyesight - but IMHO a facemask is overboard.

[Cavguy]

Also,

Most units have been fielded a ballistic "riot shield" for the helmet for gunners - but most don't wear it in the summer because it is too hot. I know it sounds trite, but this isn't OIF 1 anymore. If its personal protection gear, the army is issuing everything you NEED right now. If he's got $$ to burn at Ranger Joe's go ahead, but I never spent any money on gear downrange - and his unit supply now has access through both FEDLOG and IMPAC cards to buy most of what is sold at the private shops. I managed to order Uvex, Oakley, and other brands through supply easily in 2005 - and they arrived quickly in Germany. So let Uncle Sammy pay the bill - and beat up his chain of command if they can't get the stuff - it's out there through the RFI process.

[nichols]

We have fireproof cloth in testing right now. The main driver for this is that servicemembers are being burned from tires that sometimes ignite when an IED goes off. The vehicle gets flipped on it's side, the uparmor makes it difficult to push the heavy door with one arm and so on.

During our experiments we have found that nomex melts/burns at about 4-5 seconds. The fireproof cloth doesn't burn but after 10 seconds or so the person is dead from lack of oxygen. The SPAWARS firefighters pointed out that as good as the fireproof cloth is, eventually you would boil in your own sweat.

IMHO, the extra 4-5 seconds doesn't outwiegh the loss sense of smell, hearing.

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=2403

Maggie's two cents would be interesting on this subject.

[Stan]

That was a classic thread gone WAWA

I agree, time for Maggie's input !

I can't figure out what he would want the face mask for though. There's not much going on in modern turrets, even when the breech is opened immediately after firing. The 132 and 132A CVC helmet covers nearly everything and leaves only enough room for goggles and that pathetic mic.

The mask I wear under a full face helmet was designed for a flash burn and to some extent assumes you're gonna get your dead alpha away from the burning bike.