Q : Why should I fly in a flight suit?
A : It’s a more practical and functional garment than daily clothing, it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer and some of our suits are protective in the event of fire. It’s the garment of choice for the majority of aviators outside the airline branding.
Q : Why a tailor-made or custom-made suit?
A : Everybody is different and people come in all shapes and sizes, that is the reason why we at AIRWEAR® favour tailor-making over standard off-the-shelf garments. You get the best and most comfortable fit. Isn’t that what it’s all about ! A touch of class…
Q : What is the difference between poly-cotton and pure cotton?
A : Poly-cotton is a fabric manufactured with a blend of polyester or nylon (petroleum by-products) and cotton, a natural fibre. A poly-cotton garment will crease less than a pure cotton garment. Mechanically poly-cotton is also 15 to 25% stronger than pure cotton. There are two disadvantages to poly-cotton: it is hotter than pure cotton and in the event of a contact with fire, it becomes a very dangerous garment to be wearing since the fabric will melt and burn into the skin with lethal consequences.
Q : What is the difference between an AIRWEAR® cotton suit and an AIRWEAR® Kermel’ suit?
A : The level of protection against fire. A pure cotton suit offers some degree of protection since cotton is a natural fibre and burns slowly, alike wool. An AIRWEAR® Kermel’suit is manufactured with a fabric developed specifically for fire protection. It “buys” you time.
Q : How do I choose between a cotton suit and a Kermel’suit?
A : That depends on how much you value your skin.
Q : What is the difference between a Nomex’suit and a Kermel’suit?
A : The goal is the same: protection in the event of fire. The difference lies in the way the yarn is produced, two completely different approaches.
Q : The old Nomex’Air force suits used to be very hot and itchy on the skin. Are the new suits better?
A : That was very old technology, things have changed. Our Kermel’suit “breath” very well, as good as a cotton suit. There is no skin irritation whatsoever due to the few percent of Viscose contained in the Kermel’fibre which provides a very soft and comfortable skin feel. It’s twenty first century technology.
Q : How should I maintain my flight suit?
A : Wash it separately from your other laundry in warm water with a good quality commercial washing powder. Never use bleaches. No heavy spinning. Hang up your suit to drip dry and iron inside out, if necessary. Take care not get the iron into contact with the zips.
Q : How long does a cotton or Kermel’ suit last?
A : From experience with our customers, provided a suit is looked after, our AIRWEAR® cotton suits will last up to four years of intense use. Fabric fading usually becomes then an issue. Kermel’ suits are incredibly fade resistant as the yarn is core dyed and will outlast any other suit. In the long run, this is the best value for money.
Q : I fly an open cockpit microlight aircraft . What is the benefit of an AIRWEAR® microlight suit?
A : Our suits are manufactured with a specific combination of layers of materials that provide 100% wind protection, retain body heat and can therefor be worn comfortably in ambient temperatures as low as -20ºC. Modern attractive colours are favourites in this category of flying
Q : How do I wash a microlight suit?
A : Again separately, in cold water, with standard commercial washing powder and no spinning. After wash, hang up your suit to drip dry. No ironing whatsoever!
Q : Can I wear a standard flight suit for microlight flying?
A : Certainly. For summer flying, this is an ideal suit for microlighting.
We modify our cotton flight suits for that purpose adding clear map pockets on the thighs, long zips on the back of the legs and velcro tabs on the ankles. Since fire hazards are almost non existent on weight shift microlights, we often use a poly-cotton fabric for added strength.
Q : What material is used in the pilot gloves?
A : We use Argentinian lamb leather, the best and softest leather available on the market.
Q : Who wears a leather helmet and what is the quality of the headset?
A : Mainly open cockpit pilots do. Often a bit of nostalgia is involved since our helmets are based on the WW2 British Air Ministry issue. The headset is a middle of the range set of good quality with gel filled muffs providing a very comfortable fit. Excellent value for money.
Q : I use sneakers to fly in my light aircraft. What would you recommend?
A : Not a good choice, since the vast majority of that type of footwear is made of synthetics. Should you get hot feet (!), it could become a serious problem with it’s consequences.
Best is a pair of comfortable ankle high leather boots. We offer two types of AIRWEAR® boots, the original SAAF military boots and a lighter version for light aircraft and microlight pilots.
If you have more questions, please feel free to e-mail us.
