phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
In the Phrog - 8 hours is the max. Then we have to shut down and inspect the heads. Plenty of time for a "stub wing check" at that point.
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Stupid questions about Naval Aviation (Pt 2)
- Thread starter mo7stanley
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We had a piss tube in the Prowler. I tried not to use it too often, but even I had to on a 10.4 across the pond. Amazingly enough, the guy next to me did not
.We had a piss tube in the Prowler. I tried not to use it too often, but even I had to on a 10.4 across the pond. Amazingly enough, the guy next to me did not
That's convenient. Is that the one you would tell cone's is a sound powered phone?
That guy must have made a beeline for the head when he landed.
I was never that cruel.......
It was a very fast walk.
It helped he was sleeping most of the time.
No frame of reference for the fleet, but.... you're in a friggin helo. I have no qualms about landing and pissing in the grass at an OLF ( or farmer's field/etc. Hopefully with hot hillbilly daughter closeby)... not that I've ever seen that done.
Funny you should mention this. When I was a young 2nd class in a Prowler Squadron one of the 2nd class AT’s brought an Airman striker out to check the Emergency ICS. The conversation is as follows.
AT2: Hey AE2 can you help Airman Striker in the front if he needs it?
AE2: What are you guys working on?
AT2: Emergency ICS!
AE2: Well ok.
At this point Airman Striker climbs up to the forward cockpit on ECMO1 side.
Airman Striker: How do I check this system out?
AE2: See that cone shaped device on that tube near the center console?
Airman Striker: Ok.
AT2: Ok talk in to the cone and I’ll see if I can hear you in the back.
Airman Striker: Can you hear me?
AT2: What did you say?
Airman Striker: Can you hear me?
At this point I figure it’s about time to get the hell out of the cockpit so I climb out on the boarding platform on the pilot side.
AT2: I still can’t hear you lick it for a better seal!
I damn near fell off the aircraft laughing after that! The poor airman wouldn’t talk to me or the AT2 for almost a month after that.
The names have been changed to protect the not so innocent in this story, but it is a true story.
No frame of reference for the fleet, but.... you're in a friggin helo. I have no qualms about landing and pissing in the grass at an OLF ( or farmer's field/etc. Hopefully with hot hillbilly daughter closeby)... not that I've ever seen that done.
You do realize you're in the Navy, right? There's not a whole lot of grass fields in a lot of the places you go. I wish the Bravo had a tube.
May I suggest a different perspective?
Background
Up to 1991, your local 7 Eleven (or favorite grovery store) had nary a water bottle in the coolers and drinking water wasn't as popular as coffee or soda ashore or afloat. Bottled water was something seen in Europe (and elsewhere overseas) typically at conferences and restaurants because tap water was a recipe for disaster. Flight gear had the duty 8 oz bottle that could be literally consumed in a single gulp. I knew many aircrews who claimed they never even used a piddle pack as most sorties were single cycle. Piddle packs usually were stashed somewhere in a G-suit pocket possibly with a barf bag never to be used until....
Kuwait was invaded by Iraq in August of 1990 and Desert Shield ensued with carriers rushing to Red Sea and Persian Gulf and beginning to practice power projection along with continuous CAP over the fleet. Therefore the prospect of flying over desert and routine double and triple cycle CAP hops with plentiful Air Force gas overhead the carriers 24/7 became a reality overnight. One by one, the piddle pack virgins disappeared. Soon, the Piddle pack supplies began to run out with frantic MMCO appealing to aircrews in AOM to please relieve themselves before they manned up or else he'd run out or exceed his carefully tended 7F budget.
Discussion
Then came the SEALs. Out of nowhere came a SEAL platoon, which was quite a novelty. The gun enthusiasts soon made contact hoping to get an invite to see their toys and maybe fire a MP-5 (then still somewhat exotic). We invited the Platoon Commander to give us a lecture on desert survival and their play in CSAR. The first point made was importance of proper hydration and ensuring you were hydrated sufficiently by checking to see that your urine was clear at least two visits to the head prior to departing on a mission. That was a relevation to most as was taking as much water with you as you can possibly carry. First there was a run on extra 8 oz. water bottles and then other containers were impressed into use (shampoo bottles, GQ canteens, etc.) then the MMCO had a meltdown because the increased usage of piddle packs went through the roof. He frantically pleaded for all aircrew to remember to relieve themselves before they walked...and was met with a hail of wadded up sheets of paper and other flying objects (treatment normally reserved for the spies as the MMCO was the guy who could get you that extra flight jacket)
Summary
There have been cases of individuals dehydrating themselves in order to not have to deal with use of a piddle pack. That is a recipe for disaster. Your performance can deteriorate considerably if you became dehydrated (excessive hydration can also result in other side effects, but that is another story).
Recommendation
Ask not What is the most number of piddle packs you have needed on a mission?, ask if yourself if you are properly hydrated and make sure you have enough receptacles or options to relieve yourself. When you first greet the day, start drinking water until you are "pissing clear", then reduce intake to maintain same.
Unfortunately, this isn't always an option for those w/ fewer funds and limited supply chains while deployed. I couldn't even get my hands on piddle packs back at home for my whole first tour. I always carried a bottle, which I used once (and needed to use a second time but found "other means"), but it wasn't practical to make it a normal evolution when flying. Careful moderation of water during the meal before launch was always the plan of the day.
8 oz ??? 8 OZ of water in a single bottle ???
You guys were livin' in tall cotton and didn't even know it. Try the duty 4 oz bottles in the ol' days ... I used to pack 3-4 of 'em and a flask of "medicine" ... and I thought I was doing good.
8 oz ??? 8 OZ of water in a single bottle ???
You guys were livin' in tall cotton and didn't even know it. Try the duty 4 oz bottles in the ol' days ... I used to pack 3-4 of 'em and a flask of "medicine" ... and I thought I was doing good.
The 4 oz bottles were pathetic. Even Flight Docs admitted they would hardly do anything to slake your thirst after an ejection. The SEAL really got our attention so guys were writing home for flat form factor bottles from outfitters. Soon you could hear aircrew slosh by you as everyone trying to outdo each other with amount of water they were stashing in their flight gear. One pilot even figured out how to rig two GI canteens on his SV-2.
A company that rose to prominence under hand of a former Diamondback whom I was crewed with during my last deployment as a D-Back.
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