Time to change out those electronics batteries in our PFD electronics. I am also adding signal mirrors to all of our PFDs. When I flew in the Marines we always carried signal mirrors in our survival vests, along with many other items. The mirror floats, requires no batteries, is lightweight, small and can be seen from miles away. Some folks don't realize how hard it is to spot a floating object from the air, and while a Search and Rescue aircraft may have Lat/Long information to navigate to a general rescue area, the signal mirror is one of several devices that can be used to provide terminal guidance to the survivor. Plus it is just fun to use. In the photo below one of the signal mirrors is already tucked into the upper left pocket, secured with a lanyard to the upper D ring, aka Dummy Cord.
The mirror I chose is the UST Starflash, it has an aiming port. As with any PPE, PRTFD. Please Read The Friggin Directions. DO NOT look at the sun through the port, lest ye be abducted by aliens.
Where's Waldo? Find the mirror.
The survival vest we used in the Marines was called the SV-2B, there were land and water versions. Over water a life preserver unit was attached, manual inflate for helicopter crews and auto inflate for jet crew.
Clark (me) on the left and Mooch on the right, in the Philippines 1989. We flew the UH-1N helicopter, part of HMLA-369 Gunfighter's detachment to HMM-161(C) Greyhawks. The Greyhawks were the Aviation Combat Element assigned to the 13th MEU(SOC) Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embarked aboard the USS Belleau Wood. We toured the Western Pacific from January through June of 1989, with port calls in Okinawa, Cubi Point, Pusan, Sydney, Cairns and Pearl Harbor.
Large waves in the Pacific, 50+ feet, some sent green water over the bow of our LHA.
My ultimate goal is to get a Lite version of the SV-2 for small boat use for local day boating. Some items may go into a Ditch Bag for a longer cruise, a small bag that can be quickly retrieved in a capsize, swamp and swim scenario.
Also I'm looking for a good knife for my PFD, the one I have now might be hard to open one-handed. One option is something like the NRS Copilot with blunt tip, maybe a bit small. The one I flew with in the Marines was Vietnam Era, probably a bit big. Who has the Goldilocks knife that is jusssst right? And we also present the Hat of the Day, Eddie English Boat Trailer.
Survival Vest (SV-2B Series) Contents
General Kit
-Pistol - Through the years a 38 revolver, 45 automatic, 9mm
-Bailer sponge - The bailing sponge may be used to catch rainwater, to bail a raft, for personal hygiene
-Chemlights
-Compass
-Cord - secure items or fishing line
-Dye markers
-Flare pencil - 4.5 sec, 250 feet, 12,000 candlepower MK 79
-Hand Pump
-Knife - Camillus survival
-Knife - pocket or multi tool
-HEEDS - Compact SCUBA
-Pistol
-Radio with PLB
-Razor knife
-Reflective tape
-Signal mirror
-Signal MK 13 - Day smoke/Night candle
-Space blanket - Warmth and protection against the elements, signaling, and some radar reflectivity.
-Strobe with red and blue (NVG) flashguards
-Strop
-Tinder
-Water
-Whistle
Medical Kit
-Aspirin
-Anti-diarrhea
-Bacitracin
-Bandaids
-Charms
-Chiclets
_Enerjets
-Eye ointment
-First Aid Kit
-Insect repellent
-Metal match
-Mosquito headset and mittens
-Soap
-Sunburn ointment
-Tape
-Tweezer and pins
-Water purification tablets
-Water bag (1 quart)
-Water receptacle
This list might be useful to fellow aviators, like Key and barbara, more gadgets to play with.
Boat Smart and Fly Smart!
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