Military aviator mask for full face users?

[Goofproof]

Sounds like a cheaper deal, than buying something designed for XPAP off the rack. (Satire)

With the bargain prices the government contracts it's products, it should be a win, win. Maybe you could get lucky and buy one that was packed with the $600 toilet seats, I wouldn't want mine packed in a crate with the $600 hammers on top of it. The supply would probably be fresh stock, seeing as it's surplus. Jim

Might even be cheaper to make on from a roll of saran wrap.

[Goofproof]

I think most military jet jockies might have better adapted to using their masks. They are a hardy motivated breed of younger people, who probably have more important things in their lives than dealing with mask different. I don't think masks for them are designed for sleeping or even comfort.

People here complain that a mask that weighs 8 oz, is too heavy, messes up their hair, leaves marks on face & causes sweating. I don't think the military deals the same ways with complaints.
Many people that are dealing with XPAP use are in De-Nile, looking for and reason not to use XPAP! JIm

[M.D.Hosehead]

Or....


[img]220px-Kask-nurka.jpg[/img]

[M.D.Hosehead]

Sorry, I guess I don't know how to post an image yet.

[akcpapguy]

They are a hardy motivated breed of younger people, who probably have more important things in their lives than dealing with mask different.

You are right about that. I was reading about pressurizing oxygen, apparently if you are 1.6 atmospheres or higher and breathing pure O2, it will cause convulsions, etc. 1.6 atmospheres is nowhere near medical levels or CPAP+O2 levels, it is more of a concern for divers, etc. But what I found interesting was... supposedly in the Navy Seal training, at some point during the training, they subject all candidates to high levels of pressurized oxygen just to see how long they last before convulsing, and keep doctors standing right nearby to recover them when they convulse. If you don't last long enough before convulsing, you're axed from the program, no matter what.

So only the strongest physical specimens are accepted.

While it is true they do test that physical response, it is not a measure for success or failure to remain in the Seal program.

[Slinky]

Still - an interesting concept - especially since seal w/o leaks is so important to pilots.

[akcpapguy]

I agree Slinky.

The biggest problem with trying to adapt these masks to a cpap system is that they are designed for negative pressure breathing still. They are designed much the same way a SCBA system is for a fire fighter, yes the air coming into the mask is "pressurized" however is is triggered from a negative pressure response by individual and is delivered at a much lower flow rate and pressure. The mask seal is not subject to continous positive pressure.

[jdm2857]

Sorry, I guess I don't know how to post an image yet.

You have to upload your image to a photo-sharing site like photobucket, and post the link from there between the image tags.

[Wulfman]

All of those masks are MANY times higher priced than any XPAP full face masks.

Who do they sell that stuff to?
What on earth would they be used for in a non-military environment?
I don't know too many people who have their own private F-14's, F-15's or F-16's.........


Den

[dsm]

Yup

If I can buy 6 or more F/F cpap masks for the price of one military oxygen mask, I would be inclined to go for the cpap variety

But I am sure the military masks would handle the g-forces better, such as when falling out of bed

DSM

(actually the softer seals on the cpap masks are designed for use while asleep - I kind of suspect, strongly, the military masks aren't )

[bearded_two]

I have used this type of mask while training in an Air Force altitude chamber. I did not find it comfortable and I don't think that I could sleep while wearing one. They can handle high pressure without leaking; much higher than CPAP pressures. Depending upon the altitude, the oxygen pressure can be quite high. At high altitude while wearing one of these masks, you relax to let the pressure force oxygen into your lungs and then force the oxygen out to exhale. At 32,000 feet in the chamber, breathing against the pressure took quite a bit of exertion.

[chunkyfrog]

I'm old enough to remember Military surplus stores;
where out-dated stuff was super cheap; and perfectly usable,
if you didn't mind green.

[Wulfman]

I'm old enough to remember Military surplus stores;
where out-dated stuff was super cheap; and perfectly usable,
if you didn't mind green.

I used to visit the one out on West "O" Street (Lincoln). Is it still there?

Edit: I guess it's still there. Found it in the "Yellow Pages". It's the "Surplus Center".


Den

[dsm]

In the late 1950s & early 1960s, just loved visiting the 'Army Surplus' stores in our city.
My pet purchases were walkie-talkies & radio transmitter/receivers. The walkie-talkies had to have been surplus from the Korean war.

We also used to be able to buy complete WW2 rifles with bayonets etc:, out of the rifle crate, presumably where the soldier who used it had to return it

DSM

[Goofproof]

Better than a aviator mask would be a gas mask, they are designed for sealing off the outside world. I'd hate to think I had to wear one, I did for 20 minutes once, that made me a believer, glad not to have to repeat it.

I was concerned not to be issued one in 1965 in Viet Nam, we were shorted on many things we needed to do our jobs. I hope our people who are in harm's way now have better support, but I imagine things still are missing for them too. Jim