The Effectiveness of NOMEX® In Protecting Skin and Preventing Burns Photos Courtesy of Brig Gen William W. Spruance, ret Delaware Air National Guard
Nomex® Protects Skin from Inflight Fires and Post-Impact Fires 1961 T-33, Back seat Cross-country from CA to DE Fuel stop at Scott AFB Catastrophic engine failure at takeoff Impact 1.5 NM along runway C/L extended Post crash fire Pilot (front seat) fatally injured (BFT, back, neck)
General Spruance’s Crash Runway Field Engine failed at/just after rotate Pilot followed BOLD FACE immediate action items Aircraft impacted marshy, wooded area Intense post- crash fire
Brig Gen Spruance’s Crash Site Fuselage / Cockpit Area Engine
Burn Damage to Flyers WARNING Graphic Photos Follow
Photos of Gen Spruance Recovery State-of-the-art care in 1961 Wilford Hall USAF Med Center in San Antonio, TX 30% coverage of 3 rd degree burns 36 major surgeries
Complex and Lengthy Recovery “Hand in pocket” World’s first-ever abdominal implant Left arm and hand burned to the bone This instead of amputation 200% VA disability
NOMEX® versus Cotton NOMEX® on left –Aircraft Commander Cotton on right –Co-pilot Same airplane Same crew Same day Same crash
How Gloves Save Your Hands UNPROTECTED NOMEX®-Protected
And Finally… Same pilot Same fire Gloves on both hands Took one glove off to open canopy Months later… “Not wearing gloves while trying to escape from a fire is just like not having any hands” – Brig Gen William W. Spruance (ret)