On the New Year's eve, 20 types of 4 series of new generation of aircrew clothing and accoutrements, developed by the Special Air Force Clothing Technology Development and Experiment Base, passed the examination and acceptances at the appraisal conference organized by the General Logistics Department of the PLA, which symbolized the realization of the floolwing criteria for aircrew clothing: serialization of products, rationalized complement, comfortable to wear and multi-functional protection.

　　Before this, the aircrew clothing and accoutrements used by our air force were all designed in 1949 and no systematic research and improvement has been carried out ever since. With the introduction of new fighters to the air force, the old aircrew clothing and accoutrements began to show many problems, such as being too few in variety, too simple in function, obsolete in style and irrational in sizes. In 2000, the General Logistics Department of the PLA had decided to develop new generations of aircrew clothing and accoutrements.

　　The development of new generation air crew clothing and accoutrements has taken into serious consideration the requirements of the living habits, physiological sanitations of soldiers, the battlefield environment and the flight technological movements for the clothing. The new generation of aircrew clothing and accoutrements has four sub-series, namely, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Five new types have been added, including cotton flying-coats, flying belts, long flight underpants and summer flying socks, thus the underwear and outerwear, the clothes, shoes and boots have been serialized, and the clothing and accoutrements have become a complete set. In line with the needs of air fight and trainings, the designs of new aircrew clothing and accoutrements have focused on main performances in different layers. The outer layer is abrasive-resistant, tear-resistant, air blow resistant, fireproof and has a beautiful outlook. The middle layer is soft, light, warm and antistatic. And the inner layer is soft, comfortable and absorbent.

　　It is said that after the try-on of more than one thousand fighter pilots for two years, the new generation aircrew clothing and accoutrements are perfect for the working surrounding of the cabins of the new fighters and the pilots could do tactic movements more easily and flexibly. Moreover, the new aircrew clothing and accoutrements can match perfectly with other equipment, thus satisfying the fighting and training requirements of the new fighters.

　　By Yao Xiaoping and Wang Shanhe

　　(January 14, PLA Daily)