With the advent of the New Year, a new generation of aircrew bedding, clothing and equipment were developed and passed the test and appraisal of the General Logistics Department.

With the advent of the New Year, a new generation of aircrew bedding, clothing and equipment were developed and passed the test and appraisal of the General Logistics Department (GID). This indicates that the PLA has realized the serialization, rationalization of accessories, being of comfort to wear and diversification of defense functions in aircrew clothing.

In the past bedding, clothing and equipment used by PLA aircrew were equipped in 1949. They have never been systematically researched and improved. As the army is being furnished with new models of aircraft, old bedding, clothing and equipment are shown to be dull, over simple in  function, antiquated and irrational in model design. In 2000 GLD decided to develop a new generation of bedding, clothing and equipment for aircrew.

The new generation of bedding, clothing and equipment was adapted to the needs of living habits and hygiene and the requirements of the battle environment and flight movement technique. It includes 4 "series" - Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and adds 5 varieties including flight cotton-padded clothes, flight belt, long voyage underpants and summer flight socks. So it is now able to serialize underwear with outer clothing, clothing with shoes and boots and clothing with equipment. Faced with the need of flight battle and drill, the new generation of bedding, clothing and equipment has a main design function of different layers: the outer layer emphasizes the features of wear-resistance, tearing-resistance, wind-resistance, fire-resistance, finalized pattern and pleasant appearance. Mid-layer emphasizes lightness, warmness and static-electricity resistance. Whilst the inner layer has the features of being soft and cozy, sweat-absorbing, ventilating and irritation-free.

After two years of trial by hundreds of pilots it is known that the new generation of bedding, clothing and equipment is adaptable to the working environment of the new aircraft models. The pilot has more freedom in tactical maneuvers. It is also compatible with such weapons and equipment as anti-G suit, counter-pressure suit, and pistol and gravity knife and satisfies the requirement of new aircraft models in battle and drill.

(People's Daily January 16, 2004)