Gloves - Why?
What is the deal with "requiring" guys to wear gloves in a heavy? KC-135s have the same "recommended, but mandatory" bent I think. How many airliner's (cargo or pax) require their pilots to wear gloves? How many USAF strat air platforms require gloves to be worn? (I think zero is the answer to both questions) Anyone watch the 777 test footage from a few years back where John Cashman, 777 Chief Test Pilot, does the first takeoff in a brand new airplane or does the MGTOW abort test where they intentionally abort at MGTOW and Max Speed to light the brakes on fire to verify for certification that the fire doesn't spread out of the wheel well for 5 minutes? Did you see what he was wearing? Polyester short sleeved shirt...
Now, if you want to wear them, fine, have at it. It certainly isn't a bad idea. But, to require it, I just don't get it. Seems like an old paradigm that is limited to the -13X part of the heavy world. If the reason is for fire protection (like in fighters maybe) I don't buy it because that plastic headset you're wearing is probably going to melt down into your collar first. If it is to protect your hands from the rope when jumping out of the window, I'll keep them in my "possession" for that rare occurence or use the same faith as John Cashman. If gloves are so important, why aren't they issued to every passenger that gets on a C-130 or KC-135?
I know, probably too many words on a lame subject but I'm just curious if anyone else from the -130 or -135 world agrees. Thoughts?