FLY HIGH AND LIVE - OXYGEN EQUIPMENT

today combat flying the man's planes that can perform with deadly effect at extreme altitude we have the plane that can do exactly that we also have the type oxygen equipment which enables the pilots to go along with their planes this consists of an individually issued type 14 mask the diluted demand regulator and the oxygen cylinder the diaphragm of the regulator responds to the pilots breathing this action trips the oxygen demand valve inside the mechanism admitting oxygen as the pilot lungs demanded this is the demand feature the blinker action shows the oxygen is coming through the regulator from the deck on off and back again except in special cases the air valve lever is an arm or normal oxygen admitting air from the cockpit to dilute the oxygen and increase the oxygen endurance this is the dilute or feature the diluted of man oxygen regulator is built to save oxygen and it's simple to operate it will take you high and far and make you as good as the plains you are flying this is the way it works a cylinder delivers oxygen through the regulator to the pilot the regulator is the heart of the system acting as a rationed board for breathing giving you oxygen from the cylinder only when you need it and in the proper amounts here is a simplified schematic diagram of the regulator as it responds to the pilots breathing as the lungs are compressed the exhaled breath escapes through the vents in the mask and with no demand for a breathing volume during exhalation delivery of oxygen is automatically discontinued this is how the diluted demand regulator supplies your breathing mixture oxygen is supplied here air enters here the air valve lever is manually adjustable to two positions which may be marked on or on some later model regulators normal oxygen and O are on the later-model 100% oxygen in this position no cockpit or outside air can enter the regulator in the on position the air valve port is open permitting hair to enter for all normal flight conditions the lever remains in the on position the amount of air entering the regulator is controlled by an aneroid assembly this consists of an evacuated metal bellows with a steel spring inside it responds to the changes in atmospheric pressure at different altitudes opening and closing the outside air inlet to the regulator it permits a free flow of air at sea level and gradually closes with an increase in altitude until the airflow is completely stopped at approximately thirty thousand feet where a 100 percent oxygen is needed to sustain life if the regulator is properly set at on or normal oxygen it will deliver practically straight air at sea level and proportionate increasing amounts of oxygen as higher altitude is attained here at sea level the pilot breathes normally now at 20,000 feet the bellows has expanded restricting the flow of air and causing a larger proportion of oxygen to be delivered through the oxygen demand valve yet the pilot is still breathing normally and receiving a proper and adequate breathing mixture this blending of air and oxygen is brought about automatically and without the pilots noticing it at approximately 30,000 feet the atmospheric pressure is so low that the aneroid has expanded enough to shut off the air valve completely now the slight suction of the pilots breathing moves the diaphragm down opening the demand valve and permitting the pilot to breathe pure oxygen which is required at this altitude as he exhales the diaphragm moves upward closing the oxygen valve at this altitude where the body needs 100 percent oxygen to compensate for the reduced atmospheric pressure 100 percent oxygen is exactly what he is getting at lower altitudes the dilution of oxygen with air has increased the total endurance of the supply three features of the regulator have been omitted in previous diagrams for simplification these are the check valve which prevents air or oxygen from escaping back through the open air valve on exhalation the pressure reducer which lowers the high oxygen pressure coming from the cylinder to a working pressure for the regulator and the emergency valve with the emergency valve open the oxygen bypasses all of the mechanism that might check it and rush it through the regulator constantly and unrestricted it is used in emergencies only the pressure drops rapidly when the emergency valve is open and the oxygen flows through the regulator unchecked it won't last long this way enough though for a descent to below 10,000 feet offer a brief emergency period returning now to the diluted feature of your regulator let's watch what happens to two pilots in a normal oxygen flight one using the feature correctly the other incorrectly now watch the flight of the oxygen cylinders and you will get some idea of the results of not making proper use of the oxygen saving dilute a feature of your regulator both started with 1,800 pounds pressure in their oxygen cylinders the section leader has his diluted lever set at on his regulator we'll give him just the mixture he needs at all altitudes but his wingman has his dilute a lever at all permitting know where to enter at any time and giving him 100 percent oxygen for each breath whether he needs it or not this is desirable in some instances but not in a normal oxygen hop the section leader has plenty of oxygen to continue the flight but his wingman is already out of oxygen because of improper use of his regulator and he has to come down while his section leader could go on for several more hours and now let's take a mission from the start you've got the word that you can expect the order to take off soon but you still have time for your own personal check of your oxygen equipment the latest technical orders and pilots flight operation handbooks contain the oxygen equipment check off list it covers the following points first make sure that the emergency valve is closed you want a true check of the pressure in the cylinder and in the line to the regulator now for the oxygen and it is up to standard pressure wait about 10 seconds till the pressure is equalized throughout the cylinder and the line now shut off the pressure from the cylinder and see how long it will maintain itself in the line this is the test for leakage two or three minutes will be enough to wait and during that time you can test the fit of your mask inhale lightly with your thumb over the end of the breathing tube don't forget your normal inhalation is gentle so test your mask fit the same way now back to the oxygen line the gauge needle has dropped this becomes even more evident when the valve is opened the needle jumps because the pressure and the line has fallen below that in the cylinder a small amount of leakage is permissible to determine if the leakage is excessive note the pressure gauge reading with the valve still open then close the valve again and check it five minutes later if the gauge needle drops more than 100 pounds in five minutes there is excessive leakage and the system must be repaired prior to takeoff on an oxygen flight the mechanic checks the most likely points of leakage such as the connection of the cylinder and the inlet to the regulator now once again he checks the gauge reading in five minutes no perceptible change no change at all all set see that the quick disconnect coupling is fully engaged this is important any force which moves the diaphragm causes oxygen to come into the regulator and up into the mask this is a good test the oxygen is coming through all right you can even feel it come off through the vents when it builds up enough pressure to open the exhalation valve in the mask the regulator in the on position delivers a small amount of oxygen even at sea level this keeps the pilot one jump ahead of his actual oxygen needs all the way up the emergency valve should be tested when opened the oxygen flow causes the diaphragm to remain in the expanded position and stops the movement of the flow indicator you can feel the oxygen pour into the mask and escape through the vents turn the emergency valve off and breathe naturally the final check for flow of oxygen is the flow indicator which you will find in some planes it will blink in time with your breathing as long as oxygen is coming through the regulator this systematic pre-flight check of your oxygen equipment will improve your chances for a successful mission 10,000 feet oxygen must be used from here on earth again check the fit of your mask and the rest of your oxygen equipment red one - red - what's the matter are you hit this is red - I don't think so no no he's not hit but he's hurt he didn't fit his mask right and it leaks red - what's wrong I feel little groggy what what's happened to the formation red - how about your oxygen lesson use your emergency valve use your emergency valve do you hear me Roger over use your emergency valve go below 10,000 feet and return to base we'll call a steady stream of 100% oxygen will take him down to an altitude where he doesn't need his mask and now the battle has descended to a low altitude there is no good reason why this pilot should have a headache what seeps through here might well be carbon monoxide you cannot smell this deadly gas but other exhaust gases that enter the cockpit with it may be the warning here is one time when you want no air from the cockpit so the regulator is turned to off only pure undiluted oxygen on-demand no need here for the emergency valve however the eyes of man are not well adapted to seeing in the dark you're already poor night vision is impaired even more by lack of oxygen this impairment of vision at night occurs at altitudes below the usual daytime levels for oxygen use on night flights oxygen is the rule above 5000 feet but all you need do is maintain dilute err on oxygen conditions therefore as in all cases except when there is carbon monoxide in the cockpit leave the diluted lever as it is at on proper use of oxygen equipment has contributed to the success and safe return of this squadron diluted demand oxygen regulators are being installed in all carrier-based aircraft and they are being used in every Navy plane that flies at high altitudes in transport armor or patrol type planes not provided with enough permanent installations individual diluted demand units are used on flights of more than four hours between eight and ten thousand feet oxygen is used for 15 minutes out of every hour here is an aviation equipment and survival officer he is responsible for all matters pertaining to the use and maintenance of oxygen equipment this officer supervises the installation and servicing of the equipment and he instructs the pilots in the use of oxygen equipment let's take a few minutes here to look it over the type 14 mask is a peach it's the best oxygen mask we'll ever had it's made of soft resilient rubber and it comes in three sizes small medium and large so it'll fit anybody's face no matter how oddly shaped it may be and the Lord knows we've had some really odd shaped faces to fit notice her heart is too fit somehow or other the human face is managed to get all kinds and sizes of noses put on it but the type 14 takes care of that this adjustable nose wire can be bent to the exact shape of any nose these adjustable suspension straps keep the mask firmly in place after it has been fitted and these teak flaps help to fit too they also give you a better overall face coverage now the action is simple when you exhale your breath passes out through the exhalation valve and out these ports when you inhale the exhalation valve closes and remember the pressure inside the mask is never any greater than the atmospheric pressure of the altitude at which you're flying the mask is also equipped with a cold shield to help prevent freezing at sub-zero temperatures you meet at high altitudes and the built-in microphone they put disconnect coupling for hooking up the breathing tube to the mask tube is convenient you see this is an individual mask you couple it to the regulator every time you get a new plane so the fact that it's quick is a help and if you ever have to bail out of your plane in a hurry you'll appreciate that feature so the weight of the tube won't pull on the mask or perhaps disconnect this coupling you have a strong clip here which you should attach to your clothing or to your parachute harness well there briefly is the type 14 mask it's a good mask dependable in every way and it does lend itself to individual use now of course it's important to fit the mask properly let me show you come up here bill will you and be a guinea pig will you hold that please there's mine the worst-looking mug you could find well maybe not but you'll do will you put your mask on these suspension straps are adjustable and these studs are individually fitted to your helmet fine always be sure the studs on your helmet are high enough to give you an upward pull this will keep it from slipping off under a high G fraktur next if necessary then the nose wire carefully to be sure it fits it feels about right bill now the mask should fit but never take fit for granted test one rough test is to put the thumb over the mill disconnect at the end of the mask gybing here then inhale gently if there's no leakage the mask will cling to the face and the definite resistance to inhalation will be felt feel it bill yeah really yeah she was really snuggling up to me otherwise there's a leak tighten the suspension straps or adjust the nose wire or both well there you are bill keep it with the rest of your gear and remember this your oxygen mask is just about as important to you there's any piece of equipment on your plane so treat it right keep it clean by washing it with mild soap and water and every time you go up test your regulator and test your mask that's one good way you can help yourself remember the Lord helps those who help themselves so fly high and live