Topside 2017 | Page 9

t opside V olume 114 , I s s u e 1 P a ge 9

Aviation

Three Generations of Auxiliary Flight Suits NEW CASTLE , DE - ( LtoR ) Joseph Giannattasio , Ron Kripas , and Andrew Diffley wearing various period Auxiliary flight suits during a District 5NR Auxiliary Aviation ( AUXAIR ) safety seminar .
WILMINGTON , DE - District Auxiliary Aviation ( AUXAIR ) members going through Auxiliary Crew Resource Management training ( AUX-17 ) to ensure proficiency and safety in flight .
Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Joseph Giannattasio , ADSO-PB Photography
Traditionally , AUXAIR flight suits are similar in pattern , color and design specified for Active Duty Coast Guard aviators . During the 1960s and 70s , Auxiliary aviators utilized issued military green flight suits made of fire retardant material . Then , about 1987 , the USCG switched over to what was called NASA flight suits . They were the same as the green green flight suits , except they had shoulder epaulettes and were blue . Around 2005 the Auxiliary switched to the sage green flight suits made of Nomex material , which is currently in use .
2016 marks the 100th anniversary of Coast Guard aviation and the 71st Anniversary of the Auxiliary ’ s aviation program
Researched by Auxiliarist Joseph Giannattasio , ADSO-AV
CAPE MAY COUNTY AIRPORT , NJ - Auxiliary Aircraft pilot Larry Johnson with his aircraft facility , a beautifully restored Cessna 170B . The Cessna 170 is a light , single-engined , general aviation aircraft produced by the Cessna Aircraft Company between 1948 and 1956 . And as you can see , is still a wonderful platform for Auxiliary air missions .
Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Joseph Giannattasio , ADSO-PB Photography