LimaNiner From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 391 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 4832 times:
OK, this is going to sound a bit weird, but following up on a point I raised in an earlier thread, what kind of toilets are available on various long-endurance military planes?
Someone kindly responded that the B-2A has a chemical lav. What do other long-endurance missions do?
I seem to remember a rather ridiculous assertion once about an AWACS pilot who had somehow forgotten to renew his security clearance, or hadn't yet gotten it, or whatever. The story went that every time he had to go to the bathroom, which is at the rear of the plane, all of the operators had to cover up their consoles, because "Top Secret" clearance is required to even see the screens, and this guy's clearance had lapsed... Sounds ridiculous to me -- even *if* someone's clearance could lapse "unexpectedly" like that, how could they be on board in the first place? I just love the mental image, though...
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 1, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 4841 times:
B-52s have chemical as well (or had in the past, from what I've read).
Transports and tankers probably have the same systems used in their commercial counterparts. No sense running multiple productionlines there (but that's logic applied to military procurement planning, not always the best thing to do).
Fighters have no toilets. Instead the pilot is issued with a plastic bag and a cathether to pee into. In the past they were issued what were effectively adult diapers, but AFAIK that practice has been abandoned.
TPAnx From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 1021 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 4839 times:
Took a long Coast Guard C130 flight out of PIE years ago to search for Cuban refugees. Seem to recall a toilet..don't know if it was chemical or a "blue water" job..with a sort of shower curtain around it for privacy. It was used....1500 feet..down to 700 back to 1500..race track plot...lots of lesser types going for wet washcloths and oxygen..and the john...my only regret was that the CG wing commander wouldn't give me some illegal time at the controls...
TPAnx
Avsfan From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 250 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 4643 times:
Thought I would provide my 2 cents worth.
Being a prior AWACS crewmember, the story that LimaNiner has mentioned seems to be an urban legend. First of all, if it was a USAF AWACS pilot who they talk about, he would not be flying if his security clearance was either out-dated or non-existant. Many AWACS crewmembers have sat on the ground waiting for their security clearances prior to flying on the jet.
Second:
Quote: LimaNiner said:
The story went that every time he had to go to the bathroom, which is at the rear of the plane, all of the operators had to cover up their consoles, because "Top Secret" clearance is required to even see the screens
A "Top Secret" clearance is not required to see the screens. We have had crewmember's wives fly on the jet and they were able to see what was happening on the screens. So....you do not have to have a security clearance to fly on the USAF AWACS. Anyone who is authorized to fly on the E-3 will be verified through some sort of program.
Now as far as the topic is concerned, the bathroom/lavatory on the E-3 is in the very aft of the jet and is similar to one on a commercial airliner. It is cramped and has just enough room for only one person. It uses the standard blue colored water and can get real nasty looking on long (over 12 hour) flights.There is no running water in the E-3 bathroom, instead you are provided with wet-wipes to use instead of water. There is of course toilet paper in the bathroom.
Now for a real humorous story. It took place (I believe) during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. An E-3 was nearing the end of it's mission, but the toilet was full and ready to overflow. The crew asked an E-2 Hawkeye that was working in the area if they could control the last package of aircraft (all Navy planes) that was to enter the area because the E-3 had to RTB (Return To Base). The E-2 asked for the reason as to why the E-3 had to RTB early. The weapons controller responded using a calm and collective voice "The Shitters full". The E-2 took the mission and the E-3 departed the area and headed for home.
"Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth...Put out my hand and touched the face of God"
StealthZ From Australia, joined Feb 2005, 5434 posts, RR: 49 Reply 4, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 4580 times:
Quoting Avsfan (Reply 3): Now for a real humorous story. It took place (I believe) during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. An E-3 was nearing the end of it's mission, but the toilet was full and ready to overflow.
Seems to me this dictates "mission endurance" more often than we think, A RAAF F/A-18 pilot giving a presentation I attended, was asked with Aerial refuelling etc how long can they stay airborne. His response was flight duration is often dictated by the number of "piddle pack's you could manage and his limit was most often 2 although he knew of pilots that could regularly manage 3 or 4.
Cheers
If your camera sends text messages, that could explain why your photos are rubbish!
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29352 posts, RR: 62 Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 4571 times:
Quoting Jwenting (Reply 1): Took a long Coast Guard C130 flight out of PIE years ago to search for Cuban refugees. Seem to recall a toilet..don't know if it was chemical or a "blue water" job..with a sort of shower curtain around it for privacy. It was used....1500 feet..down to 700 back to 1500..race track plot...lots of lesser types going for wet washcloths and oxygen..and the john...my only regret was that the CG wing commander wouldn't give me some illegal time at the controls...
TPAnx
I figured they woudl just drop the tailgate and off the end you wiz.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
BatonOps From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 724 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 4435 times:
The C130J's my unit flies has a flushable toilet...but it is still surrounded by a curtain!! Private...but not really private if you ask me.
Dc1030guy From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 4263 times:
The KC-10 uses lavatories similar to what you would see on a civilian airliner. All KC-10s have a lav behind the cockpit. Aircraft in the passenger configuration carry an additional and larger lav in the passenger compartment. The lavs have a sink with running water, electric shaver outlet, tissue dispensers, a flushable toilet with lovely blue water, and are usually stocked with some type of soap or moist-towlets.
Believe it or not, we have limits on how long we can fly with passengers and operable/inoperable lavs.
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