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LPU-23B/P |
The "horse-collar" life
preservers, called this because of the bladders that go around the
neck looking like a yoke, began with the LPA-1 in the 1970s.
In the 1980s - 1990s,
there were 2 main naval life preservers: the automatic LPU-23 and
the manual LPU-21 [the current issue LP is the auto LPU-36 and
manual LPU-34]. As you can see from the photos, the LPU-23 (left
column) and the LPU-21 (right column) look almost identical.
Really, the only difference that can be noticed on the outside are
yellow markings stating "ejection seat aircraft only" on the
LPU-23. The LPU-23 is for use on ejection seat aircraft and is
equipped with "automatic inflators" that are activated by salt
water. This is in case the pilot is unconscious or unable to
inflate the life preserver.
The LPU-21 is for
use on non-ejection seat aircraft, like helicopters or Hawkeye
aircraft. In the event of a helicopter going down in water, the
pilot will flip it on the side so as to stop the rotor blades, and
this usually results in the helicopter partially sinking upside
down and the crewmember having to swim out (this is where the
HEEDs bottle is used too). Someone trying to swim out of a
submerged helicopter would not like to have an inflated life
preserver- this is why the LPU-21 is used without automatic
inflators. Once clear of the aircraft, the crewmember would pull
on the beaded handles at the front to inflate the bladders. The
LPU life preserver is made to be used with the SV-2B survival vest
as shown in the photos. If you notice in the middle photo at the
right, the LPU-21 is on a vest that has a heavy belt & buckle
around the top of the vest- this is an extraction belt used in
aircraft that don't require a torso harness. The extraction belt
would be used to lift a downed crewman with a helo winch, whereas
the ejection seat torso harness is equipped with a snap ring for
extraction. |
LPU-21B/P |
