There is much confusion
about the 2 main oxygen masks used by the military pilots. One
of the oxygen masks used by the military from the 1980s through
now is the MBU-12/P. First introduced in 1979 and originally
used by the Navy to replace the MS22001 oxygen mask. The Air
Force was a little slower to follow, using the MBU-5/P through
the 80s, but began using the MBU-12/P in the mid-1980s.
The original 12/Ps were all green. With the introduction
of the HGU-55/P in the mid to late 1980s, they began to manufacture
the MBU-12/P in all gray to match the helmet. There was a problem,
however, with the early gray oxygen masks. The gray pigment
had an adverse affect on the integrity and durability of the
oxygen mask hose. The gray hoses would begin to deteriorate
and were commonly changed on the first or second inspection
with one of the older green hoses. This is why you will sometimes
see an oxygen mask with a
gray facepiece and a green hose. By the 1990s,
they had fixed the hose pigment problem, so most recent oxygen
masks will be seen with
gray facepiece, gray hose. The Air Force
oxygen mask is designated MBU-12/P, while the Naval mask, using
the same basic parts as the MBU-12/P (facepiece, hose, microphone,
straps & bayonet clips), is re-designated MBU-14/P, 15/P,
17/P, etc; all depending on what parts are used. We will only
discuss the MBU-12/P and MBU-14/P here.
We have Oxygen Masks
and Oxygen Mask Parts available for sale:
Oxygen
Masks
Oxygen
Mask Hose Fittings
CRU
Chest Mounted Regulators and Parts
Oxygen
Mask Communications, Mics and Cords
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The
Air Force MBU-12/P is equipped with 3 pin connector
(hooks into the CRU-60/P), coiled communications cord,
communications block connector, microphone,
straps with offset bayonet clips (for helmet attachment).
The MBU-12/P is used basically on all Air Force tactical
aircraft like the AF F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, early
F-16 Falcons*, and more. |
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The
Naval MBU-14/P is equipped with some special equipment that is
for use only in Navy aircraft. The Navy aircraft use a high-pressure
oxygen to operate many systems and perform several functions on
the jet, one of these functions is to provide the aircrew with
pressure demand oxygen. To do this, the pressure must be regulated,
so the Navy MBU-14/P oxygen mask is equipped with a "mini-regulator"
designated CRU-79/P.
The CRU-79/P has been made by many different manufacturers from
Firewel and Robert Shaw, to Sabre. They have been made out of
cast metal, aluminum, and carbon fiber. A high pressure hose leads
from the aircraft system to the CRU-79, this is called the
lower REDAR hose. Called REDAR because of its maker,
R.E. Darling. Typically, the CRU-79 and lower REDAR hose is referred
to simply as "REDAR." To secure the REDAR system, the
CRU-79 would be placed in a
zippered "boot" or pouch and velcroed
and snapped to the SV-2B survival vest. Even when secured in this
way, the CRU-79 did have a tendency to break loose on ejection
and strike the crewmember in the face or helmet**.
The Navy also felt the aircrews needed some extra insurance that
the microphones would not short out in the oxygen masks during
stressful times like landing on a pitching deck of an aircraft
carrier or during ACM (air combat maneuvers). For this reason,
the 14/P mask has an
audio amplifier built into the communications block connector.
The only difference between the MBU-12/P and the 14/P is the REDAR
system and the audio amplifier. The MBU-14/P is used on aircraft
like the USN F-4 Phantom, F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet, T-45, and
more.
*Current
F-16s use the MBU-20/P Combat Edge mask
**The
Navy now uses a chest mounted regulator that is riveted to the
torso harness and uses a 3 pin quick disconnect fitting
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