#81182 - 12/22/06 11:09 PM
Historical Span of Survival Gear
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Addict
Registered: 05/06/04
Posts: 604
Loc: Manhattan
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Well, I just spent a couple of days in the Smithsonian museums around Washington and I thought people might be as interested as I was in seeing some of the survival gear featured there.
The oldest on display is in the Natural History Museum carried by the Iceman discovered in the Alps. He didn't die of hypothermia which is what I heard when he was originally found; he was shot, they found an arrowhead in his shoulder and slashes on his wrist and palm. He either bled to death or was to weak to survive the cold. But he was carrying: Stone drill Bone Awl Tinderfungus Stone Blade Stone Scraper Antler and wood pressure flaker Stone dagger with wooden handle and scabbard Charred Ember bucket Rope or cord (possible bow string) Wooden Backpack frame Deer Hide Quiver with unfinished arrows Yew longbow 6' long Copper headed axe Water repellent grass cape Skin clothes with fur on Bear skin hat Bear and Dear hide shoes stuffed with grass
His fire kit was tied around his waist like a money belt.
The rest of the gear was at the Air and Space museum. Equipment from Charles Lindberg, Astronauts and U-2 pilots.
Charles Lindberg was carrying: 1 flare heavy braided fishing line 2 fish hooks ball of cord ~4" long needle Match case w/ matches Emergency ration (about 2x5x6") Hacksaw blade
Overall not too much, but I guess with out a raft he would be kind of boned if he came down in the Atlantic anyway. No air and sea rescue. If he came down on land in England or France, he really wouldn't need much gear to survive.
Astronaut survival gear was pretty variable, depending on what mission group you were in (Gemini, Mercury, Apollo, etc.) but they all carried a core of gear that was similar.
Mercury: Pocket knife Parachute cord Desalinization Kit Shark repellent Sea dye marker Rescue Strobe Light Police whistle Matchcase w/ waterproof matches Radio beacon Self Inflating Life raft Soap First aid pouch
The U-2 pilots were pretty well equipped. I was reasonably impressed by their kits:
Folding Machete Hunting style knife with a steel handle and leather sheath Lineman pliers File Sharpening stone Fishing Kit Monocular Compass- Army lensatic compass Sunscreen Lip balm Insect repellent Whistle Water Purification Tablets Water bag vinyl? with canvas carrier Desalinization kit Signal mirror Sungoggles Dye Marker Shark repellent Survival manual Radio w/ Battery
Anyway I was interested in seeing all the survival equipment on display and I thought other people might be too. I might try to post pictures later. I have to say I was particularly interested in the Iceman's tools how he made them and used them.
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A gentleman should always be able to break his fast in the manner of a gentleman where so ever he may find himself.--Good Omens
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#81185 - 12/23/06 01:12 PM
Re: Historical Span of Survival Gear
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 02/09/01
Posts: 3824
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Oetzi just keeps on revealing his secrets. Another researcher looked closely at the 'backpack.' There is a problem, in that it wouldn't fit either inside or over the raincape. But her close analysis postulates they are actually fragments of snowshoes. The restored dimensions and attachment points closely fall into the same ancient parameters of modern versions. Well, what I consider modern; wood and rawhide with lampwick bindings. This makes sense, as an earlier recreation of his trek was very exaustive and slow going in his footwear. The copper axe proved a splendid ice axe though. If true, this ponders another mystery. Snowshoes were considered a New World invention, oddly absent in Eurasia. It seems Oetzi not only used acupuncture before the chinese, but snowshoes before the subarctic indians.
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#81187 - 12/24/06 02:03 AM
Re: Historical Span of Survival Gear
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Addict
Registered: 05/06/04
Posts: 604
Loc: Manhattan
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There was another interesting device it combines a Flashlight, strobe light, signal mirror, firestarting kit, fishing kit and compass all in one package. I don't remember which missions it was carried on though.
_________________________
A gentleman should always be able to break his fast in the manner of a gentleman where so ever he may find himself.--Good Omens
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#81188 - 01/10/07 12:14 AM
Re: Historical Span of Survival Gear
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Old Hand
Registered: 01/07/04
Posts: 723
Loc: Pttsbg SWestern Pa USA N-Amer....
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A Quik Note relating to the Space Shuttle you've mentioned.
Has to do with Flight Emergencies if not specific Survival.
Its that they have several Emergency Shuttle Landing Strips around the World, -such as the one in Senegal. They've never had to use one yet.
Must be quite a Quiet, Lonely Job, -for the Folks Manning (or Womaning) such Sites! Probably a Skeleton Crew.
But Chances reasonably well exist, -that someday out of the Blue, -one *will* have to be used. Then those Folks at this Ever Ready will Kick into Gear, -and do I'm Sure a Magnificent Job! For once getting their "Moment in the Sun"! I more than a few times, -Think of these and other such Folks!
Of course the Shuttle can Land on many typical, Major Airport / AFB Runways as well round our World, -in any such Emergency. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]ScottRezaLogan[/email]
_________________________
"No Substitute for Victory!"and"You Can't be a Beacon if your Light Don't Shine!"-Gen. Douglass MacArthur and Donna Fargo.
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