CHAPTER 11 ( CLOTHING FOR PILOTS )

The chapter on special clothing prescribed for the aviator throws light on the comprehensive manner in which aviation and it’s peripherals had been perceived. Like in modern high-speed aviation, special flying suits for pilots had been visualized by the ancient scientists as well.

Highlights of the soothras are:

• To provide season-compatible clothing

• Attire is specially provided as a protection against harmful forces, energy beams, climatic effects. It is also a means to improve his efficiency, strength and resistance.

• “Pata Samskara Ratnaakara” is the guiding text and preceptor quoted is Gaalava.

• The raw materials quoted for manufacture of the special fabric include silk, cotton, moss, hair, mica and leather.

• Process-intensive methods of manufacture are stipulated.

• Draping of apparel is stated to be governed by the prescription of Agnimitra.

Comments:

The study team points out that this aspect on occupational clothing has not been picked-up by any researcher so far for hardware validation.

Identification of materials, development of their processing methods must have been broad based on sound textile technology, exclusive for aviation application.

Ergonomic and Aesthetic factors seem to have been taken into consideration fully up to the extent of smart draping of the apparel.

‘Ayurveda’ must have played a significant part in guiding this textile technology.

Raw materials going into the fabric prescribed such as silk, leather and even hair suggests that basic material research in this technology must have been highly advanced.

Note: The project study team, in course of their data generation visited a Veda Vignana Ashram near Bangalore carrying out some practical research on ancient sciences. Two researchers in the ashram, both chemical engineers have started work on synthesizing the fabric for pilots as specified here. Their research however is in preliminary stages.