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What’s in the kit of a US Navy fighter pilot? A G-suit, a high-tech helmet and a flight vest, just to name a few items.

What’s in the kit of Lieutenant David Cattano, a US Navy fighter pilot? A pair of pants that squeeze his legs to keep blood in his head during high-speed manoeuvres, and a helmet that lets him lock on targets wherever he looks, to name a few items.
Cattano serves in Strike Fighter Squadron 37, the ‘Raging Bulls,’ which embarked on the supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford as it cruised to Europe for its first deployment. He flew his F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet on several training missions off the coast of Portugal, taking off from and landing on the US Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, which sailed in a multinational carrier strike group consisting of 11 ships from 6 NATO Allies.
The USS Gerald R. Ford’s first deployment lasted from early October to late November 2022, with port visits in Halifax, Canada and Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

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LT David Cattano, Strike Fighter Squadron 37

“I’m Lieutenant David Cattano, I fly F-18s for the US Navy, and this is what’s in my kit.”

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WHAT’S IN YOUR KIT?

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#1 G-SUIT

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LT David Cattano, Strike Fighter Squadron 37

“This is my G-suit. It will squeeze my legs and keep the blood in my head to allow me to pull more Gs and execute faster manoeuvres.”

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#2 FLIGHT VEST

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LT David Cattano, Strike Fighter Squadron 37

“This is my flight vest. Holds much of our flight equipment and survival equipment. We have our life jacket,”

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#3 LIFE JACKET

‘survival radio,’

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#4 SURVIVAL RADIO

‘communications hose,’

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#5 COMMUNICATIONS HOSE

‘and other survival equipment.’

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#6 HELMET

—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH—
LT David Cattano, Strike Fighter Squadron 37

“The computer inside the helmet projects flight information onto the visor, allowing us to look anywhere and still have all the information in our eyes.”

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#7 OXYGEN MASK

—SOUNDBITE IN ENGLISH—
LT David Cattano, Strike Fighter Squadron 37

“The mask allows us to get oxygen while we’re flying, flying at higher altitudes. It also has a mic inside, allowing us to talk to our wingmen or flight leads and other people as well.”


7 ITEMS
~ 12 KG