SRU-21/P - price differences

[Obviousman]

Hi!

 

I'm looking at getting an SRU-21/P survival vest and just wanted to ask a question.

 

The FlightHelmet price is $344 with holster installed.

https://www.flighthelmet.com/product/PRSV-SRU21.html

 

Another store seems to have one for $85:

https://store.glennsarmysurplus.com/aircrew-pilots-survival-vest-sru-21p-vietnam-era-1970-p3551.aspx

 

I know that FlighHelmet are more "commercial" but is this a case where the price is a little too high? I want one to set up for static display, and saving $250 is tempting....

[72psb]

I would go with the cheaper one. It is of the right era and would look great on your REO display. I think the holster was a later thing and most VN pilots wore a web belt with holster combo. Look through images of Robin Olds and his comrades. The vest looks perfect, at a good price. The sewn on pouches are spaced perfectly for the the across the chest torso harness strap. The expensive one is not and would not let the strap fit right.

[mohawkALSE]

300 plus dollars for a 21P vest is like for a mint Vietnam era vest with the snap pockets.  Post Vietnam ones shouldnt be more than 125ish in my opinion unless someone is really looking for a specific contract date or pocket configuration.  The Army contract vests that were still the sage green color all had their pockets setup the same way and sewn at the factory that way and only came in size Large.  USAF contract vests in the sage green came in Medium and Large but came as the vest stripped with the pockets to be sewn on in a particular configuration per a Wing, or Squadron etc.   Later down the line the Army had OD green nomex 21P vests which again were pre sewn from the factory and they later added a size Small for these OD green vests.

 

The way that expensive vest is setup looks like it was used by a USAF rotary wing crew vs a fixed wing fast jet where a torso harness is worn for an ejection seat.

[jerry_k]

All we know that GM Bell prices are way over priced...

[Obviousman]

Thank you all - cheaper version purchased.

[mohawkALSE]

1 hour ago, Obviousman said:

Thank you all - cheaper version purchased.

Show us what you end up getting from them.  That mentions it being a 1970 vest which the pic is not, its a 1984 contract and is a Army type pre sewn vest with the NSN ending in 4818,  but they say on the page the have multiple vests and its a stock photo, so will be interesting to see what you get.   The NSN they list in writing is one of the USAF NSNs.

 

[mohawkALSE]

This is a 1985 size Medium USAF 21P vest I have that has the usual fighter or attack setup with custom pocket placement as well as the zipper mod.  This came from an A-10 pilot and he told me they put a shorter zipper in and folded the bottom to allow easier access to your lap belt in the ejection seat.  Also the right upper side was left free of pockets to allow easier mounting of the CRU-80 CBR filter.  I have seen F-4, 15, and 16 pilots all wearing vests with this bottom fold mod.

[Obviousman]

2 hours ago, mohawkALSE said:

Show us what you end up getting from them.  That mentions it being a 1970 vest which the pic is not, its a 1984 contract and is a Army type pre sewn vest with the NSN ending in 4818,  but they say on the page the have multiple vests and its a stock photo, so will be interesting to see what you get.   The NSN they list in writing is one of the USAF NSNs.

 

Will do.

[Obviousman]

On 12/27/2022 at 10:07 AM, mohawkALSE said:

Show us what you end up getting from them.  That mentions it being a 1970 vest which the pic is not, its a 1984 contract and is a Army type pre sewn vest with the NSN ending in 4818,  but they say on the page the have multiple vests and its a stock photo, so will be interesting to see what you get.   The NSN they list in writing is one of the USAF NSNs.

 

 

Here we go:

 

[mohawkALSE]

1 minute ago, Obviousman said:

 

Here we go:

 

That is a Army used vest with the NSN ending in 4818. Has the standard pocket setup from the mid 80s on with the updated PRC,-90 radio pocket added. 

[Obviousman]

Just now, mohawkALSE said:

That is a Army used vest with the NSN ending in 4818. Has the standard pocket setup from the mid 80s on with the updated PRC,-90 radio pocket added. 

If I want an SRU-21 to represent an F-4 crewmember in USAFE circa late 70s / early 80s, what pocket setup do I need? Is there an image of the setup?