Eskies used as seats in ageing Chinooks

The Defence Force is using eskies as makeshift seats in its ageing Chinook helicopters because there is no other appropriate seating for door gunners on patrol in Afghanistan.
It says the eskies are secured with a ratchet strap and the gunners are attached to a safety harness.

"This decision was a practical alternative to the aircrew having to stand or kneel for lengthy periods when manning the guns," Defence said in a statement.

"This decision has been validated through the Australian Defence Force operational airworthiness process."

(ABC News)


And that's Australian ingenuity for you. I'd think the gunner was also wearing thongs so the hot shells didn't get into his boots.