Originally Posted by skydiver
Bart: Thanks for the reply, I only wanted to comment on the contents of MREs to note that they have metal in the food packets and a heater which probably couldn't fly. I have some cases of MREs rotated out of my household emergency food supply and I had wondered about using them onboard a no-food flight as a BYOF. Since the heater is within the main outer bag, I would have to open that bag and remove the heater. If I understand you correctly, the remaining items would be OK to fly? (I also understand the accessory packet has a book of matches, so the limit would be 4 per person unless they were removed)
Absolutely correct on both counts (removing the heating element and limiting it to 4 matches for carry-on).
Originally Posted by skydiver
As a way OT comment, the old brown MREs from years ago had several menus which had beans as a part of the meal. Printed on the entre bag was something like "BEAN COMPONENT, NOT FOR AVIATION USE". I guess those may have trouble getting on the plane
Many years ago, while returning to Fort Bragg after a week in the field, we had to make an emergency stop in Charleston Air Force Base, SC (one of the C-130's engines malfunctioned in mid-flight---but that's another story). When we landed, the Air Force sergeant in charge told us that we could go to the chow hall while waiting for our bird to be repaired, but all they had to offer were MREs. We had been choking on MREs for a week, so one more meal wouldn't matter.
Here's how the Air Force serves MREs: when we entered the chow hall, we picked out the MRE we wanted and a mess cook would take it out for us. When it was served to us, it was already cooked and served on a platter with all the trimmings on the side. It looked good! It tasted good! Never thought this was the same stuff we squeezed out of those plastic bags out in the buckwheat on a cold rainy day. Never complained about MREs ever again. Certainly never ate them cold again!