I won a Mk 9 Flying Ration on eBay and it arrived today. Here's the eBay photo:
The dimensions: L 5" x W 4" x H 3½"
Here's the best part: The package was sitting on my front doorstep. I picked it up and it was heavier than I thought it might be. The item, contained in an aluminum canister, was basically just wrapped in a black trash bag and then wrapped around and around with tan packing tape. A handwritten white card was taped to the front with my address on it. Oh yeah, no return address.
And -- did I forget to tell you? -- there was big green tape wrapped around it that said, "EXAMINED BY U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION" with the Department of Homeland Security seal emblazoned on it.
I peeled green tape off (for a souvenir) and it exposed the
carefully cut packing tape and black plastic from the trash bag. Well, at least they were neat about it.
The following is a description, from the mod.uk website:
The Emergency Flying Ration Mark 9 consists of:
Two-piece aluminium alloy container.
Four wire spring handles are provided which used with the body or lid provide cooking pots
Two emergency foods packs (8 portions per pack)
One packet of beef stock drinking cubes (6 cubes)
Two packets of sugar cubes (12 cubes per pack)
One packet containing beverages and creamer (7 sachets instant coffee,
4 sachets instant tea, 7 sachets of vegetable fat creamer)
Two spatulas [really, these are two small wooden sticks, like coffee stirrers]
One polythene bag
Instruction leaflet
The Instruction Leaflet gives advice on how and when the food components should be eaten in the survival situation. It reinforces the fact, that under no circumstances,should seawater be consumed.