Artifacts
U-2 Pilot's Partial Pressure Suit and Helmet
Artifact Details
U-2 planes could fly at 70,000 feet, so pilots had to wear this pressure suit to protect them.
CIA developed the U-2 to fly at altitudes well above 63,000 feet, where human blood starts to bubble without artificial air pressure. U-2 pilots wore a form-fitting, insulated pressure suit to protect them from depressurization and low temperatures during flight. If the suit looks something like an old-fashioned girdle, there is a reason for that: CIA contracted with the David Clark Corset and Brassiere Manufacturer for its construction.
Artifact Specs
138 cm x 133 cm x 8 cm
(L x W x D)
