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)

Additional Photos

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