Owen Posted November 28, 2014 Share #1 Posted November 28, 2014 Good morning, Does anyone know where I can locate a pressure (flight) suit as used during the S/R-71 program? Help, Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted November 28, 2014 Share #2 Posted November 28, 2014 Hello, decidedly a little thing... :rolleyes: - If not exactly a true SR-71 outfit, I saw (at least two instances) the "Bell's Aviation" website proposing a fantastic, original 100% complete USN MK IV Pressure Suit (progenitor of "Mercury" NASA suits) and all its associates: the pair pressure gloves, brown Navy high-ankle flight boots, the brand- new MK IV full-pressure helmet and oxy. regulator, and the portable supporting case. I live in Italy and am not even daring to think how much the shipping expenses and customs' extra costs could be... - if not for these, guaranteed I already would have got one of those two rigs, years ago. As for the true SR-71 outfit, I do not currently know any ways to have one. Franco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted November 28, 2014 Share #3 Posted November 28, 2014 If correctly understood, this incredibly complete SR-71 rig was for sale some years ago? http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2623641 and, this is STILL FOR SALE at $38,500 (minus helmet, boots and gloves!) http://www.tigerpatterns.com/index.php?id=696&type=milTree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted November 28, 2014 I've done business with this seller. Good guy with great stuff, but a bit out of my league. I don't have $38,500. to sink into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted November 28, 2014 Share #5 Posted November 28, 2014 I must not to think back when in 2000, I was offered here in Italy a complete, brand-new MK IV Navy pressure helmet at equivalent of a bit more than... $700!! But, at the time I was thinking exclusively in terms of full-sized pilots, to be made at my best as for "coreography" and seriousness. My collection (by now already reduced in quantity) was not disappointing in that respect.. rather, the opposite. But that helmet I could have pretty well purchased, even just to sell later at its ..."right" price!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted November 29, 2014 Share #6 Posted November 29, 2014 38K haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted November 29, 2014 Share #7 Posted November 29, 2014 yes... If really I'm not making a huge error in my recollections (but I do not think), the above mentioned U.S.N. Mk IV outfit 100% absolutely complete, you really could fly missions in it (three-layer pressure suit in new conditions + helmet + pressure gloves + boots + portable support unit) had gone years ago at around $6,000 or so. Maybe, even a bit less. A rather fantastic thing, if you consider how much often the collecting world does offer a ultra-conventional two-piece set HGU-2/A + MBU-5/P absolutely anonymous, at close to $700.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetranger407 Posted November 29, 2014 Share #8 Posted November 29, 2014 38k? Sounds like a steal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted November 29, 2014 Share #9 Posted November 29, 2014 IMO, everything may pretty much be relative... For us collector, certain amounts of money do border the "something must look wrong in this...", but caution, $38,500 for that S-1030 Pressure Suit now for sale together with PCU-15 harness + Life Preserver assembly + Outside Cover (the whole in great condition) is much, much less than what the Service payed in late '80s for the suit alone. Please note those three items now selling at $38,500, when complete with Helmet and Gloves were purchased 25 years ago by the USAF at $122,000. Of course we talk of two fully different things (fully operational outfit in USAF service, vs. a "simple" collector's lifetime dream), but certain parameters should be taken in account for such extremes of collecting. Ciao from Italy - Franco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted December 1, 2014 Share #10 Posted December 1, 2014 38K haha! It's all relative. Space collectors would say, "haha!" to someone paying, say, $1000 for an original MC-1 helmet and liner. You guys think we go over the top when looking and paying for military stuff? We're all rank amateurs compared to space collectors, I can assure you all of that. Most serious space collectors wouldn't blink at throwing down well into 5 figures for something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted December 1, 2014 Share #11 Posted December 1, 2014 agree - yet again, it's of course the eternal dilemma of reckoning certain amounts are just (relatively speaking) a correct ones, in exchange for certain kinda unreachable things. Already wrote about that apparently incredible low price for that COMPLETE (but, indeed 100% complete) MK - IV outfit with portable unit, that could have been within reach of not necessarily hyper-wealthy collectors... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobe-doo Posted April 12 Share #12 Posted April 12 I purchase a SR-71 flight helmet, gloves and the helmet bag from a fundraiser auction and wish to learn more about it if anyone can help me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobe-doo Posted April 12 Share #13 Posted April 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted April 12 Share #14 Posted April 12 Things autographed this way for auctioning off are often not the items actually worn by the signer (think baseballs, jerseys, and such). Unless I had a written letter from the autographer stating provenance of the item I would assume it to be a representative example and not his actual Item. Google is your friend. It was a small program and you have names signed on the helmet. Follow those leads. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobe-doo Posted April 12 Share #15 Posted April 12 15 hours ago, Scoobe-doo said: I purchase a SR-71 flight helmet, gloves and the helmet bag from a fundraiser auction and wish to learn more about it if anyone can help me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobe-doo Posted April 12 Share #16 Posted April 12 When I bought the helmet at auction in the 1980's it was not autographed and it had a name tag on it of Richard Abrams. I am in construction and was doing a projected for a Lockheed employee that took the helmet to work with him and they flew it around the country to have it signed by many pilots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted April 12 Share #17 Posted April 12 You might start your own topic as this is on another member's thread that is 9yrs old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobe-doo Posted April 12 Share #18 Posted April 12 thank you dmar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DG27 Posted April 16 Share #19 Posted April 16 For Scoobe-doo, in case you visit this topic again, here is some info. Based on your pictures, the helmet is for the U-2. The SR-71 helmet had a knob for adjusting the microphone position, where the U-2 helmets did not. There were other differences with the oxygen system in the helmet as well. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobe-doo Posted April 17 Share #20 Posted April 17 Thank you DG27, I really appreciate any information possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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