hello all,

 

wishing to put here some photos of what could someday be (but just so-so chances, in my opinion) a complete and technically correct character having absolutely iconic state, the NACA/USAF high-altitude aviator of mid-to-late 1950s. Actually the thing had 'started' already time ago by getting some items that even though not so terribly difficult to find out, they in fact weren't excessively easy too. 

More recently a couple noteworthy additions has further narrowed down the number of wich the still missing items are  -    yet these latter stay really very hard to find. More precisely the complete faceplate fot the K-1 helmet and the proper chest-mounted, multi-inlet connector block for the various hoses.

 

Anyway never say never, as it's a common way of thinking   -    currently this grouping does exist and, for the rest we'll see subsequently.  Much fun and interest (and time) in searching for the items, and inevitably but rightly some nice stuff that went away from the collection in order to make this thing possible.

 

 

 

 

 

This MC-1 suit is available, as could be a Navy C-1A

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bendix Corp. MA-2 Emergency Oxygen Bottle was common back then for flying in those outfits, as far as I'm aware many period photos do show this very item in use together with different models of Partial Pressure Suits. Supposing it was not more than a matter of having different connecting outlets depending from wich the suit model was and consequently, the way of attaching bottle's proper hose (the shorter one) to suit's 'capstan's hose.

The longer hose (for the breathing oxygen at different pressure levels) led to the chest-mounted connector block that, in my opinion, didn't change the outlet going to the faceplate.

In this temporary grouping I've connected the shorter hose to MC-1's proper receiving hose, the one meant to inflate the large capstan hoses. 

 

btw. do not know why, it seems like a MA-2's nylon carryng pouch complete with all its straps is harder to find than the bottle itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poopie suit. 

 

The iconic K-1 helmet made by I.L.C. here is dated 1955 and complete with its inner nylon and rubber hood in good shape, working zipper, very good earphones and microphone, very good fiberglas hardshell, and connecting latches.

 

Missing the ultra-rare faceplate, as said, and the hold-down system. As for the latter, it looks like chances of finding one must be even much less than for faceplate (!!) so, I've relied upon one I've taken from a relic TK-1 chinese partial pressure helmet. Basically similar in concept but with different pulleys, it could stay partially hidden on the complete character if I'll ever make it someday    -    the rear hooks by parachute's upper part, the smaller pulleys by lower edge of helmet itself, and the main pulley on the chest by a B-5 life preserver I could put on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The said hold-down system as taken from a chinese TK-1 helmet    -    in turn, their variant of the soviet-made GSh-4 Partial Pressure helmet. Not exactly the best choice possible, yet the closest thing to the original US stuff.

 

 

 

Back-type parachute in great shape, clean and 100% complete, pack dated 1958, USAF-style harness (almost identical to P/N 50C7024-8) is dated 1960.  Here no auto-opening system present.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Footwear is man's dress shoes, original from back then, the least difficult item (!).

As for the gloves, they're the last challenge to deal with  -   this, in case I'll stay definitely with the MC-1 suit that does require its correct Partial Pressure gloves, not precisely easy to find. Other models wouldn't require them, rather standard flight gloves like the B-3As. 

 

This is for now, will see subsequently. Thanx for watching.

Good luck Franco! These high-altitude suits are expensive! 

 

btw. do they wear shoes like this one? 

 

Cheers,

Jerry

Thanx Jerry,

the whole project required a bit of sacrifice, also at expenses of other gear that in the past already had gone away from the collection. As for the suits themselves they're not cheap at all, of course, yet not very very expensive as maybe it could seem generally speaking; it depends from what the source, if there are any extra costa, and of course wich is the model of suit.  This MC-1 came to me about 7-8 years ago and in the end was affordable enough   -    maybe a small size but I cannot complain too much for this detail. 

 

Yes shoes of this kind were common enough as for I'm aware, if basing on existent vintage photos; my thought is that if it wasn't an actual operational flight over possible enemy territory or particularly harsh and dangerous land on wich a emergency landing could potentially happen, in the end this footwear was not inferior to a true military-type flight boot.

In view of a standard test flight over homeland such shoes offered in high-altitude emergency the same, very limited protection of a combat boot. Aviator's feet would have been anyway left uncovered by the Partial Pressure suit, like the hands themselves (only in some models of suits) so, if worn in a correct size and if very tightly laced up the 'swelling' of the feet wouldn't have been all that noticeable and dangerous in those few minutes of exposure.

 

https://photos.com/featured/usaf-test-pilot-wearing-special-flight-bettmann.html?product=wood-print

 

https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/6-april-1955/operation-teapot-b-36-crew/

The hurdle of having to find the proper pressure gloves for a character like this would add to some others  if choosing the MC-1 suit, that does require them. At least this issue could be avoided by opting for another model of suit I already owned, the C-1A, sort of a modification of the older USAF/NACA model T-1 having been requested by the US Navy.

Hand protection wasn't among its features, the wearer using simple flight gloves like the common B-3A, and suit's sleeves do miss those extra hoses going to the pressure gloves.

However the MA-2 emergency oxy. bottle would meet problem in fitting to C-1A's connector leading to the external 'capstan' hoses, in my instance being designed to go together with the MC-1 model. If not for this the C-1A, too, would be a very good-looking garment for a high-altitude character, since some vintage photos do show it being used together with the same Partial Pressure helmet (the K-1) carrying the USAF logo.

 

 

here the two suits side by side, each of them a great-looking item. The C-1A is at left.

 

 

 

 

 

Here a vintage picture of springtime 1958 showing a Navy test pilot wearing the same USAF/NACA K-1 helmet (plus, a B-5 Life Vest) . No extra hoses on the sleeves for pressure gloves

 

https://www.shorpy.com/node/25305

 

 

 

Looks like this auction was for you  https://www.ebay.com/itm/297161847112

 

Interesting project.  I had a K-1 (without faceplate), MC-1, and similar parachute a few decades ago.  The bailout bottles were very easy to find back then...  No inflatable gloves though.