Popular Mechanics: The U-2's 'Moon Suit' Is Almost as Impressive as the Plane Itself
Pilots have worn the astronaut-like pressurized suits for more than 60 years.
* The U-2 spy plane has flown continuously for the intelligence community and U.S. military for 64 years.
* As the times have changed and technology improves, the suits have gotten better at keeping pilots comfortable and alive.
* One company, the David Clark Company, has been the sole manufacturer of the suits since the 1960s.
The U.S. Air Force is continuing to improve the pressurized flight suit used by U-2 spy plane pilots, 64 years after the airplane’s first flight. The service is using emerging tech, including 3D printing, to make the suits lighter, more comfortable, and most importantly, safer than ever before.
The U-2 spy plane first flew on August 1st, 1955. The black jet’s ability to climb to extremely high altitudes and collect intelligence on adversaries and potential adversaries has kept it in Air Force service longer than any other aircraft. The airplane flies so high that pilots are required to wear a pressurized flight suit. Although the cockpit is normally pressurized, a sudden loss of pressurization could endanger a mission—and the pilot’s life—so pilots wear full body suits that resemble the astronaut suits.
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WNU Editor: This type of tech always fascinates me.
