Flying Helmet Collection

Comedian Roy Chubby Brown wearing colourful suit July 1993

RAF bomber pilot and second pilot, 1941. Brave yet cautious, cool yet daring. From Bomber Command. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

La mort de Brindejonc des Moulinais; Brindejonc photographie avant son dernier depart, 1916. Creator: Unknown
La mort de Brindejonc des Moulinais; Brindejonc photographie avant son dernier depart, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

Le general Sarrail en Aeroplane, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Le general Sarrail en Aeroplane; le general Sarrail a pris la place de l'observateur sur un des biplans de ses escadrilles, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

Le sous-lieutenant aviateur Marchal, c1916. Creator: Unknown
Le sous-lieutenant aviateur Marchal, c1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916"

Comedian Roy Chubby Brown in Blackpool July 1993

Comedian Roy Chubby Brown wearing colourful suit Circa April 1986

Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford, English aviator (litho)
981051 Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford, English aviator (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford (1865-1937), English aviator

Mrs Victor Bruce, English aviator, racing driver and speedboat racer (litho)
981052 Mrs Victor Bruce, English aviator, racing driver and speedboat racer (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mrs Victor Bruce (1895-1990), English aviator

Louis Bleriot, French aviator who was the first to fly a powered aircraft across the English Channel (b / w photo)
6014973 Louis Bleriot, French aviator who was the first to fly a powered aircraft across the English Channel (b/w photo) by English Photographer

British airman equipped with oxygen mask, radio, electrically heated clothing
6014674 British airman equipped with oxygen mask, radio, electrically heated clothing and a parachute beside a light bomber aircraft (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Amy Mollison, English aviator (litho)
981053 Amy Mollison, English aviator (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Amy Mollison (1903-1941), English aviator

Alfred Leblanc winning the Circuit de l Est air race in France (colour litho)
2779641 Alfred Leblanc winning the Circuit de l Est air race in France (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The war in the air (colour litho)
981891 The war in the air (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The war in the air.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

A group of Soviet airmen who have been decorated with orders for valour and courage displayed in fighting German invaders. This picture taken when Russia had joined the Allies in fighting Germany

Lt. Ivan Aksyutin of the Soviet Air Force who destroyed five German bombers. This picture taken when Russia had joined the Allies in fighting Germany

Womens Pilot Section - The Air Transport Auxilliary. Picture shows Miss Pauline Gower, leader of the pool of women pilots waves as she sets off with a de Havilland Tiger Moth from the factory to

Boxer not Biggles Anna the 3 years old Boxer dog who was picked to act on stage for the Sunderland flying clubs. Tyne and Wear, October 1981 P000179

Miss Southwick at a gathering of pilots from 16 countries gather at Heston Aerodrome Ist September 1932

Come Fly With Me. Little Lucy Deplidge seen here waving from the cockpit of a Fleet Air Arm Gannet aircraft at the Sunderland airshow. 17th July 1979

Comedian Roy Chubby Brown April 1986

Randolph Fields Chairman of Highland Express Airlines. February 8th 1986

Airmans Equipment, 1932, (1944). Creator: E. A. Harvey
Airmans Equipment, 1932, (1944). A pilots flying helmet, goggles and navigation aids. From " Britain In The Air", by Nigel Tangye. [Collins, London, 1944]

Lea-Francis V type saloon and Blackburn Bluebird aeroplane, c1930. Artist: Bill Brunell
Lea-Francis V type saloon 1496 cc. Vehicle Reg. No. VC3461. Blackburn Bluebird Aircraft No. G-aTN. 3rd. Place in 1930 Kings Cup Air Race flown by Flight-Lieutenant Henry Waghorn. Race No. 37

Charles Lindbergh, American aviator, at Le Bourget Aerodrome, Paris, France, May 1927. Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974) after completing the first successful solo transatlantic flight

Ready for the Upper Regions, 1927. From The Wonder Book of Aircraft, edited by Harry Golding. [Ward, Lock & Co, Limited, London & Melbourne, 1927]

The King as Airman, 1918 (1937). The future King George VI (1895-1952) and Louis Leisler Greig (1880-1953) in a Handley Page bomber in September 1918

The end of a great flight: Mr Robert Slacks arrival at Hendon, 1913 (1934). Artist: Flight Photo
The end of a great flight: Mr Robert Slacks arrival at Hendon, 1913 (1934). Robert Slack qualified for his aviators certificate on 14 November 1911

RAF bomber radio operator, 1941. He helps the navigator and, with the air gunner, does the fighting. From Bomber Command. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Bomber Command pilot, 1941. From Bomber Command. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

RAF Coastal Command radio operator on board his aircraft, c1940 (1943). From Coastal Command. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1943]

RAF flight engineer on board an aircraft, c1940 (1943). The flight engineer watching his instrument board, which tells him how the engines are behaving. From Coastal Command

King Edward VIII in an aeroplane, 1936. Illustration from George V and Edward VIII, A Royal Souvenir, by FGH Salusbury, a souvenir book published as Edward VIII was crowned following the death of his

Sir Alan Cobham, British pioneer aviator, 1926. Artist: Alick P F Ritchie
Sir Alan Cobham, British pioneer aviator, 1926. Portrait of Cobham (1894-1973) who set several records for long-distance flights, and pioneered in-flight refueling

French aviation personnel being trained at the naval air station, Quonset, Rhode Island, USA, 1951. Training for the transfer of the United States Navy Independence-class aircraft carrier USS Langley

Royal Canadian Air Force During World War 2
Two pilots of the Royal Canadian Air Force getting in to an aircraft at a training centre in Canada circa 1940. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Mr Anthony Fokker, the famous Dutch airman, gives a gliding demonstration at Peacehaven, East Sussex, England October 1922

Aviator, Wilmer Stultz, who has flown the Atlantic in a seaplane with Miss Earhart. 18 June 1928

Airman Tobacco, 1926=28
Players Airman Tobaccos roughly triangular or pyramid shaped counter card depicting the head and shoulders of a man dressed in a jacket with a fur collar, flying helmet and goggles

Portrait of Guynemer, 1921-23 (oil on canvas)
XIR216969 Portrait of Guynemer, 1921-23 (oil on canvas) by Fresnaye, Roger de la (1885-1925); 55.5x46.5 cm; Musee National d Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France; French

The Duke of Gloucester in flying kit, on the occasion of his opening the Air Service Training Ltd Flying School at Hamble, Hampshire, England 14 April 1931

Miss Paddie Elrane Naismith, the well known woman racing motorist and aviator, who was once chauffeuse to the Prime Minister

New York to Paris flight. Miss Ruth Elder looking out of cockpit. 1927

Attempt on air record. Big RAF plane leaves Cranwell. Squadron Leader A C Jones, the pilot. 24 April 1929

More women learning to fly. London pupils who show skill and coolness. Mrs Simon Fraser going for a flight. 27 March 1928

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"From RAF Bomber Pilots to Comedians: The Evolution of the Flying Helmet" In 1941, a brave RAF bomber pilot donned his trusty flying helmet as he prepared for another daring mission in the skies. The helmet was not just a piece of protective gear; it symbolized courage and resilience in the face of adversity. Fast forward to July 1993, and we find comedian Roy Chubby Brown entertaining crowds in Blackpool, sporting his own version of a flying helmet. With his unique sense of humor, he brought laughter to all who witnessed his colorful suit and quirky headgear. But flying helmets were not limited to male aviators. Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford, an English aviator from years gone by, also relied on this essential equipment as she soared through the clouds with grace and determination. Another remarkable female aviator was Mrs Victor Bruce - an English pioneer known for her skills both in the air and on land. Her litho portrait showcases her wearing a flying helmet that embodied her adventurous spirit. Let's not forget Louis Bleriot, the French aviator who made history by being the first person to fly across the English Channel in a powered aircraft. In a black-and-white photograph capturing this momentous occasion, Bleriot can be seen proudly wearing his iconic flying helmet. As aviation technology advanced over time, so did the equipment used by pilots. A British airman equipped with an oxygen mask, radio communication devices, electrically heated clothing, and even a parachute alongside their light bomber aircraft demonstrates how safety measures evolved hand-in-hand with flight capabilities. Amy Mollison was yet another trailblazing English aviator whose litho portrait immortalizes her passion for aviation while showcasing her stylish flying attire complete with a sleek flying helmet. The exhilaration of air races is captured perfectly in Alfred Leblanc's victory at Circuit de l'Est race depicted in vibrant color lithography. His flying helmet served as a symbol of his triumph and skill.