Flying Suit Collection

At a Bomber Command Station, 5 July 1944, (1947). Creator: Unknown
At a Bomber Command Station, 5 July 1944, (1947). King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with daughter Princess Elizabeth (future Queen Elizabeth II)

RAF flying suit, 1940s. Creator: Unknown
RAF flying suit, 1940s. One-piece " Sidcot" flying suit 1940 Pattern, worn by pilots in Britains Royal Air Force during World War II

London-Paris Air Race: the winner, Mr WL Brock, the American racing pilot, 1914, (1934). Artist: Flight Photo
London-Paris Air Race: the winner, Mr WL Brock, the American racing pilot, 1914, (1934). The London to Paris Air Race 1914, ran from Hendon to Buc and back with a total distance of 508 miles

Pilot Neil Armstrong and X-15 #1, 1960. Creator: NASA
Pilot Neil Armstrong and X-15 #1, 1960. Dryden pilot Neil Armstrong is seen here next to the X-15 ship #1 (56-6670) after a research flight

Gus Grissom and Milt Thompson with Paresev, California, USA, 1962. Creator: NASA
Gus Grissom and Milt Thompson with Paresev, California, USA, 1962. Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom (L) and NASA test pilot Milton Thompson with Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A at Rogers Dry Lakebed at

Wright Apache and pilot, Virginia, USA, 1928. Creator: Unknown
Wright Apache and pilot, Virginia, USA, 1928. A Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory test pilot prepares to fly the Apache to high altitude

Flying suit, USAF Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Creator: Gibson & Barnes
Flying suit, USAF Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Suit worn by Nicole Malachowski of the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force

Roland Garros (1888-1918) standing beside his plane, 1915 (b / w photo)
CHT233794 Roland Garros (1888-1918) standing beside his plane, 1915 (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Archives Jean Cocteau, Milly-la-Foret, France; eArchives Charmet; French

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

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

Ready for a high altitude flight (colour litho)
981885 Ready for a high altitude flight (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ready for a high altitude flight.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

The Sowers: British airmen contemplating a bomb which will scatter death among the foe
STC359844 The Sowers: British airmen contemplating a bomb which will scatter death among the foe, 1914-19 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Helene Dutrieu (1877-1961) standing beside a plane, before 1914 (b / w photo)
CHT218632 Helene Dutrieu (1877-1961) standing beside a plane, before 1914 (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald seen here climbing aboard a Fairey 3F aircraft of number 24 Squadron. The Prime Minister had been attending the Imperial Air Conference at Croydon

Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald seen here climbing aboard a Fairey 3F aircraft of number 24 Squadron. The Prime Minister had been attending the Imperial Air Conference at Croydon

Portrait of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith by Dr Julian Smi?
Portrait of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith by Dr Julian Smith of Melbourne, Australia, Regarded by Members of Smithys Family As the Most Typical Photograph of the Famous Airman

Fokker F-VIIb-3M / 7b-3M
Captain Charles Kingsford-Smith and Crew with Fokker F.Viib-3M Southern Cross at Croydon after a 13.5 Day Flight from Australia to England on 10th July 1929 Date: 1929

The flourish set on youth, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
The flourish set on youth, 1941. Acting Flight Lieutenant Thomas Ginger Neil, No 249 Squadron, RAF North Weald, 1940. A young airman with the RAF roundel. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton

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

Ready for a High-Altitude Flight, 1927. From The Wonder Book of Aircraft, edited by Harry Golding. [Ward, Lock & Co, Limited, London & Melbourne, 1927]

Dressed ranks, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Dressed ranks, 1941. A troop of airmen in flying suits stand in line. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

The flight discussed, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
The flight discussed, 1941. Aircrew gather after returning safely from a mission. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Back, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Back, 1941. An RAF pilot returns safely from a mission. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Off, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Off, 1941. A pilot in the cockpit ready for take-off. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

At the controls, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
At the controls, 1941. Pilot and co-pilot of a Wellington Bomber of No. 149 Squadron in 1941. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Entering, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Entering, 1941. Aircrew board the aircraft. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Ready and waiting for the rest of the crew, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Ready and waiting for the rest of the crew, 1941. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Arriving, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Arriving, 1941. Aircrew arrive on the airfield. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

American aviator Charles Lindbergh and his plane, Spirit of St Louis, c1927 (c1937). In 1927 Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974) an American aviator, author, inventor, military officer, explorer

Major James H Doolittle, American aviator, c1936 (c1937). James Harold Doolittle (1896-1993) was one of the most famous pilots of the interwar period, achieving numerous pioneering aviation feats

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

Sealed flying suit, 1938. Churchmans cigarette card, from a series titled Modern Wonders [WA & AC Churchman, Great Britain & Ireland, 1938]

A new suit for flying men. It won t burn, won t sink and keeps out the cold. Taken for Captain Stewart

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"From the RAF to the Thunderbirds: A Century of Flying Suits" In the world of aviation, the flying suit has been an essential piece of equipment for pilots throughout history. From its humble beginnings in the 1920s to its modern-day advancements, this iconic garment has played a crucial role in ensuring pilot safety and comfort. One notable example is the RAF flying suit from the 1940s. Its creator remains unknown, but its impact on British aviators during World War II was undeniable. This suit provided much-needed protection against harsh weather conditions and enemy fire, allowing brave pilots to take to the skies with confidence. Fast forward a few decades, and we find ourselves witnessing groundbreaking moments like Pilot Neil Armstrong donning his X-15 #1 flight suit in 1960. As part of NASA's pioneering efforts in space exploration, Armstrong's suit symbolized humanity's quest for new frontiers beyond Earth's atmosphere. The year 1962 brought us another remarkable image – Gus Grissom and Milt Thompson alongside their Paresev aircraft in California. The suits they wore were designed by NASA and represented cutting-edge technology at that time. These innovative garments allowed astronauts to experience simulated weightlessness during atmospheric flights, paving the way for future space missions. Looking back even further into history, we encounter a photograph taken in Virginia circa 1928 featuring a Wright Apache plane and its pilot clad in an early version of a flying suit. While less advanced compared to later iterations, this outfit still offered some protection against wind chill at high altitudes. Moving closer towards contemporary times brings us to Gibson & Barnes' creation –the USAF Thunderbirds' flying suits from 2006-2007. These sleek outfits not only showcased style but also incorporated state-of-the-art materials that enhanced performance while performing daring aerobatic maneuvers. But let us not forget those who paved the way before them; individuals like Roland Garros, a French aviator standing beside his plane in 1915.