IDEALIST LIFE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP68B00724R000200230032-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 8, 2002
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: January 31, 1967
• Content Type: MF

Approved Releasj002/06/13 : 9FR~681304R0002Q230032-0
IDEALIST
rs)T.,! -01(;::- i7
Copy o _
J1 January 196/
MEMORANDUM FOR :
Deputy for Operations,
OSA
SUBJECT
IDEALIST Life Support Equipment
References
(1) IDEA-0156-67 dated 20 January 1967
(2) IDEA-0030-67 dated 16 January 1967
i. In accordance with reference 1, the following
responses to reference 2 are submitted:
a.
Modification of survival kit rucksacks
with
CO2 and
ora.i ln1'la i ion
systems, and adj ,stabie
carryin ;
3 4 ~s .
An inflatable
rucksack was includedin
LAC
-266 dated 17 August -966. Beca.use of high cost and
long lead time for prototype development, this EC? was
not approved in its entirety (Ref: IDEA-3246-66 dated
September 1966, IDEA 3351-66 dated 26 September 1966, 25X1A
n -d message 71.69 dated 28 September 1966). This 25X1A
i P and the dccasious regardir:l-? it were discussed w:i t;i-.
r>,>th OIO and N;OI;,
LL e support Nec ion) urln meeting with
on 23-24 January 1967, he again reempi
aa most of the chan-es outlined in ECI-266 (other 25X1A
11 than QD changes) should not be pursued due to the long
lend times, since the U-2R will have such provisions in
the seat kit . I n lit-,,ht of these comments byl
Support personnel, there seems to be a misun er- 25X1q
-t;a.nding on the part of since he refers o Z5X1A
are verified by .1.,ife Support. However, if
request this office -Lo take act4-yn-
adjustable carryin strazps for the present U-2 seat
kit they need only to identify the item required and
Ie Support does - esi~~?e inflatable rucksacks with
ON: Will be deferred until
pursues these requirements.
IDE 'i-LIST
SECRET
ife Support
25X1A
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25X1A
a . _:1rovision ofnot-Down roves fo.,,. ;::r c
1S i:'~T i111aei S3 e nd t3~ -om d iS .,ussion
and
I1; EL/j GOT X1 A
1
t Aa.'c sucri an item was installed on the drivers lower
leg in the past but was removed because of isoss ible
i t :rf rence during ejection. However,] 25X1A
'has been actively investigating the avyT1551117y and
suitability of new let-down c.ovices. This survival
Ho., once identified and evaluated by the responsible
division (INTEL Div) can be evaluated with respect
to ita compatibility with Life Support equipment.
Apparontly, was unaware of several discussions
._ have had wi n Ion this subject.
i:--=':, d: Awaiting action by INTEL Division.
Modification of Survival kit lanyards for
ual or automatic i_
nfla' x~res lz this refers
inflation. so, this monification was
never proposed for the IDEALIST program at -any tine in
the past. It was discussed for the OXCART DroZ am a
_s therefore a misplaced item in reference #2. --Ow,:.: 25X1A
according to my records the requirement for such a
ievice in OXCART was dropped following a meeting betwee ;25X1A
?- predecessor , ~? +1
(C1~iiCl.,nJ iV at that time) in tltlutl.
ON-:- No action planned unless requested by
L e Support.
installation of adjustable automatic dep?ovment25X1A
devices for use in , 1 ihts over areas o V very hip'.
.tan. it is apoa=en- that this item was not di c sled
wii Life Support personnel or even with
ice the F-lB Automat Parachute Releaso used in tee
U-2 personnel parachute has an aneroid block mechanism
which is adjustable from 5,000 to 20,000 Zeet above sea
As nnintad , I I previous discussions between
adjustment of this setting to
a Ti u es above the standard setting of 14,000 feet
will have to receive careful consideration as to the
s.vere effects of increased parachute opening shock
versus the risk factor (ie, time flown over high alti-
...,_ie Zerraain with elevations of 14,000 feet or more).
:a. No action o1i;ened unless discussions with
are generated reg?ardin policy on F-l3 ti.':er
_;EALIST
SECRET
Approved For Release 2002/06/13: CIA-RDP68B00724R000200230032-0
 Approved W Releas,002/06/13 : CIAEI}R68B0(4R0002W30032-0
iii: AL IS T
i-1)"":A-01";
25X1A
c M,iodiiication of the canopies
item was discussed with
w 1o is iii ire water ti.arvival section o.-. ti-le 111c_l
? ors Tories n t Wright-'11'atterson A','3, O io on
1 53 . This mod if ica-~ion, has apparently e en
. -proved by the U. U.S. Navy has not received USAF approval
because the modif ica'aion apparently lengthens the t -ia
required for parachute deployment. The present escape.
stem in the U-2 does not offer low altitude ca-pability
__S any modification which reduces the minimum a Lti Luda
c Jability any fur-a,he is not an acceptable trade-o .
CTI More specific information will be researched I-Z on this item with regards to future use on the U-211i
escape system.
Walk-around sleeping bags in seat cushions.
per discussions of this item in 1965, a prototype 25X1A
developed by in ear Ly 1966. Evaliua-
-on at revealed that the cushion was too thick
a d pause pilots head to be elevated above the
'headrest. in addition to the head hitting the canopy
during flight, this arrangement would preclude through-
,the-canopy ejection. Since thinner packaging was not
obtainable this item was no longer considered. This
information was obtained from and can be verified _y
Life Support personnel.
avi I f there is a valid reeu ire^: nt for n wr-lk-
around sleeping brig in the future, investigation oi' ii
cushion packed item for use in the U-2R will be under-
"i ous line cut" or related action to ii ake
foot, canopy stc erable and reduce oscillation.
r_I is ite-n is also (ii-isplaced in reference #2 since