PILOT'S PROTECTIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE U-2R

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP68B00724R000200190103-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 3, 2004
• Sequence Number: 103
• Publication Date: September 28, 1966
• Content Type: MFR

IDEA-3352-66
Copy-.-q-of ~~
28 September 1966
Approved For Release 2004/08/31 : CIA-RDP68B00724R000200190103-6
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT : Pilot's Protective Assembly For the U-2R
Reference: Memorandum From D/R&D/OSA dated 19 Sept. 1966;
Subject: U--2R Executive Committee Meeting No. 1.
1. With regard to paragraph 2a of the referenced
memorandum, a clarification is in order as follows:
a. The standard USAF suit which would be most
applicable to this program would be the Devid-Clark
S-90IJ Pilots Protective Assembly (PPA) presently
being used for the EARNING program. The basic USAF
height-weight sizing tables result in twelve standard
sizes. The four basic sizes (small, medium, large,
and extra-large) are configured with torso, leg and
sleeve segments that are either Regular, Long or
Short, thus giving the total of twelve sizes. However,
in the EARNING program, as would be the case in buying
the same PPA for U-2R drivers, a better personal fit
is obtained by what livid-Clark calls "Customized
Sizing". This approach consists of using the USAF
height-weight tables to select the basic suit pattern
but with additional personal measurements used to select
appropriate torso, leg and sleeve patterns. Thus a
driver who would fall into a Medium Regular PPA
according to his height and weight can obtain proper
fitting legs, torso and/or sleeves if his particular
measurements are outside the limits for a standard
Mediua Regular garment. This approach would not
involve any particular additional expense for our
program since the patterns for the 5-901 J PPA were
developed and made for the EARNING program.
USAF review(s) completed.
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b. I do not feel that an "off-the-shelf"
approach is either feasible or desireable, if this
approach means simply choosing one of twelve
standard sizes instead of the 'customized sizing"
approach. My experience 'ith standard sizes for
various USAF pressure suit programs in the past
confirms the fact that nowhere near 100% of a
pilot population will fall into the standard size
range. This, in my opinion, has contributed to the
poor acceptance by pilots in various past USAF
pressure suit programs,
c. With regard to immediate procurement of
PPA's for cockpit configuration studies, the only
logical approach is to review the height/weight/
measurements of all past and present Agency drivers
and to select a mean and the two extreme sizes,
procure three suits to fit these sizes, and then use
drivers in these three sizes for configuration
studies. This source of information is available
at David-Clark for suitable analysis.
d. suit sizes pose more of a
problem to the I's an and Sizing" approach. I have
askedl of the David-Clark Co. to review
their records or past
fitted. This informat
expect present and future
the USAF Standard Size
ho were out-
to fall into
V Les. or not. If not, we may
be able to utilize information previously gathered
by Wricht-Patterson AFB and David-Clark Co.
e. I do not feel that the economy and dollar-
savings aspect of selecting S-901 J PPA's for the
U-29 versus custom-fitted S-970 PPA's used for A-12
drivers is really significant or should be stressed.
The significant savings of using either system for the
U-2R is the fact that the developmental costs have
alreauy been paid for. Choosing the S-901 J PPA
is the c=nly available approach since it seems that
LAC is going to use the SR-71 Ejection Seat, Oxygen
System anc'- Seat Kit in the U-2R which includes this
PPA as an integrated system. If dollar savings are
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IDEA-3352-66
in fact realized by buying the 3-901 J instead of the
8-470, this money would be well spent to purchase
Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) visors for the 3-901 J
PPA helmets at the time they are originally purchased.
Reflectance will be just an great a problem in this
aircraft as it has been in any other aircraft that the
full pressure suit helmet has ever been worn in opera-
tionally. It is significant to note that the EARNING
8PO at Wright-Patterson AFB has allocated funds for
procuring 50 of there anti-reflectance PPG visors for
use with their 3-901 J PPA's in the BR-71.
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f. Finally, there in one other aspect of
"Standard Sizing (including Customized Sizing)", an
used in the SR-71, versus "Custom Pitting", as used in
the A-12, that should be considered. In buying a
Standard or Customized Sized suit for a driver, he
must accept or reject the assembly at the time of
initial issue. If he later decides the assembly doesn't
fit properly, a new suit would have to be purchased.
Custom-fitted assemblies on the other hand would be
adjusted, modified, etc., at a later date as part of
the contract. This difference in "Customer-service"
probably accounts for the majority of any price difference.
ASD/R&D/OSA:hmj (28 Sept 66)
lion:
Cy
1
- D/R&D/OSA
2
- ASD/R&D/OSA
3
- D/SA
4
- M/8A
5
- D/11/03A
6
- D/OPS/ 3A (SAS)
7
- CMD/COMFY/OSA
8
- ASD/R&D/OSA (Chrono)
9
- RB/OSA
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