Polish Air Force, full-size MiG-21 pilot.

[StratoSphere]

hello all from Italy,

I thought I might share here my High-altitude MiG-21 pilot from Polish Air Force, full-size display. One of some guys from air forces of former Eastern Block, including Russian (and/or Soviet) and Chinese.

Basically not much different from his Soviet counterpart of the same typology, at least since early '70s when in the URSS the high-altitude helmet (the most striking and recognizable item) switched from the older GSh-4 series to the newer GSh-6. This one in particular after an initial pre-production variant that is not known - at least in my searching, I didn't find any reliable infos - how precisely served operationally, started in earnest with the - 6M (about 1963), then -6A (about 1969?) and the -6LP (1981).

 

The other air forces similarly followed this evolution in different paces, more slowly or more quickly: as a curiosity, while other items like Life Preservers, Flight Suits, High-Altitude partial pressure Coveralls, Gloves/Pressure Gloves etc, were often made by them following the basic Soviet designs (sometimes being enhanced and slightly modified), pressure helmets were not. Only Soviet-made for any of their allies, and specifically the GSh-6 series was (and currently is) manufactured by 'Tieploobmiennik' firm in Nizhnyj Novgorod.

Polish Air Force had developed in 1966 its own Partial Pressure suit model, adopted in 1967 as WUK-67 (derived clearly from the Soviet VKK-6M series) and matching pressure gloves - WUK 67 gloves derived from the Soviet PK-1 gloves. Life Vest is of domestic design, the KR-7 basic model with some very minor variations.

 

Will post photos later when some restriction will be off. Thanx.

[StratoSphere]

as a sidenote,

it's as correct and accurately researched as the best I could afford, some years to have it completed but the same can apply to other pilots as well. The similar Soviet MiG-25 pilot required a bit less time, others - Soviet pilot from mid-'60s, or Chinese ones, or the other (tactical) Polish pilot - maybe a couple years each.

Together with this guy comes a complete emergency ensemble, oxygen kit KP-27M I've put on display nearby and connected to the guy, even though it of course would have its place inside the seat survival pack under the pilot. The only way to have it well displayed, not having got (!!) a KM-1 ejection seat for MiGs planes. Its full content is visible and is what does count.

To next one.

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Helmet GSh-6M was maybe outdated by early '70s, but some photos show there was no particular haste in upgrading to the -A variant. After all, it was quite similar and the basic working was utterly the same.

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Visible here, the complicated neck ring if compared to GSh-6A's - a system of bearing balls inside, and the upper portion revolved over it when the head moved sideways. Replaced by the much simpler type in the subsequent variant,

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The Polish-made WUK-67 partial pressure suit, derived from the Soviet VKK-6(M). Came out in some color variations, this one is dated 1984.

Shorter and smaller hose inflated the external 'capstan' tubes instantly in case of emergency ay very high altitude when depressurization occurred, the tubes inflating and expanding more than twice their diameter. The attached (interlocking) tapes they are sewn to, pull the already snug-fit suit in ordet to act against the body with mere mechanical counterbalancing, thus preventing tissues from swelling and lungs/ribcage from expanding due to oxygen forced inside (pressure breathing at 100%).

 

The other, softer hose if for 'Anti-G' purposes and does works separately with compressed air (not oxygen, like the former hose does).

 

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WUK 67, front and rear

 

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Polish-made KR-7 Life Vest ('Kamizelki') came out in basic variant + 2 (slightly) enhanced ones. This the third variation, Typ: KR-7 Seria 3

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Here the second variation, worn by the mannequinn, Typ: KR-7 Seria 2

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Pressure visor of GSh-6M down and locked, the inside soft helmet carries the side boom michrophone for communication. Differently from similar US-made helmets, in the URSS-designed models a seperate communication soft fabric helmet is worn first, then the outside shell comes.

Shell is metal-made (!!) and is, according to some sources, the same high-quality duraluminum (aeronautical) alloy used for making some parts of MiG and Sukhoi planes.

 

Helmet GSh-6 is still currently made in its latest (and last, supposedly?) -6LP variant at the 'Tieploobmiennik' firm of Nizhnyi Novgorod.

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here again the WUK 67 suit (closest to camera) and two variant of its successore, the almost identical WUK 90.

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A complex network of interlacing strings do adjust further the suit very snug, after it had been selected the very right size (ten available sizes, from 3 to 12) to perfectly fit the pilot.

This way should the capstan tubes inflate at full force in emergency, suit is forced to push hard against the body and counterbalance (just mechanically) body's inside pressure trying to exit towards the very low-pressure outside environment - a depressurized cockpit, or while the aviator is falling following the ejection.

 

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GSh-6 series helmets, all have their inside small sun shade being operated by external lever. A very thin plexyglass layer, just covers airman's eyes againt the strong sunrays at high-altitude.

Visor does retracts by means of a complicated swinging brace.

 

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does continue.. thanx.

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here inside the receiving ring of GSh-6M. Communications cord exiting soft helmet's rear, does attach to this short segmet - sort of an extension cord ending ouside in a massive, bell-shaped plug. This in turn does pass through both the sealing collar (made of surgical rubber, to keep seperate the head in a oxygen-filled environment) and fabric of this shoulders 'skirt' (integral to neck ring) and does exit below man's throat, left-side.

 

 

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Messed up something... the above post refers to this.

 

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... and this as well.

 

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here the inside front bladder is being tightly enclosed between suit's exterior layer and aviator's chest. Will expand and push against ribcage in case of emergency situation, forcing the lungs to stay somehow protected from oxygen strong flow being pushed in a forced inhalation.

 

 

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internal soft helmet for communications. Sub-variations of boom mike can vary in shape and colors (all are URSS/Russian -made, as well as the hard helmet) but basically doesn't change too much.

The upper-placed leather pad (plus another one at the rear, making a "T"-shaped total pad) will fit into proper notches of shell's inner padding and helps in moving the whole together with the head.

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Finally a direct comparison of the GSh-6M vs. the GSh-6A that replaced it, starting (very slowly) about 1969-70 . Primary changes are:

* main oxy. hose is reverted from left to right side,

* secondary (black) smaller hose for the expiry valve is routed from fron to rear,

* electrical cable for communications/helmet defogging is placed elsewhere,

* the cumbersome expiry/compensation valve is somehow different.

* some changes in mechanism of visor's bracing system,

* a decidedly different lower collar ring - simplified, and no rotating bearings anymore.

 

Here the -6M of the Polish pilot

 

Here the -6A placed on a Soviet IA-PVO interceptor pilot, about mid-'80s.

 

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