Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Michael Kindig
Taken: April 27, 2002
Caption: S-970 Pilot's Protective Assembly
Additional Description: This full pressure suit is an early 1960s model Pilot's Protective Assembly (PPA) developed and manufactured by David Clark Company for pilots of the A-12 Blackbird.

The full pressure suit was designed to protect aviators agains very low barometric pressure during flights above 50,000 feet altitude for extended periods of time, replacing more restrictive partial pressure suits, which where less desireable for long duration flight.

In addition to providing hyperberic protection, the PPA was designed to protect aircrews from the high temperatures and othe potentially hazardous environments inherent in Mach 3+ flight at high altitudes.

The PPA was developed specifically for the A-12, YP-12A and SR-71 Blackbirds beginning in 1960 with Model S-901, and evolved through numerous improved models, including S-970, S-901J and S1030. A variant model S1030A Ejection Escape Suit incorporating an anti-G suit was developed for NASA space shuttle astronauts for STS-1 through STS-4 Orbital Flight Tests.

The model S1031C PPA was developed in the mid-1960s as a common PPA for both the SR-71 and U-2 aircraft.
Submitted: December 31, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p187274
File Size: 0.825 Megabytes

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