When our customers arrive, they have already had a briefing on the flying equipment that they will be issued with and the importance and role of each piece of kit. They head off for their Mk IX Spitfire flight, fully briefed and kitted, excited and nervous of what they are about to experience.
When they return, not only are many quite emotional and blown away by the flight. They are humbled by the raw power and capability of the Spitfire but they are also emotionally drained in a way. But often many are very reflective on how the young men of 1940 sustained multiple sorties a day, they often comment “how did they do that during the war?"
The Spitfire sortie gives a brief glimpse of what fighter operations would have been like, especially during the summer of 1940. An aerobatic sortie, some find, is quite exhausting; 'how did those young men cope with exhausting air combat probably was, constantly looking out for enemy aircraft, nerves on edge and then being engaged in prolonged high ‘G’ manoeuvres?'
There is limited space available in the cockpit of the aircraft, and not much room for bulky flying equipment. Once strapped in you certainly feel part of the aircraft. You certainly strap a Spitfire on!
To be your best at air combat, to reduce fatigue as well as survive in the environment, you need to be wearing the right equipment and that it will both protect you if required but also keep you warm and comfortable. If you're cold, it certainly makes your decision-making process slower and you tire much quicker.
It makes you wonder about the equipment available to aircrew during World War 2 and the difficulties faced by them. How effective was the issued kit given to the pilots at the time? Did it serve its purpose? Was it fit for use and how did events of the war change the design and thinking about the flying kit for aircrew?
The IDEAL Spitfire Crew Kit
If you look at the basic needs of any aircrew, the flying clothing would ideally be comfortable, warm, and not restrict the ability to fly the aircraft. Ideally, flying helmets would offer a degree of head protection from noise and prevent injury during a crash or whilst performing combat manoeuvres and your head being bashed about against a canopy.
Also, a practical piece of equipment for holding the necessary earphones for clear communication on the radio. Goggles should help keep the eyes clear from dust and contaminants and offer some protection against the sun, whilst being optically as good as possible and not restricting the view. The equipment should give protection against the elements when exposed such as when shot down and either in a parachute or in the sea.
Ideally, there would be secure pockets to keep loose articles, if anything dropped into the cockpit of a fighter it would disappear into the depths of the fuselage and could restrict the controls. Hopefully, the kit would give some protection also against burns should the aircraft catch fire post-crash or during combat.
Our modern-day kit that we issue to our customers, ticks all the boxes. Loose-fitting, fire-resistant flying suits, state of the art flying helmets fitted with the best noise-attenuating intercom equipment, as well as offering head protection and visors to protect your eyes against the sun. Leather gloves to protect the hands, alongside life jackets and parachutes.
The Original Spitfire Crew Kit
When you look at what the Spitfires flew in during 1940, the kit certainly was not the best! Flying clothing was not readily suited to enclosed cockpits! More the biplane era! Leather jackets to bulky and hot for flying but great for going down the pub! Uniforms were stiff and uncomfortable and not ideal for flying, with collars that swelled up when wet and rubbed against your neck in combat when you needed eyes on stalks!
RAF pilots had leather flying helmets, but had goggles which were fitted with celluloid lenses! These would readily scratch and would melt in the event of a fire. Oxygen was delivered to the pilots via a canvas face mask, which was, again, not close-fitting or comfortable. The flying boots were big and cumbersome, and fur-lined.
Pilots often decided to fly in just uniform service shoes as they were better fitting for feeling the controls, they would often fly in just shirt sleeves or a uniform without a tie, to try and make it as comfortable as possible when flying in combat. A silk scarf around the neck was essential to stop chaffing and neck rub whilst looking around for enemy aircraft. There were no built in sunshades for eye protection unless your wore sunglasses.
Later in the war, goggles were amended to give the pilots flip-down sun shields to help give an advantage when they were looking for the Hun in the Sun.
The pilots made do with what they had, but certainly life could have been made easier by designing kit that was suited for its end use and purpose. Fortunately today, when you fly with us, you will get a taste of what these young men faced, while comfortably kitted to enjoy the flight.
Photo credits Battle of Britain Kit Bag
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