Are U-2 pilots astronauts?

Pilots wearing state of the art in high altitude reconnaissance equipment in 1929. Today, U-2 pilots still wear astronaut-style pressure suits to be able to survive at altitude.

Why do pilots wear special suits?

A pressure suit is a protective suit worn by high-altitude pilots who may fly at altitudes where the air pressure is too low for an unprotected person to survive, even breathing pure oxygen at positive pressure. Partial-pressure suits work by providing mechanical counter-pressure to assist breathing at altitude.

How do U-2 pilots go to the bathroom?

Piddle Packs are small bags male fighter pilots use to pee while in flight. They are specially shaped bags with absorbent beads in them. If we have to relieve ourselves, we’ll unzip the flight suit—which is designed to unzip from the top as well as the bottom—unroll the piddle pack, and then pee into it.

Why is the U-2 black?

Meanwhile, the USAF aircraft remained unpainted until 1962, when a light gray gloss paint was adopted to guard against corrosion. This lasted until later 1964, when they were hurriedly painted black to help protect them from MiG interceptors over North Vietnam.

Why do airplanes have full body suits?

The airplane flies so high that pilots are required to wear a pressurized flight suit. Although the cockpit is normally pressurized, a sudden loss of pressurization could endanger a mission—and the pilot’s life—so pilots wear full body suits that resemble the astronaut suits. Today’s pilots fly in a much better suit than their early predecessors.

How do U-2 pilots get the right suits?

The company uses laser body scans and 3D anthropometric modeling to get the right measurements for pilots. The right fit is key—U-2 pilots typically fly for 10-12 hours Suits are built from molds, though in some cases the use of molds has been superseded by the use of 3D printing.

How is the Air Force improving the U-2 spy plane’s flight suit?

The U.S. Air Force is continuing to improve the pressurized flight suit used by U-2 spy plane pilots, 64 years after the airplane’s first flight. The service is using emerging tech, including 3D printing, to make the suits lighter, more comfortable, and most importantly, safer than ever before.

How does gas pressure affect the performance of a space suit?

The gas pressure constantly tries to push the wearer’s body into a position where the suit has been inflated to its maximum air volume. Moving against this gas pressure can be very difficult, and be very exhausting for the suit wearer, limiting the amount of work that can be performed using the suit.