USAF U-2 Pilot

The U-2 was originally designed as a high altitude reconnaissance platform to penetrate the airspace of the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s. Most of the U-2 fleet today was made in the mid-late 1980s. The U-2 was built to operate at altitudes above 70,000 feet. This caused the aircraft to be made with long wings (today's U-2 has about a 104' wingspan) and configured with a bicycle (tandem) type landing gear.

The U-2 pilot is integrated into a full pressure suit, similar to what an astronaut wears because of the hazardous physiological regime of the high altitude flight. The pilot must prebreathe 100% oxygen for 60 minutes prior to takeoff to avoid getting the bends. The pressure suit would be needed if the pilot were exposed to the atmosphere from a rapid decompression or having to eject from the aircraft. If the pilot were exposed to the environment at 70,000 feet, the gases in his body would rapidly expand causing a disastrous burst.

This Elite Force U-2 Pilot "Bob Chapman" was released by BBI in 2003 and is one of the finest pilots/fly boys ever released, perhaps second only to the ultimate astronaut ever by Dragon.


One of the amazing things of this set is the GNS-1031 helmet with movable protective and sun visors, and snoopy cap with comlink

Sun visor

Protective visor

Note the helmet locking ring as well

U-2 pilot "Bob Chapman"

Full pressure suit with inflatable life vest

Flight boots with boot support

Clipboard

Also comes with patch and two pens

The rebreather unit with vent hose

Bob reporting for duty!

Water bottle and food assortment

How feeding is done in the high altitude environment