Aviation spacesuit "Falcon": created for aircraft, became an "astronaut"

One of the calling cards of the national cosmonautics and, in particular, of JSC NPP Zvezda, is the Sokol space rescue suit. However, few people know that this spacesuit had a direct descendant - aviation spacesuit "Falcon", developed in the second half of the 60s - early 70s.

Like the Vorkuta spacesuit, the Sokol aviation SC was manufactured with two separate shells: the outer one was power (made of durable types of fabric) and the inner one was sealed. Unlike SK Vorkuta, which had a spongy hermetic shell 3–5 mm thick, rubberized sheet fabric was used for Sokol.

The Falcon was the last aircraft suit made at the beginning of the space age. In this spacesuit, unlike the previous ones, it was provided for the use of a gas mask, which provides protection for the pilot before boarding the plane or after landing in the event of a chemical contamination of the area.

The aircraft SC "Sokol" was used in a set with the GSH-9 pressure helmet, the ШЛ-4Д helmet, the VKS-2 ventilating suit, the GP-4 and GP-5 pressure gloves, and the PPK-1AS anti-overload suit.

The aircraft "Falcon" had an overpressure operating mode of 0,25 kgf / sq. see. However, in the event of signs of altitude-decompression sickness, a temporary transition to the "emergency" mode of 0,4 kgf / sq. was allowed. cm.

The practical height of the spacesuit was up to 50 km. The permissible indicated flight speed during ejection was 1400 km / h.

In addition, the spacesuit provided a residence time in cold water up to 12 hours.

The high-altitude spacesuit was supposed to be used on the T-4 ("weaving") product.

Despite the fact that the Sokol aviation SC did not receive mass distribution, it became a kind of "standard".

He collected all the successful solutions and developments, among which were:

- Use of a two-layer shell with separate power and sealed layers.
- System of standard sizes of the shell.

And also the constructions are successful:

- power systems and hinges of the soft shell,
- hermetic gloves,
- hermetic bearings,
- a pressure helmet.

All of the above systems were subsequently used on soft-type space suits. Thanks to this, the first space suits were created in a short time.

And in the early seventies, it was urgent to develop on the basis of the existing reserve of aviation SC "Sokol" a rescue suit for the SC "Soyuz", called "Sokol-K" (space).

Comments

[Ros 56]

An interesting topic, but I think that one does not interfere with the other, the main thing is to save people.

[slowpokemonkey]

can it somehow correlate with high-altitude suits for the moment-25 \ 31?

any reason not to replace the "Falcon" high-rise suits of the USSR / RF Air Force

[Bshkaus]

can it somehow correlate with high-altitude suits for the moment-25 \ 31?

At altitudes over 18 km, there are two types of protection against hypoxia: 1 - this is a spacesuit, inside which constant pressure is created and an oxygen gas environment in which a person is completely located. 2-height compensating suit. The problem with all spacesuits is that they are extremely uncomfortable, limit movement, field of vision, etc. therefore, they are not particularly liked. Why be there a sin to conceal, they do not really like it and a helmet too. it is bulky and gets in the way. As a result, given that the planes fly at a maximum altitude of 25 km, then where it is possible to do without a spacesuit, the pilots try to use VKK and a pressure helmet, since up to 25 km it provides protection. But even to this altitude, our planes rarely rise and not all, therefore, if flights take place at altitudes up to 18-20 km, then the pilots prefer the usual CM because of the ease of use.

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Bshkaus

But what a sin to conceal, they do not really like it and a helmet too. it is bulky and gets in the way

The view downward (on the devices) is really terrible. And the article is tasty, but not enough. )))

[kytx]

and what is CM?

[Bshkaus]

and what is CM?

KM - a term abbreviated as "oxygen mask", and then its model is written through a hyphen, etc. KM-34, KM-35, KM-36M, etc. "SK" - a spacesuit, "ZSH" - protective helmet, "GSh"- a helmet, "VKK" - high-altitude compensating suit, "PPK" - anti-overload suit, but it is worth remembering that the VKK has anti-overload cameras "PU" )))))))), which allow you to use the VKK as a PPK.

[kytx]

thank you
I knew about VKK
I didn't know everything else
I ask you if you give specific abbreviations - let's decrypt
here one Damantsev is enough :)

[Bshkaus]

I ask you if you give specific abbreviations - let's decrypt

OK, I will try to explain more carefully. Usually, at the first mention, I try to give the full name and explain in brackets what will be further abbreviated. But if it is still difficult to navigate, then I will often write the full names. I understand perfectly well that for an unprepared reader it is hard - it is like that in other areas_)))