Code: S27468
'Suits, Flying, Buoyant'. Stores reference 22c/739. Size medium (Ht. 5'7"-5'10", Br. 37"-39", Wt. 33"-35", St. 39"-41"). Yellow one-piece double breasted safety suit designed to give maximum comfort, buoyancy in water and a certain amount of fire protection - supposedly without causing too much restriction of movement of the wearer. Produced in a heavy 'aerocord' material and designed to be worn with a flame-proof kapok liner along with flotation pads in knee and breast pockets and in the collar. Internal braces relieved pressure on the wearer's shoulders from the weight of the suit. Press studs and quick-release zip fasteners promoted rapid removal in an emergency. The material is in excellent overall condition. It does have a couple of small fray holes on the backside but nothing serious. The suit retains good colour and whilst there is some light soiling, is really quite clean. Yellow was chosen to aid visibility in the sea but wasn't the most practical colour for use within oily airframes so clean suits are rare. The extensive/long zips and other metalwork on these suits are prone to verdigris and corrosion but this one is unusually good. All zips are original and in working condition, most complete with a fabric puller tag. The lining is generally good, bar some small tears near the collar, and the braces and Air Ministry marked label are present. This is a relatively early example and was not fitted with the flotation lamp pocket or dye marker pack seen on later suits. A very good '+' example of what are now quite rare suits. Most that turn up are in very poor condition and filthy! Bulky and rather heavy. Stock code S27468.
