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The MA-2 Pressure Helmet was a standard type of high-altitude helmet worn above 50,000 feet and was used for many years with a variety of partial pressure suits. It was basically a soft helmet with a bladder to provide pressure, a detachable outer shell of rigid molded plastic to provide protection and retain the prssure within the defined area, and a transparent faceplate. This example was the spare helmet that belonged to Francis Gary Powers at the time of ill-fated reconnaissance flight in a Lockheed U-2B over the Soviet Union in 1960. The U.S. Air Force insignia normally worn on the front of the helmet was painted over and replaced with Powers' identification number "29".

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Helmets & Headwear Physical Description United States Air Force Type MA-2 Pressure Breathing Flying Helmet; white fiberglass protective shell with black stencil "29" on front; sage green rubberized nylon lining with chamois face ring; clear plastic face plate with aluminum frame, cork seal on face plate; internal mounted microphone with black nylon lined patch cord; sage green nylon covered oxygen hose with sage green rubber cover microphone patch cords. Dimensions 3-D: 25.4 x 25.4 x 38.1cm (10 x 10 x 15 in.)
 Materials Shell: Fiberglass
Lining: Ruberized Nylon
Face Mask: Lens Plastic and Aluminum Frame
 Inventory Number A19731430000 Credit Line Transferred from the United States Air Force, Office of the Surgeon General Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use. You may also like Bridge of Spies: An Opportunity to Bust Myths about the U-2 and the Capture of Gary Powers October 27, 2015