Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
LATEST ITEMS
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Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition.
Superb example of the iconic RFC cowl type hooded flying helmet. Butter soft leather with a chamois lining around the chin/neck and inside the crown, with a fur lining around the head. Cord tightens the facial opening and is secured by the leather chin strap and buckle. Trapezoid ear flaps and padded leather cylinders for wind deflection and narrow straps tighten the forehead. Crisp, clear War Dept, broad arrow marking inside. Best of all it retains 90% of its fur - most of these helmets found today have the fur rubbed or moulted away. An absolute stunner with shows light use and a couple of minor marks on the front, but very hard to find better.​
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$1,345 / £1,100 / €1,310
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 Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |  Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |
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 Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |  Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |
 Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |  Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |
 Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |  Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |
 Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |  Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |
 Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |  Royal Flying Corps Cowl type, fur-lined leather flying helmet in excellent condition. |
RARE variation of the RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) .
A very scarce variation of the Type E helmet which is fitted with the Type 2186 wiring loom (10H/5229) and ANB-H-1 receivers plus the rare bakelite end-caps for noise attenuation. These wiring looms were installed in Type C, D and E wired helmets for use with US radios in lend-lease aircraft operated by both the RAF and Fleet Air Arm. Helmet shows use but no wear or damage and is a large size (3 or 4). The end caps alone are extremely rare. The wiring still retains its coated linen tag with instructions. A very rare find.​
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$700 / £585 / €685
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 RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |  RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |
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 RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |  RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |
 RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |  RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |
 RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |  RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |
 RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |  RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |
 RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |  RAF Type E flying helmet, internally wired with scarce Type 2186 cord (for US ANB-H-1 receivers) |
RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965.
Successor to the C, D and E helmets of WWII, the Type G followed the Type F into service in the mid-1950s. Blue Aertex cotton with large oval leather padded earcups to keep out noise, the G helmet could be worn alone or with a Mk I bone-dome/crash helmet over it. This helmet is in very good, used condition and complete except for the internal telephone recievers (all wiring is present and correct). It is fitted with the scarce mask attachment hooks and chain mechanism together with a Type P/Q oxygen mask. Mask is in very good condition, the rubber soft and pliable, with one very small split at the internal edge. Helmet is dated 1965 making it suitbable for the V-bombers or Shackleton, but also worn (with the bone-dome) in Hunters, Jet Provosts, Lightnings, etc.
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$200 / £165 / €195
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 RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |  RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |
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 RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |  RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |
 RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |  RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |
 RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |  RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |
 RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |  RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |
 RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |  RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |
 RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |  RAF Type G flying helmet wired and with Type Q oxygen mask. Cold War era circa 1965 |
Early WWI Royal Flying Corps goggle mask.
The perfect companion for the Cowl helmet shown above: this early goggle mask features oval laminated glass lenses in alloy frames with a chenille trimmed, velvet lined suede mask and elastic strap which still has some stretch. While definitely showing use, the goggle mask remains in good condition, it's maleable wire frame still intscat and able to be bent to fit tightly. Lenses are good and leather mask is very good. The cotton knit surrounds have split, one side showing an old repair, the other side remains torn but still functional. The chenille trim shows some loss at lower edge but overall, for a pair of goggles dating to around 1914, these display remarkably well. Clasp on strap marked JKO Co.​
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$425 / £350 / €415
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 Early WWI Royal Flying Corps goggle mask |  Early WWI Royal Flying Corps goggle mask |
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 Early WWI Royal Flying Corps goggle mask |  Early WWI Royal Flying Corps goggle mask |
 Early WWI Royal Flying Corps goggle mask |
RAF parachute / equipment bag.
RAF parachute bag in very good, condition, showing light use but no wear or damage. Tan canvas bag with perfect working zip fastener (marked "Flash"), internal flaps with snap closure. Crisp clear broad arrow mark on both sides. These were issued as equipment bags but their primary use was for storage and transportation of parachute harnesses and packs, both seat types and observer types.
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$165 / £135 / €160
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 RAF parachute / equipment bag |  RAF parachute / equipment bag |
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 RAF parachute / equipment bag |  RAF parachute / equipment bag |
 RAF parachute / equipment bag |  RAF parachute / equipment bag |
 RAF parachute / equipment bag |  RAF parachute / equipment bag |
Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic.
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Probably the finest example of a privately-tailored RFC "Maternity" tunic I have ever handled. While the tunic shows just enough use to say "I was there" the overall condition is quite superb. Though there is no tailor's label, it is a lovely, bespoke jacket that would have cost a pretty penny back in the day. Lined with satin throughout, it retains all its original tortoiseshell buttons and press-stud fastenings, as well as bronze collar "dogs" and bronze RFC buttons to each epaulette, and rank pips for a lieutenant. An excellent, genuine pair of silk embroidered RFC pilot wings are sewn to the left breast. There is a small nick on of the feathers, otherwise these are perfect. There are few signs of wear, but no holes and no sign of any insect damage. It would be very, very difficult to find a better, cleaner example.​
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$3,650 / £2,995 / €3,550
 Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |  Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |
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 Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |  Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |
 Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |  Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |
 Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |  Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |
 Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |  Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunic |
 Superb Royal Flying Corps officer's plastron-front "Maternity" tunicIMG_1420 |
Royal Flying Corps pilots stem-winding 30-hour non-luminous Mk V
stopwatch/chronometer.
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A good Mk V non-luminous pilot's stopwatch, marked B.E. 7135. One of very few I have seen that actually works! I have not wound it to its extreme, but after a few turns of the stem, it runs smoothly and appears to keep good time. Evidently it has been overhauled at some time, because it has a replacement glass crystal that is flat, with a bevelled edge, rather than domed as the original would have been. It has been opened as can be seen from the marks at the edge of the case. Nice clear
A-over-broad arrow on back of case indicating property of the Air Board (forerunner of the Air Ministry). A lovely watch.
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$365 / £300 / €355
 Royal Flying Corps pilots stem-winding stopwatch/chronometer |  Royal Flying Corps pilots stem-winding stopwatch/chronometer |
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 Royal Flying Corps pilots stem-winding stopwatch/chronometer |