Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Parachutes / Mae Wests
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RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with internal stole/bladder fitted.
Nice displayable example of the M IVA life vest manufactured by Frankensteins of Manchester, dating from the early-mid 1960s.. The Frankenstein series of life vests replaced the old wartime 1941 Pattern and then underwent a series of modifications/additions in accessories, each with a new designation. Comprising a heavy deep yellow cotton outer vest with numerous pockets for survival and rescue equipment. Vest is clean and complete with its original stole/bladder inside and oral inflation tube/mouthpiece. Stole is rubberized cotton and is a little bit crispy from the rubber coating drying out with age, but it is still flexible and displays well. No inflation bottle or other accessories. Similar Frankenstein Mk IV life vests were used in the making of the film, "Battle of Britain."
$175 / £135 / €160
 RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |  RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |
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 RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |  RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |
 RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |  RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |
 RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |  RAF Mk IVA life vest by Frankenstein with stole/bladder |
Wartime US Navy contract Type AN6519-1 life vest in excellent condition.
Excellent example of the late war life vest – essentially a Type B-4 redesignated as AN6519 after the joint services agreement to streamline equipment for compatibility. This example has the more scarce wartime US Navy contract prefix N288S. It has a manufacture date of April 3, 1945, making it a good wartime production piece. It was evidently reissued from stores at a later date, because a later owner has added his name, Rawlings, and the date July 4, 1950. Condition of the vest is just superb. The rubberized fabric is flexible with no hard or worn spots and no damage. Very slight water staining to the collar. Retains all correct straps and inflation chambers, with oral inflation rubber tubes also in perfect condition.
$250 / £170 / €200
 USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |  USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |
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 USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |  USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |
 USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |  USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |
 USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |  USN contract Type AN6519-1 life vest |
AAF QAC Type A-3 parachute pack, complete with silk, modified from seat pack.
Very scarce early modification of a seat pack into a QAC chest pack, issued to AAF aircrews from 1943. It began life as a seat pack, complete with attached harness which was subsequently removed in the factory and replaced with the QAC hooks and a grab handle (on one side only) and retro-fitted with a T-ring and sleeve. Once the QAC pattern was established, these were colour-coded with yellow paint. Being an early conversion, this example is not painted yellow. Excellent condition and fitted with correct 28' diameter wartime parachute.
$450 / £355 / €415
 AAF QAC Type A-3 parachute pack, complete with silk, modified from seat pack. |  AAF QAC Type A-3 parachute pack, complete with silk, modified from seat pack. |
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 AAF QAC Type A-3 parachute pack, complete with silk, modified from seat pack. |  AAF QAC Type A-3 parachute pack, complete with silk, modified from seat pack. |
 AAF QAC Type A-3 parachute pack, complete with silk, modified from seat pack. |
RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date.
Very nice early example of the GQ Dual Purpose flying suit, developed by the Irving Air Chute company as the "Harnessuit". It housed both a parachute harness and flotation device, and was adaptable as a seat-type or observer (chest type) parachute, either of which could be clipped to the built-in hardware on the suit. As with most of these suits, the hardware has long since been removed and there is no internal harness fitted. However it does retain the housing for the inflatable stole (bladder) often missing, secured by brass buttons. There are two very small holes in the side where the metal slide fitting for the seat parachute cable was seated, and one very small area where the stitching on the seam at the side has separated - no damage to the fabric - and this would be a simple repair. Of interest is the early contact/manufacture date of 1939 and the early acceptance stamp of June 1940 (most I have seen are dated September or October). Also of note is the fact that it utilizes parts from the earlier combination flying suit in blue grey fabric suggesting that wartime austerity practices were already in place this early. Overall a very good and quite unusual example of this very popular flying suit which would lend itself well to a full restoration.
$675 / £525 / €615
 RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date. |  RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date. |
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 RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date. |  RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date. |
 RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date. |  RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date. |
 RAF Dual Purpose flying suit (Harnessuit) by GQ - early manufacture and issue date. |
RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads.
Lovely example of the so-called RAF "1941 pattern life vest" - although correctly cataloged as "Life saving waistcoat, stole-inflated pattern". yellow cotton waistcoat with 3-buttons to front, grab handles and leg straps, pocket for floating torch and flap for dye-marker pouch. Also features a built-in toggle and rope for securing to dinghy and other crew members. Condition is outstanding! Very clean with no wear or damage. Good Air Ministry label indicating "flap type" (though no flap fitted) with inked initials "W.M." Fitted with a 12/44 dated inflatable stole (bladder) also in excellent condition, completely pliable with good inflation tube and working valve. Cartridge opening has been sealed (a common safety practice) but could be unplugged for fitting a cartridge if desired. Also includes a correct, original set of kapok pads for additional flotation. Issued from 1941 with various improvements throughout the war - this example dates from c.1943-44. Worn by all RAF pilots and aircrew and also many AAF personnel. Now becoming quite rare, especially in this amazing condition!
$1,595 / £1,250 / €1,470
 RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |  RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |
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 RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |  RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vestin excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |
 RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |  RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |
 RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |  RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |
 RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |  RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |
 RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |  RAF 1941 Pattern Life Vest in excellent condition complete with stole (bladder) and kapok pads |
AAF Aviator's Kit Bag / parachute bag AN6505-1.
Large, OD green canvas kit bag, which was primarily used for storing parachute equipment but could have a thousand uses. This is in great condition, no undue wear or damage and good, strong working zips. Very handy to have!
$95 / £75 / €90
 AAF Aviator's Kit Bag / parachute bag |  AAF Aviator's Kit Bag / parachute bag |
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 AAF Aviator's Kit Bag / parachute bag |  AAF Aviator's Kit Bag / parachute bag |
AAF Pack for the Type C-2 Pneumatic raft.
Heavy canvas pack for the Type C-2 Pneumatic raft for attaching to the seat-type parachute harness. This is one of the later types with the hooks reversed so that the wearer sat on the opening. manufacture date of March 1945. Made by Rubber Raft Corp. of America. Very good condition, with some staining and soiling from storage.
$175 / £135 / €165
 AAF Type C-2 Pararaft pack |  AAF Type C-2 Pararaft pack |
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 AAF Type C-2 Pararaft pack |  AAF Type C-2 Pararaft pack |
RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box.
Exceptional example of the floating torch as carried in the side pocket of the 1941 pattern life vest. Green metal battery housing is well marked with broad arrow and Stores Ref. No. Original wiring is perfect with no drying out or cracking - very unusual - and float is complete with celluloid lens cover and bulb. NOTE: Torch has never been used! The wire seal which needs to be broken in order to activate the light is still intact! Apoart from a few minor scratches to the green paint, this torch is in just about perfect condition. Still contained in its original GE marked cardboard box. Very difficult to find in this kind of condition.
$275 / £220 / €260
 RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box |  RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box |
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 RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box |  RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box |
 RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box |  RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box |
 RAF 1941 pattern life vest floating torch in original box |
RAF Type A Mk III pack for the one-man Type K Dinghy (top cover only).
Top cover of the K Dinghy pack, Type A Mk III issued to fighter pilots and single seat aircraft, with pockets for accessories and survival items and the scarce conhnector for the Mae West still attached. This is in excellent condition, showing very little use or wear and still has a clear crisp instructions in 4 languages. It is marked on top with a yellow stripe and "VET DINGHY DRILL." These packs are rarely found in such great condition and this makes a very good display - just needs the bottom cover.
$125 / £99 / €115
 RAF Dinghy Pack Type A Mk III for K dinghy - top cover only |  RAF Dinghy Pack Type A Mk III for K dinghy - top cover only |
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 RAF Dinghy Pack Type A Mk III for K dinghy - top cover only |  RAF Dinghy Pack Type A Mk III for K dinghy - top cover only |
 RAF Dinghy Pack Type A Mk III for K dinghy - top cover only |  RAF Dinghy Pack Type A Mk III for K dinghy - top cover only |
RAF 1941 Pattern Mae West toggle rope.
Toggle rope as issued with the 1941 Pattern Life Vest for tying as needed together once having landed in the sea. One end was sewn to the inside of the vest and coiled up in the pouch between the flotation chamber and the outer layet. It could be uncoiled and the wooden toggle secured to other ditched crewmembers, the dinghy, rescue vessel etc. as needed.
$45 / £38 / €43
 RAF 1941 Pattern Mae West Toggle Rope |  RAF 1941 Pattern Mae West Toggle Rope |
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