Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Parachutes / Mae Wests
(click on pictures to enlarge)
RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) with dinghy attachments and helioograph.
A very clean example of the RAF stole inflated (cartridge) life saving waistcoat, popularly referred to as "1941 pattern." It comprises a yellow cotton waistcoat with 3 button front, and zipped compartment for housing a stole (bladder) and kapok pads for buoyancy. No stole or pads are present. This example has a nice Air Ministry label and dates to mid-1943. It has the addition of grab handles, leg tapes, dye marker pouch (no dye) and pocket for floating torch (not included). It is fitted with both a toggle rope and screw-type connector for attaching to the dinghy pack, and also has its heliograph/signal mirror attached and fitted into the small pocket on the chest. Excellent condition and getting harder to find.
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$750 / £550 / €635
 RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |  RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |
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 RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |  RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |
 RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |  RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |
 RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |  RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |
 RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |  RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |
 RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |  RAF stole inflated life saving waistcoat (known as 1941 pattern) |
Early war US Navy quick attach chest parachute harness dated January 1942.
Very good, clean example of the scarce US Navy QAC type harness for a chest parachute pack. This is a very early production model dated January 1942. No pad or pack - just the harness in white canvas webbing with all hardware fitted.
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$550 / £405 / €465
 Early war US Navy quick attach chest parachute harness dated January 1942 |  Early war US Navy quick attach chest parachute harness dated January 1942 |
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 Early war US Navy quick attach chest parachute harness dated January 1942 |  Early war US Navy quick attach chest parachute harness dated January 1942 |
 Early war US Navy quick attach chest parachute harness dated January 1942 |
RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy.
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Excellent example of this useful tool for downed airmen sighting and signalling to rescue aircraft and ships whether in the sea or or on land. Small version (2 versions were made, 2" and 4") in its original cotton pouch with sighting device attached and instructions printed on back.
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$45 / £35 / €40
 RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy. |
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 RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy. |
 RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy. |
 RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy. |
 RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy.h/signal mirror. Carried |
 RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy. |
 RAF heliograph/signal mirror. Carried in Mae West and with one-man K dinghy. |
Ultra-rare RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation mechanism.
Another absolute "Holy Grail" collector's item! The true "Flap Type" Mae West, complete with its flap intact. These were issued for a very short time in late 1941. In April 1942, an AMO directed they be withdrawn and the flaps removed. Originally intended as a rescue/visibility aid, the flap could wrap around an injured or unconscious flyer's face and cause drowning. Hence, of the relatively small number produced, very few survive; these are even more rare than the green life vests they replaced. This example can be dated to early 1942 (immediately before their withdrawal). It is in fantastic condition, clean and undamaged (one small stain to front lobe and another to collar). It features the integral flap edged in a roll of sponge rubber for flotation; extremely early rare yellow silk covered stole/bladder A-crown-M marked and dated 1/42 complete with its lever inflation mechanism; matching set of early kapok pads made from oiled cotton; leg tapes and factory added grab handles; dye marker flap/pocket. It has no pocket for a floating torch; no pocket for the skull cap; no dinghy rope connecting ring which were later modifications.
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$8,500 / £6,500 / €7,380
 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |  RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, sto;e/bladder and lever inflation |
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 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |  RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |
 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |  RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |
 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |  RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |
 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |  RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, sto;e/bladder and lever inflation |
 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |  RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |
 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |  RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |
 RAF Flap-Type life-saving waistcoat Mae West, complete with flap, stole/bladder and lever inflation |
RARE variation Luftwaffe 10-30B-2 life vest, possibly an experimental self-inflating model, with built-in kapoks.
Looks like a standard mid-late war Luftwaffe 10-30B-2 life vest, with two major differences: The inflation mechanism is completely different, and thick kapok pads are sealed INSIDE the inflation chambers (similar to RAF stoles for the Harnessuit). One of the biggest problems experienced by all air forces was pilots and crews landing in the water unconscious. Being unable to manually inflate their life vests, they would often drown. Self-inflating life vests (and dinghies) became readily available soon after the war, using either hydrostatic pressure to trigger a C)2 cartridge, or, as I believe in this case, a chemical reaction which generated CO2 by mixing sodium-bicarbonate with sea water. Perhaps this was a trial model and didn’t make it into production before the war ended? The vest has no official label but is stamped GUM, the 3-letter code for Bergisch-Maerkisches Eisenwerk of Velbert who specialized in precision metal casting (much needed for this type of inflation mechanism). I can find no official record of any self-inflating life vests—but so many records have been lost or destroyed. My theory is an educated guess, nothing more, but this is 100% original and has never been messed with. Very good used condition, a bit grubby with some minor damage to the rubberized canvas around the heavy mechanism.
$3,500 / £2,570 / €2,965
 Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |  Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |
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 Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |  Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |
 Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |  Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |
 Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |  Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |
 Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |  Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |
 Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |  Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |
 Luftwaffe experimental self-inflating life vest |
RAF 1941 Pattern Mae West circular clamp for attaching inflation mechanism.
Comprising a circlip with a brass inner collar and a special self-tightening screw, this small but important component was used for securing the lever operated inflation mechanism to the stole (bladder) on the stole-inflated live saving waistcoat (1941 Pattern Mae West in everyday speak!).
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$15 / £12 / €14
 RAF 1941 Pattern Mae West circular clamp for attaching inflation mechanism. |
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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!
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$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 |
RAF Type A Mk III pack for the one-man Type K Dinghy (top cover only).
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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.
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$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 |