Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Parachutes / Mae Wests
(click on pictures to enlarge)
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 |
RAF 1941 Pattern life vest kapok pads (excellent reproductions).
Superb replica set of kapok pads for the 1941 Pattern Mae West (Stole pattern life saving waistcoat in RAF parlance). Originals are getting extremely difficult to source so these excellent copies (made, I believe, by Sefton) are an excellent substitute, complete with authentic Air Ministry markings and AID inspector's stamps.
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$75 / £62 / €72
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 RAF 1941 Pattern life vest kapok pads (excellent reproductions) |  RAF 1941 Pattern life vest kapok pads (excellent reproductions) |
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 RAF 1941 Pattern life vest kapok pads (excellent reproductions) |
AAF Aviator's kit bag AN-6501-1 (parachute bag) in excellent condition.
Heavy OD cotton "duck" canvas bag with webbing handles and brass zip fasteners, well marked and in excellent condition. Used for storing and transporting bulky aircrew clothing and equipment, in particular parachutes. Well marked with zips in good working order. This example is late war and shows almost no use or wear. Not hard to find, but not common to find in this condition. ​
$95 / £75 / €80
 AAF Aviator's kit bag in excellent condition |  AAF kit bag in excellent condition |
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 AAF Aviator's kit bag in excellent condition |  AAF Aviator's kit bag in excellent condition |
 AAF Aviator's kit bag in excellent condition |  AAF Aviator's kit bag in excellent condition |
 AAF Aviator's kit bag in excellent condition |  AAF Aviator's kit bag in excellent condition |
RAF1941 pattern Mae West complete with good stole/bladder — possibly FAA issue.
Popularly known as "1941 Pattern Mae West" but more correctly, "Life Saving Waistcoat, Stole-Inflated." Yellow cotton vest fastens with 3 buttons plus tie tapes at the chest, waist and thighs. A very good, clean example complete with its internal, inflatable stole, grab handles, dye pouch (with remnants of red thread), and pocket for skull cap. It also has both the early style wooden toggle and rope and the scarce "female" connector for the dinghy pack. The flap pocket for the floating rescue torch has been removed, suggesting Fleet Air Arm use — Navy aircrews frequently removed the pocket in favour of using the smaller Easco single-battery red light instead. There are a couple of tears where the pocket was removed but nothing major and could easily be fixed if desired. Pocket was obviously
removed at the time of issue because cotton shows even wear/discolouration. Stole is still flexible, broad arrow marked and dated 12/44.
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$1,100 / £885 / €1,055
 RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |  RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |
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 RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |  RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |
 RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |  RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |
 RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |  RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |
 RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |  RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |
 RAF / FAA 1941 stole inflated life saving waistcoat (1941 pattern Mae West). |
RAF small heliograph/signal mirror for ASR.
The smaller of 2 variations of the heliograph (2-inch – the larger was 4-inch), issued with the K dinghy for single seat fighter aircraft. Though many pilots carried one in gthe pocket on the front of the life vest, it was intended for the Dinghy pack. Comprises a cotton pouch containing a polihsed steel "mirror" and sighting tool, with instrctions printed on the back. Very good condition and includes cord for attaching to the K dinghy pack or the eyelet above the Mae West pocket.
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$65 / £50 / €60
 RAF small heliograph/signal mirror for ASR |  RAF small heliograph/signal mirror for ASR |
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 RAF small heliograph/signal mirror for ASR |  RAF small heliograph/signal mirror for ASR |
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, very small tear to front (see photos). Similar Frankenstein Mk IV life vests were used in the making of the film, "Battle of Britain."
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SOLD
 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 |
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 |
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.
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$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 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 |