Warbird Flyers - Common to use O2 masks with no O2?

[Saville]

I was watching (for about the zillionth time) that fabulous documentary "Spitfire Ace", recently. I was reminded of something I saw early on and wondered about:

When the students were flying the Tiger Moth, both the students and the IP wore a mask. There is clearly a microphone connection and just as clearly no O2 hose (see photos below).

I was wondering if this is commonly done by warbirders? Everyone used boom mikes in the Spitfire, later on in the show. So maybe the masks were only to account for the open cockpit and the attendant wind noise.

I saw someone taxiing out in a T-34 the other day and both pilots had O2 masks on yet I was assured by the delivery pilot that there was no O2 system in the aircraft.

If there's no air hose or valves mounted in the mask, I can see where it would be handy to mount a modern, civilian microphone in the mask and use that.

Anyhow I wonder if this is commonly done or was just a one off thing.

thanks

Gregg

[51fixer]

Radios and Microphones weren't the best for windy and high noise environments.
They developed this mask as a way to help cut down environmental noise when transmitting.
British A/C also had a telegraph key in the cockpit to send morse code messages.

[Saville]

They developed this mask as a way to help cut down environmental noise when transmitting.

Who would "they" be? And do you know about when they developed the mask?

thanks

[The Inspector]

They developed this mask as a way to help cut down environmental noise when transmitting.

Who would "they" be? And do you know about when they developed the mask?

thanks

Theatrical movies done in England during WW2 involving pilots show what looks like a snack sized horses feedbag that looks to be made of duck material(some with a toggle switch, some without)being worn by the 'Ero pylot' to chat up the lads on the old R/T

[Saville]

I'm only reason I'm curious about the "who" and the "when" is that I'm wondering if it was a 1930's notion or a more modern one. Certainly the masks shown in the documentary are very modern.

And I'm also curious to know if warbird flyers uses masks like that for their demonstration flying (along with the hard hat leather helmets).

[51fixer]

A company still sells a modern version.
http://www.campbellaeroclassics.com/id2.html

[Saville]

Do Reno Unlimited racers breath O2 when racing?

thanks

[bentwingbomber]

The masks are RAF type H masks on G type helmets
Not at all modern they date from the late 1950s early 1960s

They were being issued Up until the late 1980s

They are direct developments of the wartime mask and leather helmet.

The mic is integral and they were from pre- war

The "they" Rich is talking about would be the Air Ministry.

Bwb

[Ken]

Do Reno Unlimited racers breath O2 when racing?

thanks

Someone smarter than I am will chime in but I can't see, given the cockpit temps and the potential for fumes in a Reno racer (or any closed cockpit warbird), that anyone would wear an O2 mask without actually receiving O2 unless specifically trying to replicate a look for a show or documentary.

While a good quality, well adjusted mask does begin to seem like it's not even there, there is still a factor of hot and sweaty ... however this is offset somewhat by the seemingly cool, dry O2. The other issue is breathing restrictions. Although the masks are designed to function and allow breathing despite a total loss of O2, the result is still not as easy as breathing without one. If I knew I were going to spend an hour "pretending" to be on O2, I'd find a mask with all the valves and mechanisms removed ... and it would still be uncomfortable.

Ken

[51fixer]

Do Reno Unlimited racers breath O2 when racing?

thanks

For the Unlimited class it is a requirement to have and use O2.