Quote:
Originally Posted by GBrutus
It would have been a tight fit but it was more likely down to individual pilots and how comfortable they were wearing it. It certainly wasn't impossible and there are plenty of photos of Spitfire pilots wearing Irvin jackets. I've read a few pilot accounts of how cold they were at 30,000ft even with the jacket on (unless I imagined them). Anyway, I don't think it's correct to say impossible, rather it was just difficult.
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Aye, but in a combat situation it was a tough job. As you though, size can make a difference, but it is unlikely on most pilots. The colar of the Irvin is so large that it makes head movement really quite difficult. Having said that, I have seen a few pictures as you say of pilots wearing them in spits, but these may be staged...