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(Original Caption) Edwards Air Force Base, California: The Suit That Breathes. Wearing a flying suit that's a masterpiece of technology--almost as complex as the plane he flies--Richard L. Johnson, Chief Test Pilot, prepares to take off in the new F-102A Convair, a supersonic all-weather interceptor. Rubber tubes along his arms and legs are inflated in the Air Force T-1 pressure suit during high-altitude flights. The test tubes tighten laces and apply pressure evenly over the pilot, protecting him in case of cabin pressure failure. An oxygen hose and microphone are fitted to the plastic helmet. An emergency bottle, on his left leg, provides oxygen if the pilot has to parachute from above 15,000 feet. The board in Johnson's right hand is strapped to his leg during flights, so that he can readily record performance data.

Image provided by Getty Images.