Toggle menu
Toggle preferences menu
Toggle personal menu
Not logged in
Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits.

Flight suit: Difference between revisions

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
Steelviper (talk | contribs)
Fleet -> The Fleet (RDM)
Joe Beaudoin Jr. (talk | contribs)
m →‎Backpack: + bag pic
 
(52 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Racetrack2.jpg|thumb|200px|A flight suit with helmet. (Credit: Sci-Fi Channel)]]
[[Image:Racetrack2.jpg|thumb|200px|[[ECO]] [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]], wearing a flight suit with helmet.]]


Colonial military staff who are flight-qualified as a pilot wear a '''flight suit'''.
A flight suit is basically a [[Wikipedia:Pressure suit|pressure suit]] garment. Flight suits are worn by both [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] and [[Raptor]] crews during missions<ref>In the [[Original Series]], a [[space suit]] was available for emergencies aboard [[Galactica (TOS)|their battlestar]]. However, [[Colonial Warrior]]s never wore any pressure suit during their {{TOS|Viper}} flights, making in-space search-and-rescues likely impossible if cockpit decompressions occurred.</ref>, and the [[humanoid Cylons]] piloting [[Heavy Raiders]].


A flight suit is a basic [[Wikipedia:Pressure suit|pressure suit]]. It's a versatile outfit that has been designed to be as comfortable as it is useful. Flight suits are worn by both [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] and [[Raptor]] crews during missions.
==Colonial Flight Suit==
Colonial military flight crews wear '''flight suits'''<ref>{{bsgwiki term}}</ref>, sometimes referred to as "jock smocks"<ref>This term is first used by [[Kara Thrace]] in "[[He That Believeth in Me]]" when she asks [[Samuel Anders]] why he wears a flight suit.</ref>.


The flight suit is a one-piece jumpsuit with a single zipper from neck to waist in the front. Pressure gloves, which allow for great dexterity for pilot's as they use ship controls, are attached by a soft pressure seal apparently incorporated in the sleeves. The pilot's helmet is connected to the suit by a hard seal collar. This seal also provides pressure to the suit as a whole when connected. The collar receives air from a life support unit attached to the pilot's ejection seat (in the case of Vipers), or attached to a hose.
The flight suit is an airtight, one-piece jumpsuit with a single front zipper that runs from neck to waist; a detachable two-piece vest covering the chest is affixed by snaps across the shoulders and chest. Pressure gloves are attached by soft pressure seals incorporated in the sleeves, with a cuff itself featuring an integrated digital watch, its location based on the pilot's preference {{TRS|33}}. The arms and legs of the suit feature various zippered and flap pockets, as well as pouch compartments, for stowage of equipment such as [[Atmosphere test capsule|atmosphere test capsules]] and oxygen gauges {{TRS|You Can't Go Home Again|Resurrection Ship, Part II}}.
[[File:TRS - Miniseries - Boomer and Helo's Flight Suit Indicators.jpg|thumb|[[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]]'s and [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]'s [[flight suit]] indicators; Boomer's being green while Helo's is red after the shrapnel punctures his suit {{TRS|Miniseries, Night 1}}.]]
The suit is attached to the flight helmet by a hard metal collar; the helmet receives pressurizing air through a hose at the back of the helmet. The suit's basic environmental adjustments are managed by a small series of buttons on the left forearm, featuring a strip of indicator lighting through a covered window. When fully pressurized, the indicator strip illuminates green; it is lit red when the suit is compromised. As the pilot begins the process of removing their suit, this indicator's LED strip begins deactivating in sequence from left to right before powering off {{TRS|Miniseries, Night 1}}.  


[[Image:Flightsuitcollar.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Close-up of the flight suit hard-seal collar. (Credit: Sci-Fi Channel)]]
Suit footwear is capable of magnetic attachment to surfaces for situations requiring EVAs, such as [[SAR|SARs]] {{TRS|A Day in the Life|Razor}}.


It also appears that the flight suit can be worn with helmet but left vented to the outside air by leaving the front helmet's visor partially open, to allow quick connection to life support but allowing crews in larger craft, such as Raptors, to move about the cabin without hoses.
The flight suit appears suitable as all-weather gear when in rainy or cool conditions, but its lack of armor provides no significant protection during hand-to-hand or fire team combat situations {{TRS|33|Valley of Darkness}}.


When pilots are not in flight, the suit is unzipped for comfort. Pilots often roll down the top half of the suit when off-duty or while they are performing hard work. Basic crew fatigues are worn underneath a suit, without the formal officer tunic. Pilots wear standard undershirts under a flight suit.
[[Image:Flightsuitcollar.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Close-up of [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck's]] hard-seal collar.]]


Flight suits appear suitable as all-weather gear when in rainy or cool conditions, but they provide no significant protection in combat as they are not armored. Flight suits can include a utility belt for various gear, including a sidearm.
When not in ready status, the suit can be worn unzipped for comfort, with the top half of the suit rolled down. Standard uniform undershirts are worn underneath the flight suit. Flight suits are worn with utility belts to carry a variety of gear, including sidearms.


[[Image:Capricavalerii2.jpg|thumb|left|175px|A closer look at the upper half of a flight suit. (Credit: Sci-Fi Channel]]<br/>
The basic flight suit design has remained the same since the [[First Cylon War]] without major changes, aside from minor changes in material and vest configuration.
==Note==
In the episodes "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]" and "[[Act of Contrition]]", we see Lieutenant [[Kara Thrace]] using her flight suit to its fullest, from her ejection from her wayward Viper to her parachute landing, and monitoring of life support mechanisms using gauges built into the suit.


The suits are obviously designed to keep a pilot who has ejected from his Viper alive in a vacuum for a limited amount of time, such as when Lee Adama had to eject from the [[Blackbird]] in "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]", it appears that ''Galactica'' rarely has opportunity for [[SAR]] operations to retrieve pilots after combat with Cylon forces in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|re-imagined series]], as they must frequently retreat with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], leaving any surviving Viper pilots to die once their oxygen runs out, or worse, left to the mercy of the Cylons.
An atmospheric green fabric version was observed during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], as worn by a young [[William Adama]] and his children in a photo recovered by [[Prosna]] {{TRS|Miniseries}}. A black t-shirt was sometimes worn instead of the standard shirt and tank-top combination ([[Razor Flashbacks#Episode 1|Razor Flashbacks, Episode 1]]).


{{clear}}
=== Checklist Window ===
[[Image:Capricavalerii2.jpg|thumb|right|175px|A closer look at the upper half of a flight suit.]]
The left leg of the flight suit features a windowed pocket containing a checklist card, oriented to be readable by the wearer when in the seated position. The card for the viper pilots read as follows:
'''Viper Pre Flight Checklist'''
'''1. Pre Flight'''
External Inspection.....................................Okay<br>
Flight Controls............................................Okay<br>
Tanks filled ................................................Okay<br>
Canopy Locks and explosive bolts to safe.....Okay<br>
Seat Motors ...............................................Okay<br>
Weapons to safe ........................................Okay<br>
'''2. Start Check '''
[[Image:Pre Flight Checklist.jpg|thumb|right|Viper Pre Flight Checklist]]
Area..........................................................Clear<br>
Comms......................................................Up<br>
Tacom/Satnav.............................................Up<br>
Canopy Bolts..............................................Armed<br>
Escape Seat...............................................Armed<br>
Engine Systems in the Green.......................Green<br>
Weapons in the Green..........Weapons set to Armed<br>
'''3. Launch Tube Check'''
Area............................................................Clear<br>
Blast Doors..................................................Open<br>
Heads Up Display.........................................On<br>
Tac/Nav........................................................To Active<br>
Flaps...........................................................15 degrees down angle<br>
Engines........................................................85%<br>
Assume Launch Position................................Okay<br>
LSO Launch Signal........................................Okay<br>
Master Caution Cold Shot Warning..................Set<br>
=== Flight Suit as Manned Maneuvering Unit ===
[[File:TRS - Razor - Kara Thrace with Flight Suit MMU Thrusters.jpg|thumb|[[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] with MMU thrusters on [[flight suit]] vest during the [[Battle of the Guardian Basestar]] {{TRS|Razor}}.]]
Flight suits can be modified as manned maneuvering units (MMUs) in space, with reaction control thrusters mounted on the shoulders atop the vest {{TRS|Razor}}.
{{Clear}}
=== Backpack ===
[[File:TRS - You Can't Go Home Again - EVA Backpack and Survival Satchel.jpg|thumb|[[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]]'s EVA backpack and survival satchel {{TRS|You Can't Go Home Again}}.]]
Flight suits are also fitted with a backpack featuring a parachute {{TRS|You Can't Go Home Again}} and an air tank with a limited supply {{TRS|You Can't Go Home Again|Resurrection Ship, Part II|Razor}}. 
When pilots are deployed, a separate zippered satchel with survival equipment is affixed to the backpack. Equipment within the satchel includes tape, water packets, and other survivalist tools {{TRS|You Can't Go Home Again}}.
{{Clear}}
=== Utility Belt ===
Suits feature a utility belt with various pouches for equipment, including a holster with sidearm.
=== Gallery ===
<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:TRS - 33 - Flight Suit Watch Cuff.jpg|Flight suit watch cuff {{TRS|33}}.
File:TRS - You Can't Go Home Again - Survival Kit.jpg|{{callsign|Starbuck}}'s survival kit on the [[red moon]] {{TRS|You Can't Go Home Again}}.
</gallery>
==Cylon Flight Suit==
[[Image:411 cylon pilots.jpg|thumb|[[Number Eight|Eights]] and [[Number Six|Sixes]] in flight suits.]]
[[Humanoid Cylon]]s piloting [[Heavy Raider]]s wear all-black flight suits made of a sleek material {{TRS|The Hub}}. It is unknown whether or not these flight suits have hard seals or helmets.
{{clear}}
==Notes==
*In the episodes "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]" and "[[Act of Contrition]]," [[Kara Thrace]] uses her flight suit to its fullest, from her ejection from her wayward Viper to her parachute landing, and monitoring of life support mechanisms using the gauges built into the suit.
*The suits are designed to keep a pilot who has ejected from his Viper alive in a vacuum for a limited amount of time, such as when Lee Adama has to eject from the [[Blackbird]] in "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]".
*It appears that ''Galactica'' rarely has the opportunity for [[SAR]] operations to retrieve pilots after combat with Cylon forces. Often the battlestar must retreat with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], leaving any surviving Viper pilots to either be captured by the Cylons or die once their oxygen runs out.
*The flight suits were designed by Deborah Everton, and were constructed from materials produced by Sommers Plastic Products.<ref>http://www.scifihero.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=117&pid=4039&mode=threaded&start=</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Descriptive terms]]
[[Category: RDM]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Technology (RDM)]]
[[Category:Terminology (RDM)]]

Latest revision as of 21:12, 24 February 2024

ECO Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson, wearing a flight suit with helmet.

A flight suit is basically a pressure suit garment. Flight suits are worn by both Viper and Raptor crews during missions[1], and the humanoid Cylons piloting Heavy Raiders.

Colonial Flight Suit[edit]

Colonial military flight crews wear flight suits[2], sometimes referred to as "jock smocks"[3].

The flight suit is an airtight, one-piece jumpsuit with a single front zipper that runs from neck to waist; a detachable two-piece vest covering the chest is affixed by snaps across the shoulders and chest. Pressure gloves are attached by soft pressure seals incorporated in the sleeves, with a cuff itself featuring an integrated digital watch, its location based on the pilot's preference (TRS: "33"). The arms and legs of the suit feature various zippered and flap pockets, as well as pouch compartments, for stowage of equipment such as atmosphere test capsules and oxygen gauges (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Resurrection Ship, Part II").

Sharon "Boomer" Valerii's and Karl "Helo" Agathon's flight suit indicators; Boomer's being green while Helo's is red after the shrapnel punctures his suit (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1").

The suit is attached to the flight helmet by a hard metal collar; the helmet receives pressurizing air through a hose at the back of the helmet. The suit's basic environmental adjustments are managed by a small series of buttons on the left forearm, featuring a strip of indicator lighting through a covered window. When fully pressurized, the indicator strip illuminates green; it is lit red when the suit is compromised. As the pilot begins the process of removing their suit, this indicator's LED strip begins deactivating in sequence from left to right before powering off (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1").

Suit footwear is capable of magnetic attachment to surfaces for situations requiring EVAs, such as SARs (TRS: "A Day in the Life", "Razor").

The flight suit appears suitable as all-weather gear when in rainy or cool conditions, but its lack of armor provides no significant protection during hand-to-hand or fire team combat situations (TRS: "33", "Valley of Darkness").

Close-up of Starbuck's hard-seal collar.

When not in ready status, the suit can be worn unzipped for comfort, with the top half of the suit rolled down. Standard uniform undershirts are worn underneath the flight suit. Flight suits are worn with utility belts to carry a variety of gear, including sidearms.

The basic flight suit design has remained the same since the First Cylon War without major changes, aside from minor changes in material and vest configuration.

An atmospheric green fabric version was observed during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, as worn by a young William Adama and his children in a photo recovered by Prosna (TRS: "Miniseries"). A black t-shirt was sometimes worn instead of the standard shirt and tank-top combination (Razor Flashbacks, Episode 1).


Checklist Window[edit]

A closer look at the upper half of a flight suit.

The left leg of the flight suit features a windowed pocket containing a checklist card, oriented to be readable by the wearer when in the seated position. The card for the viper pilots read as follows:

Viper Pre Flight Checklist

1. Pre Flight

External Inspection.....................................Okay
Flight Controls............................................Okay
Tanks filled ................................................Okay
Canopy Locks and explosive bolts to safe.....Okay
Seat Motors ...............................................Okay
Weapons to safe ........................................Okay

2. Start Check

Viper Pre Flight Checklist

Area..........................................................Clear
Comms......................................................Up
Tacom/Satnav.............................................Up
Canopy Bolts..............................................Armed
Escape Seat...............................................Armed
Engine Systems in the Green.......................Green
Weapons in the Green..........Weapons set to Armed

3. Launch Tube Check

Area............................................................Clear
Blast Doors..................................................Open
Heads Up Display.........................................On
Tac/Nav........................................................To Active
Flaps...........................................................15 degrees down angle
Engines........................................................85%
Assume Launch Position................................Okay
LSO Launch Signal........................................Okay
Master Caution Cold Shot Warning..................Set

Flight Suit as Manned Maneuvering Unit[edit]

Kara "Starbuck" Thrace with MMU thrusters on flight suit vest during the Battle of the Guardian Basestar (TRS: "Razor").

Flight suits can be modified as manned maneuvering units (MMUs) in space, with reaction control thrusters mounted on the shoulders atop the vest (TRS: "Razor").


Backpack[edit]

Kara "Starbuck" Thrace's EVA backpack and survival satchel (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again").

Flight suits are also fitted with a backpack featuring a parachute (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again") and an air tank with a limited supply (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Resurrection Ship, Part II", "Razor").

When pilots are deployed, a separate zippered satchel with survival equipment is affixed to the backpack. Equipment within the satchel includes tape, water packets, and other survivalist tools (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again").


Utility Belt[edit]

Suits feature a utility belt with various pouches for equipment, including a holster with sidearm.

Gallery[edit]

Cylon Flight Suit[edit]

Eights and Sixes in flight suits.

Humanoid Cylons piloting Heavy Raiders wear all-black flight suits made of a sleek material (TRS: "The Hub"). It is unknown whether or not these flight suits have hard seals or helmets.


Notes[edit]

  • In the episodes "You Can't Go Home Again" and "Act of Contrition," Kara Thrace uses her flight suit to its fullest, from her ejection from her wayward Viper to her parachute landing, and monitoring of life support mechanisms using the gauges built into the suit.
  • The suits are designed to keep a pilot who has ejected from his Viper alive in a vacuum for a limited amount of time, such as when Lee Adama has to eject from the Blackbird in "Resurrection Ship, Part II".
  • It appears that Galactica rarely has the opportunity for SAR operations to retrieve pilots after combat with Cylon forces. Often the battlestar must retreat with the Fleet, leaving any surviving Viper pilots to either be captured by the Cylons or die once their oxygen runs out.
  • The flight suits were designed by Deborah Everton, and were constructed from materials produced by Sommers Plastic Products.[4]

References[edit]

  1. In the Original Series, a space suit was available for emergencies aboard their battlestar. However, Colonial Warriors never wore any pressure suit during their Viper flights, making in-space search-and-rescues likely impossible if cockpit decompressions occurred.
  2. This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.
  3. This term is first used by Kara Thrace in "He That Believeth in Me" when she asks Samuel Anders why he wears a flight suit.
  4. http://www.scifihero.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=117&pid=4039&mode=threaded&start=