The SAAF Forum

Not my kettle.

I've ordered some styrofoam mannequin heads and these should arrive in the next four weeks. Will make for better props.

Clansman Anti-G garment Mk2A as used by Mirage F1 pilots.

Mines at the other end of the spectrum ... long!

It complements my Aerazur Type 817-M2 anti-g suit which arrived with the Mirage IIIs.

I'm interested to see how it compares, visually.

Clansman was based in Pietermaritzburg, also manufacturing flight overalls, flack jackets, etc.

I think the Clansman Mk2A was the general anti-g trouser for the SAAF during the 70's and 80's and 90's.

AKR57 is my personal helmet ident with the Safety Equipment section where the flying kit was serviced and and maintained. AKR stands for RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, where I served as the Squadron QFI/IRE on No 73 Squadron flying Canberra Mk15's andMk16's with the Middle East Air Force from 1965 to 1967. These versatile Canberras were operated in the ground attack role and were equipped with a wide variety of conventional weapons including the AS30Missile. In addition they were also part of the nuclear strike force. The flying suit is indeed Australian and was a lot more comfortable in the tropical heat than the RAF version, as our theater of operation included all the Mediterranean countries plus Iran and the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

The "bone dome" was painted blue as this was the 73Sqn colour. The springbok was always part of my personal ident during my years of RAF service from 1955 to 1967 -- before they thought of "proudly South African" --!!!