Physiological Support Division

9th SRW - Beale AFB, California

• PSD was the enlisted medical team that suited up the SR-71 pilots prior to a mission at Beale AFB in California. They were highly trained and their job was Life Support for the Blackbird Crews. Their job was to insure the suits were serviceable; assist the pilot in suit up; test the components of the suit such as oxygen, communications and air conditioning. PSD would assist the crew into a van vehicle connecting vital components to maintain pure oxygen and air conditioning to the pilot and RSO. Upon arrival at the SR-71, PSD personnel would connect the crews Life Support fittings to the Blackbird.

• The outside air temperature at 80,000 feet is -56 degrees Centigrade. Pilot survival in the event of an ejection or rapid decompression was essentially the job of the pressure suit. Reliability of the suit was the job of PSD technicians. They also had the responsibility of the altitude chamber flights and the water survival tests and instructions for the pilots.

• The Pressure Suits are manufactured by the David Clark Company of Worcester, Maine, USA. There have been numerous improvements over the years. The first suit issued was a silver colored  model S901 and was used by the CIA during the Oxcart/YF12 years. This same suit, in 1968, was re-designated the S-1010 to accommodate the longer U-2 flights. The S-1010 suit is an all white unit designed to reduce cockpit glare. It was used during the early days of the SR-71 at Beale AFB in California. The next modification was to a dark brown/black suit, the model S-1030. This suit solved the glare problem but was discarded as it readily absorbed radiated heat. The last suit used on the SR-71 was the David Clark S-1031C and was a light gold color. This suit was used until the program closed down. The cost per suit was $120,000. The model S-1031 pressure suit weighed 50 pounds and came in 12 sizes. There was a total of six layers of fabric. The outer fabric was Nomex, much like Indy race car drivers wear; mesh netting was next to prevent the bladder from over inflating; the bladder made of a rubber compound and inflated with air pressure; a comfort liner was next to keep the bladder from chafing the pilot and insulated underwear to wick away perspiration. Each Crew member had two suits. The flight suit is pressurized for comfort to 3 PSI at altitude.

The following set of 46 Images were taken prior to the record setting New York to London flight in 1974. They show Pilot Major James Sullivan and Reconnaissance System Operator (RSO) Major Noel Widdifield getting suited up by PSD personnel. Images are click to enlarge. Identifying text and procedures under the images is courtesy of Leonard Kania, PSD Technician at Beale AFB, California.

psd001 High Protein Breakfast	psd002 Updated Briefings	psd003 Pilot Sullivan's Suit	psd004 RSO Widdifield's Suit	psd005 Primary  Pressure Suit	psd006 Outer Suit is next
psd007 PSD assists Pilot	psd008 PSD Assists RSO	psd009 Oxygen Valves Connected	psd010 Connections Checked	psd011 RSO Suit Closed Up	psd012 Pilot Boots Installed
psd013 RSO Boots Installed	psd014 Pilot's Boots Zipped	psd015 Pilot Awaits Helmet Install	psd016 RSO gets Helmet on and Sealed	psd017 PSD Assists with Helmet	psd018 RSO puts on Nylon Gloves
psd019 RSO Oxygen checks	psd020 Pilot Oxygen Checks	psd021 Face Heat and Comm Checks	psd022 RSO Suit Pressure Checks	psd023 Pilot final  suit checks	psd024 PSD Team Beale AFB
psd025 Pilot James Sullivan	psd026 Pilot and RSO	psd027 Pilot and RSO	psd028 RSO Noel Widdifield	psd029 Habu Crew Sullivan/Widdifield	psd030 Pre-Breathing Oxygen
psd031 Ride to the Blackbird	psd032 Ride to the Blackbird	psd033 SR-71 Mission Ready	psd034 Major's Sullivan and Widdifield	psd035 Crew departs PSD Van	psd036 Boarding
psd037 Boarding the Blackbird	psd038 SR-71 Cockpit	psd039 Pilot pre-launch checks	psd040 Pilot Major Sullivan	psd041 Ready for  Engine Start	psd042 RSO Cockpit
psd043 RSO Checking systems	psd044 RSO Ready for launch	psd045 Taxi out at Beale	psd046 Crew Chief Salutes the Crew

Credits: 

Caption text under photos by Leonard Kania, PSD Technician at Beale AFB, California. Portions of lead-in text gleaned from Colonel Richard Graham's book, "SR-71 Revealed, The Inside Story" ISBN 0-7603-0122-0. Graham's book can be ordered and autographed by him at this website: http://www.habu.org/graham/