"Oviedo" wrote in newsxJ4j.10015$vt2.2319
@bignews8.bellsouth.net:

Rather unique helmet.




Theres a lot of history behind the helmets or lack thereof worn
back then. since there were no offical helmets, the pilots around
Edwards/Muroc wore what they wanted. remember these were the days
of leather helmets and caps with 50 mission crush..
(according to Chuck Yeager and others)
Yeager when He flew the X-1, IIRC: he wore a modified tankers
helmet, and when they were testing the first jet, one
wore an ape mask, and and smoked a cigar, cause if any other
pilot reported seeing a plane without a propeller, no one
would belive them if they reported that they saw a plane with no
propeller being flown by a monkey with a cigar in his mouth..

Its really interesting to read the stories from Yeager, Ben Rich
and Tony LaVer.