General Information

Serial #

prototype 2

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

Franks suit

Patents

N/A

General Description

fibre [cotton, silk and/or linen], rubber and metal components.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

116.0 cm

Width

43.0 cm

Height

12.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Aviation

Category

Clothing

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

University

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

This model suit used c. 1940 [possibly for testing purposes only]

Canada

Dr. W.R. Franks, Professor in Medical Research, University of Toronto was a leader in aviation research work conducted in Canada during the late 1930s-1940s on problems associated with acceleration. Among his accomplishments in the field, Franks developed an anti-G suit (the " F.F.S."] which applied pressure to the calves, thighs and abdomen to prevent pooling of the blood in the veins of these areas, and supported the increased pressure developed in the arterial bed of the same regions. This prevented blackouts and unconsciousness, and delayed the onset of fatigue- critical problems for pilots subjected to centrifugal force during aerial manoeuvrers. [Ref. 6] This [and other versions of the F.F.S.] required testing in a controlled and reproduceable environment. For this purpose, a "human centrifuge", the R.C.A.F. accelerator was designed and constructed. [see 1987.0229 and 1976.0529]. [Ref. 5] This appears to be the suit [in it's early manufacture] described by Franks as having been "vulcanized", rather than sewn, in order to avoid weakening the fabric.This second prototype suit was tested by RAF Wing Commander D'Arcy-Greig, flying Spitfire L1090 June 1-5, 1940. [Ref. 8, p. 11] The first prototype suit [2002.0613] was constructed of thin cotton and made to fit Franks himself . [Ref. 6, p.114]

Function

To prevent pooling of the blood in the veins of the abdomen and extremities.

Technical

The Mark III F.F.S. was the first anti-G suit to be used in actual air operations anywhere in the world. It demonstrated the value and practicality of anti-G suits, which lead to further development of the technology and later versions of the Franks suit. This model (F.S.S. III) used a water-filled inner lining, exploiting "Pascal's Principal" which held that suspending a subject in any fluid of the same specific gravity would provide G protection. The suit's simple design allowed for rapid duplication: it's effectiveness was independent of the aircraft, allowing pilots to bail out of a damaged aircraft without first having to disconnect an air-inflated suit from it's air source. Of additional benefit was the suit's inherent buoyancy, and the week's worth of drinking water it could provide to a pilot downed at sea. [Refs. 4-6]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

None evident, save UHN catalogue no. "X978.29.19" printed by hand on off-white fabric tape label sewn inside waistband, and "978.29.19" printed by hand in white ink on metal fitting on inflation tube protruding from top front edge of waistband.

Missing

Fairly complete- please see UHN condition report, c. Dec. 1985. [in Supp. Info. file 2002.0608].

Finish

Tan fabric exterior [cotton or linen canvas]; tan cotton [?] laces; metal zippers, zipper pulls and minor fittings; rubber reinforcements on seams, rubber tubing and inner lining; silk jersey outer lining.

Decoration

N/A