A-12 pilots wore a type of protective pressure suit with thermal insulation, pressure control, cooling, and a life support system. The suit offered protection from heat radiating through the windshield and from cold and low pressure in the event of a high-altitude bailout.
Flying high helped keep spy planes out of missile range, but also out of breathing range. This A-12 suit provided a livable pressure atmosphere for the human body. Without it, a pilot could die in 15 seconds.
