The pressure suit is designed to protect the pilot in case of such an occurrence by providing counter-pressure within the suit. A U-2 pilot in a pressure suit. Currently all U-2 pilots wear the Navy Mark IV high pressure suit. It was initially designed for the manned missions of Project Mercury. read more
A U-2 pilot suit. A pressure suit is a protective suit worn by high-altitude pilots who may fly at altitudes where the air pressure is too low for an unprotected person to survive, even breathing pure oxygen at positive pressure. Such suits may be either full-pressure (i.e. a space suit) or partial-pressure (as used by aircrew). read more