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Here's a look at the two oxygen masks side by side.
The KM-15 is on top. The KM-15 was in service from the 1940's into
the early 60's. It can be worn independently of a helmet - the
rubber straps fit over the head. The oxygen hose is very thin with
an oxygen flow valve (the see-through part). The balloon on the end
of the mask filled as the pilot breathed - very much like the oxygen masks
that are in commercial airliners today in case of emergency decompression.
On 20 November 2001, a report from the Jammu-Kashmir region of
India/Pakistan showed the flight crew of an Indian Mi-17 helicopter where
all (including the journalist passenger) wearing the KM-15. The
pilots wore the KM-15 with commercial (looking) headsets - no
helmets. These masks allegedly went out of use about 30 years ago,
however, the Indian use would tend to dispel that rumor. There is a
hole in the middle front of the KM-15 nose cup - this is the low-tech
exhaust vent.
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The KM-16 is to the left and has a single large oxygen hose with the
standard twist-lock connector. This KM-16 is used with the ShL/Z-50.
It has the small connectors on the straps. The KM-16 attaches
to a ShL/Z-50 by means of hooks. When used with the ShL/Z-50, there
is no hard helmet worn over top. It is used during routine
helicopter operations. Attack helicopter (and Su-25) pilots use the ZSh-3B
Armored Helmet. Shown here is the more rare green KM-16. |
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Here is the more common brown KM-16 by itself. A very
simple contraption. There is a rubber piece that the pilot can bite
on inside the mask in order to keep it tight to the pilot's face.
Only the throat microphone is used with the KM-16 mask. |
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Here is a picture of a mask designated as the KM-18.
It looks like a carbon copy of the U.S. made -3 mask and was worn with the
ShL/Z-50 pilot helmet. It has the twin strap setup with no receivers
to be connected to a helmet like the ZSh-3. This dates the O-2 mask
to the 1950's. There is a similar oxygen hose with overpressure
valve and return standard air line. A communications cable can be
seen, but this is connected to the throat microphone. I don't
believe there was an internal microphone as part of this mask.
The goggles are the PO-1M with the darkened lenses. These sets
also come with the clear lens insert.
The blue packing crate is for Soviet flight gear that went to East
Germany. These were used for hard helmets (ZSh-3, 5, 7, and GSh-6)
so this is just a background prop and is not associated with this helmet
and mask. |
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The Soviet KM-19 Oxygen Mask. Operation appears similar to US A-8B
constant-flow mask, but the configuration is more suited to fit an ShL/Z-61
helmet. This is an in-between mask - between the KM-18 and more
modern KM-30. This mask does not support an occipital bladder.
It also would not be very effective in any higher altitude environments. |
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This is the KM-32AG - it is based on the KM-32 oxygen mask,
but has specific clips for the ShL/Z-50 leather helmet. |
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On the left is the KM-32AG and on the right is the
KM-32. The mask on the right is used with the ShL/Z-78/82 and the
ZSh-3 series of helmets. It attaches to the bladder which is at the
back of the helmet. This bladder fills with air when the demand for
oxygen increases which presses the pilot's face more tightly into the
mask. It also has the more modern dual hose connection (for use in
later version jets).
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I've found over the past 30 years
that there have been three different styles of Russian/Soviet throat
microphones. Top left is made from a high quality white leather -
very soft. Bottom is made from high quality black leather and is not
as soft as the white leather. The upper right is made from a brushed
leather, almost like a suede. The electronics is the same inside
each - only the external appearance is different. |
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Purchaser tips:
These are very simple masks. Of course the more rare green
KM-16 is worth more and it is hard to find these in bad condition.
It is rubber and as long as there is no wear on the clips, it is fine. The
KM-32AG is also fairly simple, but its rarity makes it very
collectible. Look for any kind of misuse or wear on the center piece
and the hose (most noticeable). The KM-32 has a couple more parts to
it and more wear is evident. The hose will show wear from the
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As for cost - buy the masks with a matching helmet.
But if you want to price them separately, a KM-16 is from $10-$20 no
matter what. A KM-32AG is fairly rare and is worth $50 in good condition.
The straight KM-32 is fairly common, but hard to find in perfect
condition. These are worth from $25 to $75. A KM-15?
These are all antiques and very rare nowadays, but still $100 should get
you one in great condition. |
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