Junkers Ju 49: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Use ''oxygen via a face mask'', and endure hypoxia and extreme cold. Flyers like [[Cyril Uwins]] - 13,408&nbsp;m (43,990&nbsp;ft) in a [[Vickers Vespa]] in September 1932 - and Renato Donati - 14,433&nbsp;m (47,385&nbsp;ft) in a [[Caproni]] Ca 114 in late 1933 - took this route, sitting in open [[cockpit]]s. Necessarily, these were up and down flights; continuous flight at high altitudes with this approach would not have been survivable.<ref name="Kay"/>

''Pressure suits'': these were pioneered by [[Wiley Post]] in his [[Lockheed Vega|Lockheed Vega 5B5C]] from September 1934 onwards. He was able ultimately to sustain flights of several hours at over 15,000&nbsp;m (49,000&nbsp;ft). Others used pressure suits to set records with up and down flights, like F.R. Swain (15,230&nbsp;m or 49,970&nbsp;ft) in the [[Bristol 138]] in September 1936 and Mario Pezzi (17,083&nbsp;m or 56,047&nbsp;ft) in a [[Caproni Ca.161]]bis in October 1938.<ref name="Kay"/> Post's work showed sustained high-altitude flight was possible, but pressure suits were uncomfortable and restrictive.

Ultimately, the ''pressure cabin'', insulated from the cold or heated was the way to allow crew and, eventually, passengers to travel in a normal environment.<ref name="Kay"/>