Test flight suit

With regard to conservation for display of a textile and plastic
Concorde test flight suit, c. 1968: Has anyone had experience
treating or exhibiting a similar object or similar synthetic/modern
materials? The full length suit is made in one piece from a
synthetic fabric, possibly nylon.  There is a network of plastic
tubes attached to the exterior of the suit through textile casings.
The textile is pulled taut in areas between the plastic tubing,
placing it under continual tension.

The synthetic textile has split along the constructional machine
stitched seams and in some areas where it is under tension due to
the presence of the tubes.

The garment is required to be displayed upright for exhibition. The
purpose of conservation would be to support the split areas and to
mount the suit for display in a way that would reduce the weight and
tension exerted by the external tube network.

Anna Hodson
Textile Conservation Intern
Historic Scotland
National Museums of Scotland


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:23
                 Distributed: Monday, November 22, 2004
                       Message Id: cdl-18-23-029
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