Superhero flying gear

[kengr]

Made a comment about gear for a flying metahuman and the gear they'd need.

Actually some handheld GPS units *have* barometric altimeters. My Garmin GPSmap 60csx does. It also has a magnetic compass (which you can override the display for to show true north instead).

So any one of a number of GPS units, a radar transponder (which should probably tie into the GPS for altitude), an aircraft band radio and she's set for both visual and instrument flight.

Me, I'd add a pulse oximeter, oxygen tank and mask. Just in case.

Someone talented could probably build most of that into a helmet and harness. Complete with a heads up display.

For real paranoia and unforeseen circumstances, a steerable parachute might be an idea as well.

So, let's look into this a bit farther.


Assumption: flight is the only power, or else the others aren't relevant to the needs of flying

So, first thing a flyer needs is protection from the elements and from impacts (birds, insects, trees, the ground...)

So some sort of flight suit, likely a coverall, boots and a helmet.

Next, they need to be able to navigate. A GPS with barometric altimeter is usable choice (you want barometric because any info you get from ground stations will be using barometric altitude). Alas, I don't see various nav-aids like LORAN being practical for a flyer.

And yes, you need a way to talk to other aircraft, control towers and the like. so that means a radio.

You also need an identifier for talking over the radio. A call-sign. For normal aircraft that'd be the registration number. For a flyer? Probably depend on the local equivalent of the FCC and FAA.

As noted in the initial comment, a heads up display would be good. What you use for controls? That could vary all over the place. Just remember that you need a way to control the radio, GPS and any other electronics.

Now, if you fly too high, you could suffer from hypoxia, which is very much not a good thing. so you'll want a pulse oximeter to monitor the oxygen saturation of your blood. Rather than the sort that clips to your finger, one that clips to an earlobe will work, and probably be more secure.

If you are going to fly at high altitude, you'll need an oxygen tank and a mask. And to have an alarm attached to the pulse oximeter. You also need an alarm when you hit the altitude where even pure oxygen won't help. Above that you need an actual pressure suit.

Some of this would be built into the helmet, which might as well be something like fighter pilots use.

You'll need a belt or some sort of harness for the rest, as well as any other gear you want to carry.

Comments

[stickmaker]

Motorcycle leathers. Also, if the person can fly fast enough, some sort of support (maybe like those used by football players) to keep the slipstream from snapping the helmet around.

[kengr]

Y'know, it occurs to me that there may have been a *reason* for the way Commando Cody's helmet was shaped.

And you have a point about motorcycle "leathers". Some of the modern variants damn near count as armor.

Just add/modify a few trauma plates and folks trying to stab you or shoot you may get a surprise.

[stickmaker]

Love those Rocketman serials. Saw them on Saturday morning TV as a kid. Have most of 'em on DVD. Including the one with Leonard Nimoy playing a very intelligent alien. :-)

[seawasp]

I guess? But in 99% of the real superhero battles I've seen, those toys are gonna be wrecked. You'd better be able to afford a rack of them. Thing is that most of the people who can afford them are already gadgeteer types, or have them available, and they can tinker you up an actual super-suit rather than something made with COTS tech.

[stickmaker]

In my Masks stories (first book coming out on Kindle soon, through Doppler Press) the main character of the early tales loves to fly. When not playing hero he has a set of leathers and helmet just for flying when out of costume.

Also, with a very few exceptions, all capes (not all costumed adventurers wear one) are easily detachable. :-)

Developing materials for costumes - more than just fabrics - has driven materials science in the Masks universe. :-)

[kengr]

In my Masks stories (first book coming out on Kindle soon, through Doppler Press)

Doesn't that mean you'll have to remove the stories in the book from your website?

[stickmaker]

I took the first story down months ago, right after signing the contract, replacing it with a notice to check back for developments. Thanks to you reminding me, I just updated that page with the notice of publication and a link to the Amazon page:

http://www.dcr.net/~stickmak/Stories/MasksI.htm

The other stories are still there, and I'm also working (very slowly) on the next tale.

[kengr]

Well, I used "superhero" to sort of set expectations.

I'm thinking more of someone with "superpowers" (and in a world were that merely makes them a bit odd, not extra-ordinary) and has the common sense to *not* want to play superhero.

So it could be recreational flying, or maybe they run a courier service.

So the gear just needs to handle rough usage, not super battles.

Besides, if all you have is flying, you've got no business *being* in a fight like that.

Basically, we ain't talking DC or Marvel (much less the movie/TV versions of their universes). More like Whateley or stickmaker's superhero universe.

The bit the original comment was a reply to was something in ysabetwordsmith's Terramagne universe.

[stickmaker]

I remember a few years ago someone mentioning that Angel as presented in the original X-Men comic should have avoided combat wherever possible and served primarily as a scout. Perhaps even with eagle-eye vision.

By the same token, in an Avengers with Thor and/or the Hulk, Ant Man and the Wasp would best serve as combination scouts and saboteurs. As well as working to harass support staff.