Luftwaffe Winter Flight Pants - 'Kanalhose'
Luftwaffe electrically heated Winter Flight Pants, or so-called 'Kanalhose'. Around the spring of 1941 the Luftwaffe introduced two piece protective flight suits for fighter pilots which were designed to increase the wearer's mobility and not be as restrictive in the close confines of a cockpit although the earlier one piece suits continued to be worn right up until the end of the war. The two piece flight suits consist of separate jacket and pants and was commonly referred to as the "Kanalanzug" (Channel Uniform). The electrically heated flight suits contained built-in, insulated heating elements that drew their power directly from the aircraft by means of a quick release electrical coupling connection. The pants are made of Luftwaffe blue-grey cotton and completely fur lined, all "Ri-Ri" and "Zipp" marked zippers are complete and functional, all press-studs and buttons look to be present. The main zipper however is not working perfectly, it took me 15 minutes to close it properly, so I advise not to open it if not necessary. The pants are nicely maker marked by the company of 'Karl Heisler' from Berlin. The pants are showing clear traces of usage but are in overall good condition.Rare original electrically heated channel pants!