Imperial Pilot's Person
Introduction
Within the cockpit of the TIE fighter, there lies an actual person we simply call the ‘pilot.’ So, what do they look like and use? There is a prejudice in the folklore of rebel pilots, a belief that Imperial TIE pilots are treated as expendable and that their craft lack safety features. This is demonstrably false.
Pilot's Person
Our pilots in the VEN wear a medium-sized helmet that covers the entire head. The eyes are protected by a layered lens of sun-shield that protects their eyes from glare or extensive damage from blast. The pilots breathe through the bottom portion of the mask that is attached to a breathing tube which is further attached to the chest before passing on into the TIE consoles itself. However, if the pilot’s helmet is not functioning properly or is absent, the life-support systems have an auxiliary (secondary) mode to provide oxygen to its pilot. Simply flicking the switch on the lower left panel where the breathing tube is connected allows the air to cycle through filters within the cabin.
While it does free up quite a bit of space to fly without a helmet, one should not be fooled into thinking it’s simply a means of airflow. Both the shape and position of the helmet, once the pilot is properly strapped in, keep the neck from snapping under quick, forceful attacks; without the help of the helmet and strap fixtures, the occupants of the craft would be mangled.
The suit itself is of a light, but durable fabric that protects from light fire damage and is tucked into the gloves and boots to ensure a good seal in case of emergencies. If the pilot were to eject, the suit would protect his/her body from the cold vacuum of space. Another nice feature is that pilots can actually live for some time off the air remaining within the respirator on their chest (probably two-three hours).
Boots and gloves are pretty much the same, but some pilots enjoy investing in more expensive pairs to compliment their overall ‘Imperial way.’
Even though helmets, gloves, and flight jackets can come in all sorts of forms, the main safety feature of the TIE class remains intact- the restraints. Two cross from the outside of the chair over the shoulders of the pilot and meet at the chest. One strap to each leg keeps them from flying about when going into a maneuver and a triad of them link together at the crotch region to keep the pilot firmly in place. These are normally tightly threaded materials and use an assortment of buckles and latches to keep the pilot from wavering during combat. These straps do not snap... This is both good and bad; while a pilot is not injured by his or her own appendages, they do accept the full force of a collision.
The pilot can choose to wear a utility belt, but most of what he/she needs is equipped to the ejection seat. These emergency items include a spare com unit to contact imperial forces for rescue, a map of the area if the pilot pre-packs it, food rations, first aid kit, a rectangular tracking device with a single indicator light flashing on and off (usually embedded within the undercarriage of the seat), and more often than not, a weapon.
The weapon that is always in the TIE in case of emergencies is the Heavy Blaster Pistol. The DL-44 model is the favored model and most pilots use it even when they have the opportunity to get other weapons because of the weapons' reliability. It is meant to survive some extremely rough use; no matter what the odds- it works.
Of course, the pilot is not dedicated to this weapon alone; he or she can choose from others. The pilot can choose to carry his or her spare weapon, which is normally a pistol of some kind, on either the ejection seat or holstered at his or her side as the craft flies. There is some spare room for extra weapons or equipment behind the pilot if a way can be found to strap them down well enough so that they do not come loose during flight. The seat itself can be of many different materials but most often are covered with tough leather or fire resistant threads. To get a course in Fighter Ejection, simply click the link.
A final note is that pilots do not always wear their combat uniforms; various forms of clothing exist for both formal and informal duties. The four uniforms can be found here, on section VII of the Pilot's Handbook.
