About the VKK-3 suit:

  Basic information
  VKK-3 Accessories in Detail
  Other Uniform Components
  Vent Hose Diagram and Photos
  Service Chronology

About the model photo:
The pilot depicted in these photos is wearing a VKK-3 flight suit and a GSh-4MP protective helmet. Completing the uniform are black leather pilot gloves and side zip pilot boots. This configuration would be appropriate to a Yak-28 'Firebar' trainer pilot of the 1980's.

Sources Cited

Back to Air Force Uniforms
of the Era of Rebuilding

First introduced as a replacement for the older VKK-2 pressure suit in 1957(1), the VKK-3 pressure suit was developed for the pilots of the new Mach 2 aircraft of the day such as the Su-9 and the MiG-21.  The name VKK stands for высотный компенсирующий костюм loosely translates as 'altitude compensation suit'.

The VKK-3 suit is rather simple in design when compared to the suits that followed.  It features a large zipper running down the front.  This allows the pilot to enter the suit.  A groin zipper is also found alongside the bottom of the main one.  Additional zippers can be found along the ankles and wrists to help ensure a tight fit for the pilot.  In most cases an assistant was needed to help the pilot don the suit.

The lacing of the VKK-3 was rather straightforward.  Two rows of laces can be found going down the back of the suit from either shoulder down to the lower legs.  Additional lacing can be found running down each arm.  Two short lace up sections can also be seen on each side of the front abdomen.

Air hose systems are designed in an 'H' shape: beginning at the bottom of each leg just above the foot and then running up the back.  They connect by means of a horizontal hose just behind the shoulders, then continue to run down each arm to the wrists.  These hoses are fed by a single connector in the lower left abdomen.  There is no secondary air connector like those are found in later VKK suits.
 

The suit is used in conjunction with the GSh-4 (Germoshelm-4) helmet, but it has often been seen in use with the later GSh-6 helmet as well (and there is even a photo of Soviet pilots in the uniform with the ZSh-3 helmet)(1).  There are two variants of this helmet: The GSh-4M and the GSh-4MS.  This helmet comes in size 1 or 2.

In either case, the helmet is composed of three major parts: the faceplate, the headpiece, and the outer metal helmet.  The faceplate is the part that is most often removed by pilots.  This is done by pulling on a string near the chin.  This releases a latch that allows the faceplate to move upwards on a hinge at the top.  When pulled high enough, the hook disengages from the upper hinge and the faceplate can be completely removed.  The body is then removed by pulling on the small leather straps on either side of the helmet.  These release the springs holding the body to the outer helmet.  The body is then pulled forward until its hook disengages the hinge and it can be removed.  This body section also has a green zippered hood with a laced section.  This ensures a tight fit for the pilot.  The outer metal helmet features a thin sun visor tinted dark green, though no all were equipped with this feature.  The helmet has no internal communications of its own, but must be worn with a light communications helmet (which is not shown here). 

 Together, this uniform was part of the KKO-3 (Komplekt Kislorodnovo Oborudovaniya) assembly.
 

This equipment made it possible for the pilot to survive at the extreme altitudes at which he worked.  As with the earlier model KKO-1, the pilot could change helmets depending on the altitudes he would be operating at.  The VKK-3M would be used at high altitude, while the ZSh-3 and ShL-61 would be worn for lower altitude missions.

*not included in initial issue, but after 1961.