Orland W. Wilcox

The aircrew respiratory systems community recently lost a pioneer in oxygen mask design. Orland W. Wilcox passed away at age 90 on October 2, 2011. He made a significant contribution in the development of three generations of aircrew oxygen masks over the course of his career.

Mr. Wilcox was Vice President of Engineering & Manufacturing at Sierra Engineering Company in Sierra Madre, California where he led the development of the MBU-5/P and MBU-12/P masks and the pressure compensated valves, and helmets. He was with Sierra Engineering for 24 years. In 1980 he became Technical Director for Protection, Inc. to provide aircrew helmets, visors, and several respiratory products for specialty applications. Protection Inc. merged with GENTEX Corporation and Mr. Wilcox continued his technical activities in respiratory products for another 27 years. Significant in these roles were the development and fielding of the CRU-8/P, CRU-60/P Oxygen Connector, and CRU-94/P Integrated Terminal Block (ITB) and MBU-20/P oxygen mask for the COMBAT EDGE pressure breathing for G (PBG) oxygen mask to improve higher acceleration tolerance of aircrews. In 1962 he was awarded the oxygen mask and helmet retention patent that is still in use today. In all, he was awarded ten patents for Life Support equipment as well as the SAFE Association 1997 Career Achievement Award.

Orland Wilcox was married 58 years. He is survived by his wife and four children, including 11 grandchildren.

Orland lived his life as an ever defining statement of the importance of aircrew life support improvement; and with that we honor the distinguished career of Orland W. Wilcox. The military aviator community is indebted to his innovative mind, technical process discipline and team leadership.