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What are the current NVD's for helos?

zimm17

Retired
pilot
It's been a few years since I was an NVD instructor. We went from ANVIS-6 to -9's and it was a world of difference. What models are the helo bubbas flying with nowadays?
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
Still AN/AVS-9s. On the Navy side, you'll occassionally come across upgraded OMNI-6 tubes, which is a slow fill. Performance is definitely improved. The priority is to the Marines, however, which is understandable.
 

lowflier03

So no $hit there I was
pilot
Like Gator said we still use AN/AVS-9s. The OMNI upgrade is meh. We had some sets when they started to hit the fleet 3+ years ago. Some low light performance is better, but for general use (especially around the boat) the OMNIs are actually worse.
 

RedFive

Well-Known Member
pilot
None
Contributor
Can someone explain what this OMNI business is?

<----Poor expeditionary aviator, not one of you rich carrier scum! Let me guess, it probably came with those Block III aircraft ya'll got off the line, too :(
 

CUBUFFS4134

Tellin’ it like it is.
pilot
Contributor
Both are -9. Difference is in the ion barrier film. Omni IV vs Omni VI. Omni VI has thinner IBF which improves low light performance, specifically halo sizes are significantly smaller yet more intense. Look at your goggles, if they have 4949R (can’t remember equivalent for HUD aircraft) they are Omni IV. If they have 4949VG they are OMNI VI.

Learned it between trips to the Indian casino while in Yuma for NITE Lab course.
 

insanebikerboy

Internet killed the television star
pilot
None
Contributor
Like Gator said we still use AN/AVS-9s. The OMNI upgrade is meh. We had some sets when they started to hit the fleet 3+ years ago. Some low light performance is better, but for general use (especially around the boat) the OMNIs are actually worse.

For a point of comparison, flying with the Omni VI in an urban environment is absolutely incredible. Halos are virtually non-existent (reality is they are just much, much smaller) which greatly improves the ability to visually track something through a town/alleys/on a road. I have also noticed a definite decrease in scintillation during the low/zero moon nights.

An interesting side note, I was working with some 3rd batt 160th guys recently and they were all still flying with the ANVIS-6s.
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
Meanwhile, on the civilian side (both tactical and aviation), you can get OMNI VIII w/ or without white phosphor imaging. The WP with an OMNI VIII is pretty amazing. The one time I've looked through them at a regular sodium light on a hangar, it was like looking at it normally, just monochromatic.

The OMNI upgrade is meh. We had some sets when they started to hit the fleet 3+ years ago. Some low light performance is better, but for general use (especially around the boat) the OMNIs are actually worse.

I can't prove it, but I believe I was flying with either OMNI VI or VIIIs in August (they were L3s and apparently not out in the "fleet" at the company I work at). They were MUCH better operating around an airport. I could look at a runway light and still see. The VASI was still epically bright, but overall, it was an improvement in that kind of environment.
 

insanebikerboy

Internet killed the television star
pilot
None
Contributor
Meanwhile, on the civilian side (both tactical and aviation), you can get OMNI VIII w/ or without white phosphor imaging. The WP with an OMNI VIII is pretty amazing. The one time I've looked through them at a regular sodium light on a hangar, it was like looking at it normally, just monochromatic.



I can't prove it, but I believe I was flying with either OMNI VI or VIIIs in August (they were L3s and apparently not out in the "fleet" at the company I work at). They were MUCH better operating around an airport. I could look at a runway light and still see. The VASI was still epically bright, but overall, it was an improvement in that kind of environment.

The Navy is apparently getting serious about the Omni VIII goggles. Not for sure what that means in terms of actually making it to the fleet, but the conversations/science projects have started.
 
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