So long HGU-55/P

[ChuckMK23]

My goodness those look so much cheaper and more comfortable than HGU-84/56. It’ll never happen for us.

Is that LIFT helmet the same thing as the MACH (modular air crew helmet)?

I don't believe so.

However the new NAVAIR flight deck, maint and Helo pax cranial is about to hit the fleet at scale - and it's based on a Team Wendy non-ballistic "bump" tactical helmet with a low profile visor/goggle and ear-pro. Looks like a nice upgrade.

 

[red_stang65]

I don't believe so.

However the new NAVAIR flight deck, maint and Helo pax cranial is about to hit the fleet at scale - and it's based on a Team Wendy non-ballistic "bump" tactical helmet with a low profile visor/goggle and ear-pro. Looks like a nice upgrade.
View attachment 38174

Does this one actually meet OSHA fall protection standards?

 

[Gatordev]

EMS use with @Gatordev ?

Only if I buy it myself (which is an option). I still sport a SPH-5 and it's terrible hearing protection.

Like Grizz said, not a new idea, but one that looks like a great option. I'm with HSMPBR...once the Navy FVL reaches SLEP, this might finally show up in the fleet.

 

[ChuckMK23]

GENTEX is pimping hard its next gen fixed wing helmet system to Navy at Hook '23

Good looking system! (uncomfortable, balls grabbing Navy F-18 harness system not included)

 

[nittany03]

Still gonna end up covered in white tape, marketing propaganda aside.

 

[Random8145]

You know, this has me thinking. Since everyone gets jittery when unmanned combat fighter jets are discussed maybe we could just get rid of all that helmet stuff and give those selected for jets terminator-like bionic eyes! That would eliminate all that heavy stuff on your head.

The only problem is you’d have to give them back when your service is over.

View attachment 35695

No way, as a civilian taxpayer, I demand my pilots look cool while flying into combat, and helmets look way cooler.

 

[Notanaviator]

Still gonna end up covered in white tape, marketing propaganda aside.

You’ll appreciate they have a version covered in white tape on their table, so you can visualize ?

 

[AllAmerican75]

Still gonna end up covered in white tape, marketing propaganda aside.

I never understood that. You could build reflectors into the helmet that are better than that tape but we don't. It would be so easy to include that as a design requirement. ??‍♂️

 

[Gatordev]

It's not just reflectivity, it's the color white to contrast the green or blue of the water. Is that helpful with lots of white caps? No since it gives false positives, but it can be helpful in larger swells and/or when the sun is at certain angles.

People absolutely disappear in heavy sea states, even when you're hovering right next to them. This is also why downed airmen and Rescue Swimmers are trained to make big splashes when the RU is in sight. It helps break out the person from the water.

 

[AllAmerican75]

It's not just reflectivity, it's the color white to contrast the green or blue of the water. Is that helpful with lots of white caps? No since it gives false positives, but it can be helpful in larger swells and/or when the sun is at certain angles.

People absolutely disappear in heavy sea states, even when you're hovering right next to them. This is also why downed airmen and Rescue Swimmers are trained to make big splashes when the RU is in sight. It helps break out the person from the water.

Then just require that the helmet be painted white. I know how hard it is to find somebody in rough seas, especially when you're not right above them, but I can't believe that paint couldn't do just as good a job while being lighter.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Then just require that the helmet be painted white. I know how hard it is to find somebody in rough seas, especially when you're not right above them, but I can't believe that paint couldn't do just as good a job while being lighter.

Gentex developed a ultra reflective coating for helmets for USCG. Deployed with SPH-5. The tech was offered to NAVAIR who rejected it simply because they didn't come up with it first. The NAVAIR tradition of applying 100% white SOLAS or 3M reflective tape is one of those Naval Aviation "200 years of tradition, unhindered by progress" things.

 

[nittany03]

Gentex developed a ultra reflective coating for helmets for USCG. Deployed with SPH-5. The tech was offered to NAVAIR who rejected it simply because they didn't come up with it first. The NAVAIR tradition of applying 100% white SOLAS or 3M reflective tape is one of those Naval Aviation "200 years of tradition, unhindered by progress" things.

Hence the ball-grabbing harness.

 

[Bad_Karma_1310]

Of all our equipment issues, taping the helmets is way down on my list of issues. It’s simple, it works and it gives the PRs the chance to customize them to show squadron pride.

 

[number9]

The tech was offered to NAVAIR who rejected it simply because they didn't come up with it first.

At my previous employer (in the data center world) I referred to that as "Not Invented Here syndrome". It's infuriating..

 

[AllAmerican75]

Gentex developed a ultra reflective coating for helmets for USCG. Deployed with SPH-5. The tech was offered to NAVAIR who rejected it simply because they didn't come up with it first. The NAVAIR tradition of applying 100% white SOLAS or 3M reflective tape is one of those Naval Aviation "200 years of tradition, unhindered by progress" things.

At my previous employer (in the data center world) I referred to that as "Not Invented Here syndrome". It's infuriating..

I hate that shit. There are so many parallel programs across DoD trying to solve the same problems and wasting billions annually because we refuse to work together.