Helmet-mounted displays

[spazsinbad]

OK thanks but I'm not a CHROME user - yet (but on the way to CHROME DOME status) but if all else fails....?

[spazsinbad]

'neptune' picked up some news about HMDS OLED testing that is in two posts on this forum as indicated in excerpt....

Navy conducts F-35C at-sea testing this week
16 Oct 2017 Lee Hudson

"The Navy will conduct at-sea Joint Strike Fighter testing off the coast of California this week instead of the East Coast as initially planned because service assets are tied up responding to hurricane relief efforts....

...Strike Fighter Squadron-125 is participating in F-35 carrier qualification testing this week aboard the Carl Vinson (CVN-70), according to the service. Test pilots will fly wearing a new helmet with an organic LED configuration. The new helmet is supposed to reduce green-glow, which typically occurs at night and makes it difficult for pilots to see certain objects. Green-glow is one of the items that must be rectified before the Navy declares the F-35 wartime ready...."

Source: https://insidedefense.com/insider/navy- ... sting-week

[markithere]

I saw a video recently by a test pilot ( sorry I do not remember who ) where he stated that the OLED replacement completely eliminates the green glow. So my hope is that his statement is an accurate assessment.

[spazsinbad]

Probably this is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSIzWFxznvM First posted/Made by 'Dragon029' here:

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=53438&p=376137&hilit=ZSIzWFxznvM#p376137

[spazsinbad]

VFA-125 supporting HMDS testing as well as CarQual aboard VINSON and maybe BUREAU NUMBERS! NJ 412 169303

USS Carl Vinson Conducts F-35C Flight Operations
20 Oct 2017 MC2 Rebecca Sunderland, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

"...An F-35C Lightning II, the Navy variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, landed on and launched from Carl Vinson during day and nighttime operations, completing another step toward becoming an operationally capable aircraft.

..."We're supporting efforts to flight test the current helmet mounted display system," said Lt. Cmdr. Josh Reynolds, VFA-125's operations officer....

...Carl Vinson will likely be the first West Coast-based carrier to deploy with an F-35C squadron after undergoing a scheduled maintenance period in 2019...."

Photo: "171018-N-BL637-0033 PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 18, 2017) An F-35C Lightning II from the "Rough Raiders" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 prepares to make an arrested cable landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is conducting fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean M. Castellano/Released)" http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/ ... 7-0033.JPG

Source: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=102961

[spazsinbad]

Thanks to 'krorvik' for this photo website: http://mediearkiv.forsvaret.no/fotoweb/ ... 0-F-35%20/

Slow website (for me anyway) becuz a zillion photos but two language captions make it all worthwhile and here is one:

http://mediearkiv.forsvaret.no/fotoweb/ ... 35%2520%2F

"Major Morten Hanche får kalibrert sin F-35 hjelm på Luke AFB i USA / Major Morten Hanche calibrate his F-35 helmet at Luke AFB in USA"

Cannot download original JPG however this is the 'thumbnail': http://mediearkiv.forsvaret.no/fotoweb/ ... a6e186.jpg
&
http://mediearkiv.forsvaret.no/fotoweb/ ... b9aa8b.jpg

[spazsinbad]

Thanks again 'krorvik' for this info - most of us are understanding some Norskie words but graphics are good.

[spazsinbad]

Parliamentary written answers 2nd Nov :-
Asked by Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and West Fife) Asked on: 25 October 2017 Ministry of Defence
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft 109658
"To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the unit cost is of the Generation III helmets being procured for pilots of the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets."

A Answered by: Harriett Baldwin Answered on: 02 November 2017

"The latest contract price is $241,579 per Generation III helmet." [315,961.17 US Dollar today]

Source: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?i ... 5.109658.h

[spazsinbad]

LM F-35 GM Weekly Update
02 Nov 2017 Jeff Babione

"...Upgraded Helmet Tech and Improved Launch Procedures Get Positive Reviews
The U.S. Navy recently completed F-35C carrier evaluations aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) off the coast of California in October and the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) off the east coast in September. As part of the evaluations, the Navy tested an improved launch technique and pilot ‘strap in’ procedure to reduce oscillation during catapult launches, and test pilots evaluated our enhanced Organic LED (OLED) helmet display to increase fidelity and eliminate reported green glow.

I’m pleased to share that each evaluation generated excellent feedback. Both test and fleet F-35C pilots were pleased with the progress made in reducing oscillations seen during catapult shots – and test pilots reported no ‘greenglow’ present in the new OLED helmet display.

While the formal evaluations are still in progress, we are very encouraged by the early performance and confident in the path forward...."

Source: https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... 1_2_17.pdf (225Kb)

[markithere]

In using the OLED as replacement for the LCD screen used in the helmet my hope is that the helmet software people put in code that allows pixel shifts like Apple uses with the iPhone X to minimize burn in. If there are more technics then that already developed for OLEDs I hope they use them too. Otherwise we may end up having pilots dealing with the burn in showing up on their displays.

[quicksilver]

Given the amount of routine pilot head movement and the dynamics of what is being displayed, I'm not sure that burn-in is a serious concern.

[monkeypilot]

No malfunction; NVC deficient in low lux levels. My guess is something to do with gain logic when there is a bright spot in the image under low light conditions.

A couple observations:

Deck edge lighting is clearly apparent. OLS is clearly apparent. HPI is clearly apparent. Can barely see the tram lighting (double lights used for line-up L/R). Appears that they were recovering to spot 9 as the jet is well aft of the visual positioning for spot 7 using the OLS and HPI...or the gent wasn't seeing what he expected and crossed aft of the intended spot. Or, maybe they were doing over-the-stern approaches and this still image simply depicts what he was seeing at that spot in the approach.

Seems this test pilot had no previous NVG experience on an amphib in low light conditions. Not sure what he was expecting, but ANVIS-9s are not much better in those conditions. Gotta rely on pattern numbers until one is close enough to see OLS; OLS glide slope goes away just inside 1/4 mile when one can pick up the HPI and other deck references.

Obtw, OLS= Optical Landing System (think Fresnel-like system on the tower); HPI= Hover Position Indicator (helps pilot know when he is in hover over spot 7. Is on the tower below the OLS); Tram= the double white lines on the deck used for line-up on STO or landing. Double lights that look like quotation marks at night).

Camera is iven or a 10exp-5 lux threshold. Hardly insensitive.

[alloycowboy]

Hot off the press.....

Navy F-35C Tests New Pilot Helmet - Weapons Targeting

https://scout.com/military/warrior/Arti ... -111451629

[spazsinbad]

Headline is misleading indeed. Article generally about the F-35C & it is padded with many old generalities - nothing new.

Sadly shows the original Mk.1 Helmet with a sad graphic of an F-35C & CVN - by gee by gollee - what a travestee!

[alloycowboy]

Totally agreed spaz....

But their has been a lack of F-35 news since Lt. General Christopher Bogdan left the F-35 program. It's become so bad that "hb_pencil" and "ricnunes" have resorted to taking turns poking each other in the eye just to break the boredom on the Canada board.