F-16.net

.....In case you're interested in buying one helmet for yourself..... But it comes at a price (not sure if it's Aussie dollars or US.... but for me it's beside the point.) Some nice grephics at the link.

The sophistications of the technology behind the helmet is elaborate and not much has made it out to the public domain. If you’re wondering how much these babies costs then a whopping $600K, a piece, should quench your desire to try one out for kicks.

http://newlaunches.com/archives/f-35-jo ... helmet.php
Regards

Yes, it's a very expensive for a helmet but actually not that expensive compared to a modern HUD. Especially when taking into account the cost of regular helmet mounted sight and NVGs.

hornetfinn wrote:Yes, it's a very expensive for a helmet but actually not that expensive compared to a modern HUD. Especially when taking into account the cost of regular helmet mounted sight and NVGs.

Good point.

Considering the fact that the liner is the only custom part, it should end up being cheaper in the long run.

The recent story about the helmet & cost with good graphics has been repeated here now three times at three different URLs. No more please. Thanks. And yes good points all about relative cost of HMDS compared to legacy (almost but not the full cigar) equivalent and of course the helmet liner/pad combination is the only custom built aspect. BZ!

http://newlaunches.com/wp-content/uploa ... 2x1067.jpg

YATO = You Are The One = AMF = Adios Mtrucker.... DAS is so helpful eh.

bring_it_on wrote:

Need some clarification re "How do you see backwards..." comment.
I get the god's-eye view afforded by the panoramic display but he mentions flat displays that you ".., can put on the back..." to show what's behind.. ie. display screens mounted on bulkhead behind pilot's head? If so,this is news to me.
I always assumed rear view is projected on HMDS.

Yes it is difficult to describe/imagine without having had an experience in the actual cockpit in flight (or the sim at a pinch) and I have had neither. So bear with: the vHUD shows a backwards view that the pilot can see at the flick of a switch somewhere - cowpie or stick or voice? However to see the DAS backwards view he needs to look down at the PCD at whatever zoom. I guess the question is can the pilot head swivel virtually to see the same PCD backwards DAS view in HMDS? I'm not clear on that score. Search this forum thread for 'vHUD' for that backwards view.

I'm lazy so would just as soon open a window on the PCD showing a rear view.. save on neck pain.

1 button rear view sounds very convenient.

'popcorn' said: "...just as soon open a window on the PCD showing a rear view...". Yep you would probably have your head down there anyway - from the 9Gs effect. BREAK! Left... No... Break Right... oops. AMF

From what I understand, with a flip of a switch you can see DAS imagery on the HMD wherever you look, so you could swivel your head and look backwards and see through the plane. However, you also have the option of putting a rear view on the panoramic display if you dont want to have to swivel your head.

OK, after watching the video several times what he really meant was displaying a rear view on the PCD when he said "there are flat panel displays you can put on the back looking backwards".. so clear to me now.

hornetfinn wrote:Yes, it's a very expensive for a helmet but actually not that expensive compared to a modern HUD. Especially when taking into account the cost of regular helmet mounted sight and NVGs.

I'm not sure that a (1 helmet) vs (1 HUD) cost comparison is accurate. Let's say that the taxpayer purchases 1000 F-35s, each with one HUD. The aircraft is flown for 30 years. The cost for the 1000 HUDs is a one-time expenditure for 30 years.

Normal USAF fighter manning is 1.5 pilots per jet, which equals 1500 helmets for 1000 jets. However, an average pilot will not fly an F-35 for 30 years. There will be staff tours, ALO assignments, UPT assignments, PME schools, etc. Many pilots will leave the service after their initial commitment ends. Let's say that the average F-35 pilot flies the aircraft for 5 years. During the 30 year life of the jet, there will be 6 rotations of 5-year pilots. Thus we have 1500 pilots rotating through the jet 6 times, for a total of 9000 pilots, each with their individual custom helmet.

A more correct cost comparison would be (1000 HUDS) vs (9000 helmets).

(I realize that there are different capabilities and limitations of HUDs and helmets. I'm merely arguing the cost analysis.)