It can take decades but military aircraft technology often trickles down to civilian applications (think FLIR, head-up displays, GPS) and the latest in fighter pilot headgear would sure make life easier for all types of pilots. The London Daily Telegraph is reporting that the helmet worn by Royal Air Force F-35 pilots will display flight information right on the visor instead of the head-up display common in other aircraft. But its the helmets ability to (virtually) see through titanium, among other things, that really sets it apart. “It will superimpose infra-red imagery on to the visor to allow the pilot to look through the cockpit floor at night and see the world below,” an unnamed ministry of defense spokesman told the newspaper. The helmet displays are being jointly developed by U.S.-based Vision Systems and Helmet Integrated Systems, of Britain. The RAF is evaluating the Luke Skywalker-style gear at RAF Boscombe Down. Britain is among about a dozen countries cooperating on development of the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
