BuAer Designs New Helmet
Gives Pilots Maximum Protection

After more than two years of planning and testing, BuAer announces the development of a new protective helmet, the APH-5. It is so designed as to insure comfort and close fit at the same time it provides the protection and functionality required for high speed flight.
Scientific progress now permits the incorporation into the laminated fiber-glass helmet of a rigid plastic foam material which yields at a given force. In crushing, it dissipates the force and protects the head. It offers far greater protection than the old suspension-type helmet.
It is cooler and more comfortable than its predecessors. Foam liners come with each headpiece, so that there will be little or no difficulty in fitting the pilot. Each helmet is equipped with a retractable eyeshield assembly which will accommodate either a clear or neutral gray filter lens. This was designed for maximum vision and wind-blast protection.
The helmet's earcup assembly reduces noise to a minimum. The chin strap and oxygen mask mounting tabs have been designed to retain the helmet and mask during emergency escapes at high speeds.
VX-3 at NAS Atlantic City, the Aero Medical Branch of Service Test Division at NATC Patuxent, Air Crew Equipment Laboratory, Naval Air Materiel Center, Philadelphia, and AirLant and AirPac Fleet units were among those who coorporated with the Airborne Equipment Division of BuAer in testing the gear.
The distribution of the helmets was begun in April, the first going to fleet squadrons as allocated by ComAirLant and ComAirPac. BuAer has announced that eventually they will become standard equipment in all fighter and attack squadrons.