Lockheed Martin Gen III Helmet
The helmet shell combines Kevlar, the material used in bulletproof vests, and carbon-fiber cloth, formed by applying resin under high heat to a synthetic fiber. The checkerboard pattern comes from a plain weave of the carbon fiber interlaced at 90-degree angles to form a product that is ultralight – 4.8 pounds – and 50 times stronger than carbon steel. The helmet’s polycarbonate visor protrudes like a light bulb, but the shell is otherwise more streamlined than previous helmets and integrates features such as night-vision goggles, which once required fixing separate hardware to an external attachment point. The helmet’s foam inner shell requires at least four hours of custom fitting to each pilot before it’s cut by laser; the precision ensures that its eye tracking and visor display stay aligned even during high-G maneuvers.
The F-35 helmet-display layout and symbols are similar to those of F-22 and F-16 head-up displays. On this simulated pilot’s view, images of the terrain are overlaid with data, such as the airspeed – 625 knots – displayed in a rectangle on the left, and groundspeed just below: "GS 786" In the center an attitude indicator shows the degree of the F-35’s pitch and roll relative to the horizon. At top center the display indicates a focus between compass heading 279 and 290 degrees. A rectangle on the right reads "14,000" feet of altitude. Diamonds are possible targets; circles, designated ones.
Theodore Lee is the editor of Caveman Circus. He strives for self-improvement in all areas of his life, except his candy consumption, where he remains a champion gummy worm enthusiast. When not writing about mindfulness or living in integrity, you can find him hiding giant bags of sour patch kids under the bed.