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:: PAF Helmets & Oxygen Masks ::

Trailer23

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As a kid, one of the things that fascinated me about Fighter Pilots were the Helmets they wore. I suppose the film Top Gun added another dimension of imagination with all different types of Designs that were on the set.

MV5BMTM4ODI3NDUyOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNDc2NDAz._V1_.jpg

Jerry Bruckheimer & (late) Don Simpson

The only Helmets being used by the PAF are from GENTEX Corporation.
https://gentexcorp.com/

HGU-55/P FIXED WING HELMET SYSTEM
HGU_55P_01.jpg

This model is also fitted with JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System) by (Rockwell) Collins Aerospace for the F-16's.
https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Pro...plays/Joint-Helmet-Mounted-Cueing-System.aspx

jhmcs-hmd-1920x1080.jpg

Now i'm not entirely sure how the usage of Oxygen Systems works in the PAF. If its based on requirement, availability or distribution among Squadrons and/or gradual replacements of older out-to-date Systems (MBU-5).

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GENTEX MBU-20A/P OXYGEN MASK
(note: Gentex MBU-20/P Oxygen Mask is exactly the same model, but more expensive)

MBU_20A_P_01__18742.1519241265.jpg


F-16
01.jpg


K-8 (Sherdils)
02.jpg



F-7
03.jpg


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GENTEX MBU-23/P OXYGEN MASK
MBU_23_P_01__34516.1519242128.jpg



F-16
04.jpg


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GENTEX MBU-5/P OXYGEN MASK
(previously used by F-16 and JF-17 pilots)


Image_OX_430_600.jpg

K-8 (Sherdils)
05.jpg

Mirage III/V
06.jpg

F-16 - ACM (retd) Sohail Aman
07.jpg

F-16 - ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan
08.jpg


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The new & improved version of the MBU-5 is the MBU-12 (below), but has not been selected by the PAF.

MBU_12P_01__81075.1519235491.jpg
 
. .
Is that a bird in the reflection? If so then that must have been a close call.


49233508697_66f0099137_h_d.jpg
 
. . . . .
As a kid, one of the things that fascinated me about Fighter Pilots were the Helmets they wore. I suppose the film Top Gun added another dimension of imagination with all different types of Designs that were on the set.

MV5BMTM4ODI3NDUyOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNDc2NDAz._V1_.jpg

Jerry Bruckheimer & (late) Don Simpson

The only Helmets being used by the PAF are from GENTEX Corporation.
https://gentexcorp.com/

HGU-55/P FIXED WING HELMET SYSTEM
HGU_55P_01.jpg

This model is also fitted with JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System) by (Rockwell) Collins Aerospace for the F-16's.
https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Pro...plays/Joint-Helmet-Mounted-Cueing-System.aspx

jhmcs-hmd-1920x1080.jpg

Now i'm not entirely sure how the usage of Oxygen Systems works in the PAF. If its based on requirement, availability or distribution among Squadrons and/or gradual replacements of older out-to-date Systems (MBU-5).

-------------------------------​

GENTEX MBU-20A/P OXYGEN MASK
(note: Gentex MBU-20/P Oxygen Mask is exactly the same model, but more expensive)

MBU_20A_P_01__18742.1519241265.jpg


F-16
View attachment 594276

K-8 (Sherdils)
View attachment 594277


F-7
View attachment 594278

-------------------------------

GENTEX MBU-23/P OXYGEN MASK
MBU_23_P_01__34516.1519242128.jpg



F-16
View attachment 594283

-------------------------------

GENTEX MBU-5/P OXYGEN MASK
(previously used by F-16 and JF-17 pilots)


View attachment 594296
K-8 (Sherdils)
View attachment 594288
Mirage III/V
View attachment 594289

F-16 - ACM (retd) Sohail Aman
View attachment 594290
F-16 - ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan
View attachment 594291

-------------------------------
The new & improved version of the MBU-5 is the MBU-12 (below), but has not been selected by the PAF.

MBU_12P_01__81075.1519235491.jpg

Helmet assigned to a pilot is his property till he's flying and usually he takes it home when he retires after a good long service.

Paf pilots are free to paint and customize their helmets in any way they like.You dont dont see many custom helmets because you could its not very trendy same way you dont see many Paf pilots posing for the camera like other air forces.

As far as Masks are concerned,that too is upto pilot's choice.You wanna stay with MBU-5 then that's your choice.Though most of the pilots have switched to MBU-20.

And yes there are pilots who have MBU-12 as well.For instance, here's a friend of mine when he was flying on Mirages.

Screenshot_20191217-204216.jpg


Some custom helmets :

Screenshot_20191217-204912.jpg
Screenshot_20191217-204427.jpg
Screenshot_20191217-204516.jpg
Screenshot_20191217-204529.jpg
Screenshot_20191217-204612.jpg


You can use custom Visor as well:
Screenshot_20191217-204629.jpg
 
.
. .
MBU-5 was made standard-issue in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but the PAF didn't buy the MBU-12 in the 1990s (when it was popular). Though a few MBU-12s were ordered in the early 2000s, the PAF opted to standardize on the MBU-20/23. For the most part, it's been on the 20/23.

The interesting now would be to see how it adds HMD/S to the JF-17. One option is replacing the whole helmet, but another is taking the JHMCS and Scorpion route of developing a HMD/S that can fit to the HGU-55/P. Could be very interesting if they can pull that off.
 
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One option is replacing the whole helmet, but another is taking the JHMCS and Scorpion route of developing a HMD/S that can fit to the HGU-55/P. Could be very interesting if they can pull that off.
A lot of R&D would be involved in that - and in the end, I doubt we'd be able to pull it off without the assistance of our neighbor...China.

Shouldn't the easier route be the TK-31 from AVIC?

DF83pQgUMAAj06U.jpg


TK-31.jpg


Some of the PAF jocks use the MBU-12.
Yeah, @Hodor sent me a pic of his buddy on the Mirage.

I went back to my files & found a couple of Viper Drivers during the first Red Flag PAF attended.

13.jpg


14.jpg
 
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MBU-5 was made standard-issue in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but the PAF didn't buy the MBU-12 in the 1990s (when it was popular). Though a few MBU-12s were ordered in the early 2000s, the PAF opted to standardize on the MBU-20/23. For the most part, it's been on the 20/23.

The interesting now would be to see how it adds HMD/S to the JF-17. One option is replacing the whole helmet, but another is taking the JHMCS and Scorpion route of developing a HMD/S that can fit to the HGU-55/P. Could be very interesting if they can pull that off.
They are getting a new, lighter helmet.
 
. .
Did not know the helmet would remain property of pilot after service — is this standard with all Air Force?
 
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