And a very colorful one at that, one of my favs for the Phantom. Also, -111 ran with the matching helmets for years as well.
Fly Navy/Army
USN SAR
DUSTOFF/ARMY PROPS
Yes, matching helmets is the norm. The movie Top Gun seems to have given the impression that it is more like formula 1
That's really up to the squadron leadership. All the Navy requiresYes, matching helmets is the norm.
is that the helmets be highly visible, including the use of reflective tape. All so that SAR can see them more easily. Essentially, barring any requirements by the squadron, the pilots are free to decorate their helmets as they wish, as long as the guidelines are met.
Yes, it looks sharp to have the helmets all match in a squadron, but the Navy doesn't require it. Hence, the helmets seen in Top Gun.
Some of them might have been a bit close to the visibility requirement, like Merlin's, but...
OPNAVINST 3710.7U CH 43
8.2.1 Aircrew Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
a. *Protective helmet — The helmet shall be 100 percent covered with
white reflective tape except as modified by approved aircrew system changes.
Up to 30 square inches of light-colored reflective tape may be applied so
long as the white tape remains visible from all directions. The use of
reflective tape may degrade NVD performance. Temporary, nonreflective cloth
covers may be worn over the reflective tape.
Does that help?
Pat☺
Fly Free, always!
Sgt of Marines
USMC, 10 years proud service.
Inactive now...
But matching helmets are the norm
Great pic, NC! The F-4 always looked like it could muscle its way in and out of trouble! I remember some of the best airshows I attended as a kid were when the Angels and Tbirds were using Phantoms. Randy Cunningham used to call them "smoke and thunder F-4 hogs".
"Hornets by mandate, Tomcats by choice!"
As PhantomTweak brought up 3710, although a newer version. Back in the day I don't think that existed in NAVAIR. From my early 90s on, we had to have the 100/30% tape, even helped my PR bud tape my own HGU helmet. Fast forward to present day, the squadron has a set tape stencil, with individual callsigns added as most have seen in the 'Tube vids. Other aircrew traditions seem to still be around like Friday Flight-suits (color).
Fly Navy/Army
USN SAR
DUSTOFF/ARMY PROPS
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