In addition to Chandan Chatterjee‘s great answer, it used to be a great place for a custom bit of reflective tape. Even though they spelled my name wrong, I was always able to find my helmet in the PR shop when I suited up.
Of course, once you reach the squadron (this was my student helmet) you got the squadron logo. Even that may be taboo these days.
Many reasons:
- The helmet provides hearing protection.
- It provides for communications
- It allows an oxygen mask to be attached.
- It holds the sun visor.
- It allows for a helmet mounted display and weapon’s sight, similar to a Heads Up Display (HUD) Helmet-mounted display
- It protects from wind-blast and debris upon ejection.
- It protects your back-seater from banging his head on the canopy when you turn violently.
- It protects your head if you accidentally fall off the side of the aircraft on preflight.
- It protects your head as you walk underneath the aircraft while preflighting.
- It provides a medium for reflective tape for search & rescue at night.
- It provides for strobe light attachment to aid in search & rescue at night.
- It protects bald guys from sunburn and UV rays at altitude.
- It looks cool.
The post Why do fighter pilots wear a helmet? appeared first on Aviation Gossip.