Prototype helmet for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter pilots

Being a mere human is not sufficient for piloting a F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. You must also don a helmet to augment your skills and senses. Link (Via The Day The Tried to Kill Me)

[#1 posted by Todd Knarr , November 9, 2007 2:11 PM]

I hope they did some serious work on weight-reduction, or the pilot's going to have a very sore neck after the first couple of high-g turns.

[#2 posted by Burz , November 9, 2007 2:14 PM]

Defense theater, that's neither defense nor pretend.

Squint a little, and you will see a Dr. Who Cyberman.

Its like candy for kids (or just the immature) who've always wanted to live in a sci-fi war movie. I'm sure the transhumanists are having geekgasms...

[#3 posted by Steve Lodefink , November 9, 2007 2:17 PM]

Wow, What's going on with the green eyes? Is that so that you still have a "face" while wearing it?

[#4 posted by Lone , November 9, 2007 2:27 PM]

Seeing as how much sci-fi and actual science tend to mirror each other (purposely or by accident) this isn't all that wild. More interested to see what it looks like from the inside :o.

#3 - Considering the average fighter pilot visor is dark with no view of the eyes, I doubt it. Then again they do look like droopy eyes, maybe just for effect. >_

[#5 posted by Crash , November 9, 2007 2:37 PM]

It's a prototype helmet so I expect the cartoon eyes are there for the camera's benefit.

[#6 posted by pinguis , November 9, 2007 2:45 PM]

@ #3

My best guess has to do with FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared). As usual wikipedia helps.

[#7 posted by Aaron T. , November 9, 2007 3:07 PM]

I think those are the pilot's actual eyes behind the visor, being illuminated by some kind of image projectors, such as for FLIR as suggested above.

[#8 posted by bkdelong , November 9, 2007 3:27 PM]

So would that be ASSISTED Transhumanism?

[#9 posted by Bonnie , November 9, 2007 9:40 PM]

"Luke, I am your father..." oh wait.

[#10 posted by mikelotus , November 10, 2007 1:15 AM]

link is useless now

[#11 posted by Simon Bradshaw , November 10, 2007 6:15 AM]

More info and bigger picture at the UK MOD's news site:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/22kyww

[#12 posted by Joffrey , November 10, 2007 7:33 AM]

The return of the Jedi!

[#13 posted by Bazilisk , November 10, 2007 8:21 AM]

Creeptastic! Robot-looking military people with GLOWING GREEN EYES-alright, the UK is officially a dystopia now-!!

[#14 posted by yurei , November 10, 2007 10:07 AM]

*jaw drops*
I must alert Tony Stark!

[#15 posted by mattyd , November 10, 2007 11:09 AM]

Beautiful and functional.

[#16 posted by Immortal Ping , November 10, 2007 4:11 PM]

and the caption is...

http://i1.tinypic.com/6tfdilk.jpg

[#17 posted by V(irtual)D(espot) , November 10, 2007 6:34 PM]

It's like one of those beer can hats by way of Sharper Image - by way of HELL!

[#18 posted by MiCroStoogE , November 11, 2007 9:46 AM]

To Do:
[x] Infiltrate Soviet Union
[x] Dodge KGB
[x] steal MiG-31 thought-control helmet
[ ] steal MiG-31 "Firefox" prototype
[ ] fly plane to friendly airspace, evading other MiG-31 prototype
[ ] PROFIT!!!

[#19 posted by aboutblank , November 12, 2007 7:21 AM]

It feels like its looking into your soul! Can we purchase these to wear whilst driving?

[#20 posted by John Smith , November 12, 2007 5:09 PM]

Detailed article at the Daily Mail with more details.

[#21 posted by armymanwp11 , December 23, 2007 4:32 PM]

i agree wit pinguis and aaron t