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Got asked today if I knew why 2 Squadron Gripen pilots no longer wear the traditional red 2 squadron helmet, and it got me thinking a bit.

The answer to this question is probably that the helmets are kept grey because of low observability, but what I can't understand is why it was acceptable on the Cheetah and not today on the Gripen?

Has 2 Squadron done away with this tradition?

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Gerard Griessel
http://www.wild-sky.co.za

I was wondering the same thing. Also what was the tradition of the red helmet?
Mac

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I've been wondering that a while too and have mentioned it somewhere on here, I think. Perhaps the new helmet does not lend itself to being painted?

Has the Gripen been declared fully operational yet? I'd also be interested to find out the origins of the red colour tradition.

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Never seen the helmet painted in Sweden either but seen a few textile covers with custom print. And the Czech Tigers wear fur... http://www.airplane-pictures.net/images ... 172229.jpg

Nerdy info: SAAF helmet is called 116G and is slightly different from the typical SwAF helmet 116E (changes to visor mechanism) but the SwAF also use the newer 116H which is basically the 116G but for NVG (fittings for counter weight and some other changes).

10 or 15 years ago, I was looking for parts for a red 2 Sqn helmet and discovered they were manufactured by Lafe Helmets and Accessories, then in Howard Street in Benoni. I was told that Lafe had copied a USAF ACM helmet, which the Cheetah C project office had borrowed. These red ACM helmets were way more comfortable, lighter, less restrictive than the French Elno helmets which were worn on earlier SAAF jets.

I think the Cheetah D pilots and Navs generally used the white Elno helmets - the red helmets were primarily worn by Cheetah C pilots.

The red helmets were not great in terms of protection - the visor was essentially held in place by elastic, so it would fly off in case of ejection. The helmets were very high around the face and at the back of the neck, so the pilot could move his head easily, but this also reduced impact protection. I don't think the red 2 Sqn helmet was ever qualified according to MIL-H-87174 or similar specification for helmets, and SAAB would probably have refused to integrate them onto Gripen because of this.

But the pilots liked them!

Nice bit of info, but I am talking here about the colour.

I'd quite like to know what it is all about.

Thanks for the info anyway

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Gerard Griessel
http://www.wild-sky.co.za

I served on 85 CFS Mirage flight a few months before the Cheetah Ds arrived and it became 89 CFS as a Navigator. Our helmets were white until Johan "Sputnik" Nel (a Nav) was posted in where he sprayed all the flying crews helmets lightesh blue. Our first names were sprayed on the front part in gold and the 89 CFS badge was sprayed on the back of the helmets. The colors basically reflected the CFS colors.

The thick plottens...

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Is it not something to do with 2 Squadron? If my memory serves me correct the pilots of 2 Squadron wore blue flight suits and red Mk II helmets in the 70’s. (Will have to watch the movie “Mirage Eskader” again to confirm)

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Red is 2 Squadron's colour. Their shirts and caps are also red.

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Gerard Griessel
http://www.wild-sky.co.za

According to Soaring with Eagles by Frans Dely the red helmets date back to the Korean War, as does the squadron pub, named after Lt Mickey Rorke who established the first one during the Korean War. The cheetah badge apparently dates back to the squadron's days in Kenya.

I do not know if I should start a new topic or stick this issue in here, but here goes:
On the topic of helmets. Is it known yet when SAAF will receive their HMD and tracking helmets. Surely these tracking helmets will never be repainted...
Why is the std Gripen helmet more expensive than say the Hawk helmet? Aren't they very much the same in that in the std format there is only vizors, sound/earphones and oxygen attachments on both helmets. Is it a question of "name", like in the case with car parts, like say for instance between Toyota and Merc parts?

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I believe that some of the modern helmets are moulded to fit the head of that specific pilot.

Surely those are the helmets they've been using from the start?

No, it's not.
Close-ups of the helmets in this weekend's airshow has no evidence of the LED's in it. I've also looked at photos from the LION Effort exercise and there I could not find a single picture that showed any signs of these LED's. So, I have to conclude that these helmets are not yet delivered, or are simply not used when flying displays are done. But that does not explain why there was no helmets with tracking systems fitted at Lion Effort.

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