Last week, we featured a press release from Gentex regarding the new Gentex HGU-56/P Rotary Wing Helmet System, however one of our readers pointed out that there was no associated imagery to accompany the release. Gentex got the message and sent along some imagery of the new system. The original press release, now with accompanying imagery, has been reproduced down below:
Carbondale, PA, October 29, 2015. Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces will demonstrate their industry leading lines of Gentex, ALPHA, and Ops-Core helmet systems for air applications at the SAFE Symposium, November 2 – 4, Orlando, Florida. Featured among them will be their latest innovations, the Gentex HGU-56/P Rotary Wing Helmet System with Ops-Core Accessory Rail Connectors (ARC), and the ALPHA 900 Search and Rescue (SAR) Helmet System, part of the ALPHA 900 Cross-Platform Helmet System line.
Gentex has integrated the Ops-Core ARCs into the designs for the standard and improved HGU-56/P Helmet Systems. This pairing allows aircrew users to easily add mission-enhancing components such as cameras and illuminators, without compromising the helmet system’s industry leading protection.
Combining the open architecture of the Ops-Core ARCs with the Gentex HGU-56/P Helmet System creates a platform for access to a broadest of capability upgrades to support both current and future operations. The ALPHA 900 SAR Helmet System is water resistant and optimized for air-to-sea search and rescue operations, and is compatible with all major aircraft ICS systems and portable radios.
“The Gentex HGU-56/P with Ops-Core ARCs and the ALPHA 900 SAR Helmet System exemplify Gentex Corporation’s continued effort to expand our product line, allowing us to offer a full range of innovative solutions to the customer” said Robert McCay, vice president, Aircrew Systems, Gentex Corporation. “Gentex is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive portfolio of aircrew headborne systems and services to meet the needs of global aircrew personnel.”
Adding to the depth of Gentex Corporation’s comprehensive product line featured at SAFE, is their newly acquired line of hearing and communications products, which will be on display in booth #302. The recent acquisition of Aegisound, an established provider of products that significantly improve hearing protection, safety and communications in high noise environments, expands Gentex’s hearing and communications product offering to global defense and industrial personnel, as well as the F-35 program portfolio. In addition to hearing and communication products, Gentex will supply eye protection, the helmet system platform, and respiratory protection system to the elite aircrew entrusted to command the F-35 Lightning II.
Subject matter experts from the Gentex team have also been invited to give a presentation on the evolution of the aircrew industry’s needs over the last six decades, and how these needs drive the development of aircrew helmet systems and capability upgrades. The presentation which is titled, Past,
Present and Future of Aircrew Helmets, will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Bonaire 1-2-3. Visit the Gentex Corporation booth #307 to see the tactical optics line; dazzle laser defense eyewear, a line of laser protective flight-helmet mounted visors and spectacles that help pilots combat emerging laser threats, as well as our line of respiratory and CBRN protection products. Two Helmet System briefings focusing on the design capabilities of helmets, oxygen masks, visors, microphones and laser eye protection will also be held during the symposium.
Tags: Gentex
Glad my suggestion was heard but, come on Gentex, Marketing 101 says a pic is worth a thousand words.
BTW, very impressive setup. Forwarded to my rotary wing guys.
Looks like they bolted Maritime rails onto the HGU shell. Now pilots can have helmet cameras to go with their kill cams!
@jbgleason, Sorry about that, we try; sometimes we forget attachments. If you have any questions, please let us know and we can sort you out with the right folks here to lend a hand or answer questions.
Just having fun with you guys. Looks like a nice setup.
So do most rotary wing pilots use NVGS with a battery pack? Think a little loop from Velcro would be a good idea? And do the ops core or the airframe counter weights work?
Yes. Most common are ANVS-6 with a battery pack. Weights are optional of course. Helmets are issued with Velcro on the back for the pack and counter weights.
The velcro or battery clip is added by the life support troops. The standard helmet doesn’t come with ANVIS mounts so there is no need for battery pack attachment.
One of the only aircrew helmets that fits my giant noggin.
Looks way nicer than using the visor screw to hold a wire clamp / pelican light.
How much weight does it add?
As much as I love this I doubt I will see it at the unit level. Everything in aviation has to be safety approved and I doubt they will approve anything adding weight or not approved on the safety memos. Their way of looking at it is anything unauthorized will kill you. Even our MOLLE pouches can only be worn in a prescribed manner signed off by the ALSE (Aviation Life Support Equip) tech. It would be awesome for lights though. Hopefully it sees the light of day.