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YF 23 Helmet


mwesson030
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Just thought I’d post this as a bit of an archive here considering we probably won’t see one of these again if it goes to a private collection. Looks absolutely crazy. I wonder if these were actually used in the ATF trials or if it some kind of strange mockup. I haven’t been able to find a photo of a test pilot with one yet after a quick search, but if this is real I’m sure there are some out there.

 

 

Auction link in case anyone is interested: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/183921833835

 

 

 

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Thanx, never seen before! Interesting item, and 'frightening' as well... at least, IMO. Do not know why, but this doesn't have that almost 'sexy' appeal so many high altitude helmets do possess in my eyes... also, from these pics it looks to me like a partial-pressure model rather than a full pressure one.

* lack of the matching lower part to connect with a (possible) neck ring from a full pressure garment,

* full mechanical visor sealing,

* inner dark visor so similar to some Chinese helmets' of that family,

* inner oxy mask for direct inhaling,

* expiry valve duct passing through the clear visor,

all of these easily lead me in so thinking.

 

Here a Chinese TK-4 helmet, high-altitude but partial pressure, from my collection - likely from very late '90s onward. Mods will forgive me for a non-US item, here just for some useful comparations.

post-151851-0-41871500-1566238513.jpg

post-151851-0-25709000-1566238622.jpg

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Another note of interest about the US item, could be the total lack of any restraint cables and their accessories (attachment points, the usual small pulley, teflon 'wheels' etc.) that are present virtually in any helmet of this typology, no matter from wich country. While the necessary shoulder 'hood' could stay hidden inside the helmet in those photos, clearly there are no of the above cited pieces at all, that's odd enough.

 

 

post-151851-0-90527500-1566238847_thumb.jpg

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New to me. Maybe a in house design from Northrop/MD for a integrated oxygen/NBC life support system? Doesn't look like anything Gentex has ever put together.

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phantomfixer

That will be the corner stone of some ones collection...think it will pass 2.5K?

 

Was surprised to learn that Boeing was the contractor for the JHMCS helmet...supplied by VSI to Boeing

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I would be very surprised if it went below 3k to be honest. Who can say what will happen though. Definitely a once in a lifetime chance if you like partial pressure helmets and the F-23.

 

 

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I didnt notice it before but it appears to have a tinted visor internally. I noticed the track externally on the rear top for a visor and thought nothing of it at the time. On second examination of that part, the visor knob almost looks like whats on the AH-64 Apache IHADSS visor housings for the original style single visor housings. I know Gentex, Honeywell and McDonnell Douglas were responsible for the Apaches helmet so maybe this does have some MD influence to it.

 

Those ear cups look like a standard H-154 setup.

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$3,850 final price - a bit too rich for me to say the least but still a very interesting helmet!

 

 

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