The helmet under development for F-35 pilots is having problems, said Vice Adm. David Venlet, F-35 program executive officer. It’s designed to provide the head-up display, targeting information, and a supposedly seamless panoramic night view of surrounding terrain. But it’s experiencing jittery presentations, jumping, and brightness issues, said Venlet in remarks before an industry audience in Arlington, Va., Tuesday. There’s no trouble with the HUD presentation, he noted. Venlet said F-35 program officials won’t allow the helmet to interfere with the aircraft’s progress, so they are considering “alternatives,” such as night vision goggles, and moving some presentations to the cockpit’s flat-screen displays. Night vision “is the main challenge,” he said, but “we’ve got some options.” (For more from Venlet, see The F-35 Bottom Line from Wednesday’s Daily Report column)
Poor event planning and staffing contributed to a fatal mishap last April at Kadena Air Base, Japan, when rotor wash from an HH-60W helicopter knocked over a Japanese teacher from a Department of Defense Education Activity school attending a public aerial demonstration, according to an Air Force investigation.
