U.S. Navy PH-5 leather pad single visor Aviator Helmet, General Textile Mills, Med, Ox Fitting With Sierra Attachment

Excellent condition Gold and Blue U.S. Navy APH-5 Single Visor Fighter/Attack Pilot Flight Helmet, General Textile Mills, Medium (23-25 inches inner circumference at top of visor), Sierra-type O2 mask fittings. Second generation smooth, not stepped, visor lock knob. Second generation, improved leather covered padding used but good -- not an earlier polyurethane-foam-pad model, so crumbling and deterioration of the foam liner is not a concern here. The earpieces are also still supple and comfortable (though the headset is untested). Overall very, very, very nice condition. A spot of paint loss the size of a quarter on the bottom back right (the white spot visible in the pics above). Could be lightly refurbed for use or perfect for display as is.

This is a post-1961 helmet with the Sierra mask fittings and internal headset (as opposed to external discs on the APH-6, sometimes retrofit to APH-5 helmets). This was standard issue for U.S. Navy fighter and attack aircraft pilots during much of Viet Nam, and no doubt this helmet saw service in Viet Nam. Possibly flown on: Douglas A-1 Skyraider; Douglas A-3 Skywarrior; Douglas A-4 Skyhawk; Douglas F-10 Skyknight; Grumman A-6 Intruder; Grumman F9F Cougar; McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II; McDonnell Douglas F-4 Wild Weasel; Vought LTV/A-7 Corsair II; and the Vought F-8 Crusader.

DEVELOPMENT
The APH-5 helmet was the result of more than two years studies conducted 1954-56 for a successor to the H-3 and H-4 series of helmets. VX-3 at NAS Atlantic City, the Aero Medical Branch of Service Test Division at NATC Patuxent River, Air Crew Equipment Laboratory, Naval Air Materiel Center, Philadelphia, and AirLant and AirPac Fleet units were among those who coorporated with the Airborne Equipment Division of BuAer in testing the gear. The studies and helmet development work included with the MSA-N2 design, an immediate predecessor of the APH-5, being manufactured in very limited quantity. Another contract initiated work on an individually fitted (custom fit) helmets, designated the BBC and BBC-X2.

PRODUCTION AND ENTRY INTO SERVICE
Initially, the APH-5 was designed without a visor, and the incorporation of a visor required a cover plate in order that the helmet shell itself would not be weakened by the visor guide slot. The final version was field tested for nearly a year by squadron pilots, during which time some 50 helmets had an average of 300 flight hours logged. From the comments and suggestions thus obtained, several modifications were made and the helmet was put into production.

The distribution of the APH-5 helmets began in April 1956, the first going to fleet squadrons as allocated by ComAirLant and ComAirPac. The first two contracts (2500 under first contract, 2500 under second contract for 7500) had been delivered by February 1957 allowing the helmet to become standard equipment in all fighter and attack squadrons as originally intended. As the years passed and more helmet became available they were issued to flying personnel from other squadrons as well.

SHORTCOMINGS
The APH-5 design was ground-breaking and set the standards for the vast majority of US flight helmets until the advent of the HGU-55 in the early 1980s. It did however suffer from a number of shortcomings, some more serious than others. From the beginning the APH-5 was suffering from heat built-up. The close fitting sponge rubber lining produced more heat than the old cross-strap webbing of the H-3 and H-4. An associated problem was that the sponge rubber collected perspiration in an unsatisfactory manner. Improved, leather-covered liner pads were therefore introduced. Another frequent complaint about the early helmets was that the visor lock button have been received -the binding problem was solved in later models by the use of a template for aligning the track before riveting, and by burnishing the visor track to reduce friction. The first 1500 helmets manufactured had a plastic female communications plug on the left side of the helmet. It turned out that it was poorly placed and subject to frequent breakage so later models had a lead-in extending from beneath the edge of the helmet.

COMFORT
The APH-5 helmet was heavy and therefore uncomfortable to wear for longer periods. It weighed 4 pounds with Hardman receivers but without oxygen mask. In comparison an APH-6 helmet weighed only 3 pounds 13 ounces. Some of the factors affecting the weight were the heavy rubber edge beading, large earphones, and fiberglass visor housing. Other factors adversely affecting comfort were problems with heat retention (even with the newer fitting leather pads), abrasive chin and nape straps, and difficult fitting due to only two helmet sizes available.

O2 MASK ATTACHMENT
The APH-5 went through several upgrades in order to improve oxygen mask retention. Originally the helmet was issued with leather oxygen mask tabs with two male studs on each, and the A-13A oxygen mask was attached using a Y-shaped metal yoke with webbing straps. It quickly proved to be inadequate so the Hardman retention system, or "Christmas tree" oxygen clip, were evaluated in 1957 and approved for use. The oxygen mask clip could be quickly inserted in a slot receptacle on either side of the helmet for a comfortable fit and a quick disconnection. Another step was taken when the Navy adopted the self-aligning Sierra type 345-30 oxygen mask receivers by 1961. The system retained the Hardman hardshell but introduced a new type of T-shaped bayonets, easier to insert and release. This particular helmet has the Hardman Ox hardshell with Sierra receivers.

Despite all the problems and shortcomings mentioned above, the APH-5 was used extensively throughout the 1960s even after its successor, the APH-6, was fielded around 1961. The APH-5 was modified with new fitting pads, new oxygen mask attachment systems, the chin strap was moved inside the helmet shell, and both chin and nape straps were fitted with cotton covered urethane pads for improved comfort. Some APH-5s were even modified with APH-6 type headsets with the well-known external disc. This is not such a subsequent model, so this one is right in the middle, post-1961, pre APH-6 headset upgrade.

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