Catalogue No: | C0372 |
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Category: | Head-Mounted Equipment [HMD/NVG/Glasses] |
Object Type: | Model |
Object Name: | Helmet Mounted Display Model |
Part No: | None |
Serial No: | 027 |
Manufacturer: | Unknown |
Division: | Unknown |
Platform(s): | F-16A/B Fighting Falcon |
Year of Manufacture: | circa 1987 |
Dimensions: |
Width (mm): 260 Height (mm): 260 Depth (mm): 290 Weight (g): 1,540 |
Location: | Rack RAA15 (HMDs) [Mezzanine Store] |
None
A pioneering Helmet Mounted Display was used on the AFTI F-16, under the Falcon Eye program, to demonstrate day and night operation with advanced thermal sensors. The HMD was tested with a TI head-steered FLIR and a Honeywell AC Electromagnetic tracker.
The Falcon Eye HMD is a Biocular (same image to both eyes) HMD using a single “1 inch” CRT placed across the front of the helmet. The CRT projects into two Combiner eyepieces, rather similar to the Cats Eyes™ Night Vision Goggles. The helmet shell is a modified UK Alpha helmet. The system could display stroke symbology by day and raster with fast stroke written symbology at night. The display was driven from an Electronics Unit with a MIL-STD-1750A processor. The field of view is 30° x 27° and the weight of the Helmet is about 1.75kg.
The Falcon Eye Programme resulted in several world firsts, including day and night close air support using head steered FLIR and in 1991 it was used for the first off-boresight missile firing in West; the Box Office missile was a variant of the Aim9 Sidewinder family and it successfully destroyed a drone at more than 90° off axis. This HMD was later renamed Nighthelm™.
This HMD is a model and does not have a reference plate but was probably made in the late 80’s.