Bell Helicopter Textron has selected the Thales TopOwl helmet-mounted display for the US Marine Corps AH-1Z and UH-1Y modernisation programme. The move could open the door to wider applications of the European system, with the Marines looking for a common helmet for its other platforms including the Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor and a planned Sikorsky CH-53X heavylift helicopter upgrade.
TopOwl was selected over the EFW HeliDash helmet. A key requirement was for an off-the-shelf system that can be quickly integrated with the AH-1Z/UH-1Y. "Thales is already in production and so they are able to take helmets off the line. Our goal is to have them operating to support operational testing in October 2003," says Col Doug Isleib, USMC H-1 programme manager.
The binocular system features an integrated visor display compatible with stroke and raster infrared and TV video imagery and has been selected for the Eurocopter Tiger, NH Industries NH90 and Denel Rooivalk helicopters. It replaces the BAE Systems Striker helmet, which the USMC dropped for performance shortfalls.
Meanwhile, the USMC is considering AH-1Z/UH-1Ydesign modifications to address delamination of the composite yoke discovered during structural testing. These include using additional material plys to produce a stronger blade yoke, while reducing loads through increased rotor rpm and fitting a larger, moveable horizontal stabiliser to compensate for centre of gravity changes.
The first AH-1Z has flown 276h of mainly envelope expansion, with the first avionics test machine - a UH-1Y - completing 52h. Bell has delivered all five flight test helicopters to NAS Patuxent River in Maryland, where they are due to fly by August. Initial operational testing is to start next January.
Source: Flight International
