Original Soviet Cold War Soviet Air Forces MiG Jet Pilot ZSh-3 Helmet & Interior Helmet

Original Item: Only One Available. The Soviet ZSh-3M was issued in the early 1960s, it is based on an internal leather helmet and an external, rigid aluminum shell. The shell is padded and has a notch to mate with the single ridge of the leather helmet to hold both in place. Produced in different versions, it was used on almost all Soviet aircraft and helicopters of the era. The ZSh-3M uses an occipital bladder which fits against the back of the head of the pilot, pressurized by the oxygen mask system. This system tightens the pilot's face against the oxygen mask automatically as the "G" force increases.

The ShZ/ShL-61 was used in just about every type of Soviet Military Aircraft from 1961 onwards, in various combinations. Combined with the ZSh-3 hard shell, it was the primary fast jet helmet for many years, beginning around the MiG-21 era. Also, it would have been used with the hard shell in the older aircraft that preceded the helmet, eg. the MiG-17, MiG-19 and the corresponding Sukhois.

This example has a lovely padded blue interior with a still-functional visor. The internal helmet is in great shape with the fur well-retained. There is a tag on the interior which is now far too worn to read properly. The interior helmet one of the two electrical wires for the headset, the other having been cut off as shown. 

A great example of a scarce flight helmet, ready for further research and display.