Original Soviet Cold War Soviet Air Forces MiG Jet Pilot ZSh-3 Helmet & Interior Helmet - Dated 1990

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 padded blue interior with a still-functional visor, although there is some duct rape repairing on the padding. The internal helmet is in great shape with the fur well-retained. There is a tag on the interior of the inner helmet which gives a date of 1990. There is also a throat mic set retained as well. The interior helmet retains the full wiring, although we cannot guarantee functionality.

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