HeavyArty Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 (edited) Does anyone know roughly when (year) the USAF switched from the SPH-4 helmet to the HGU-56 helmet for helicopter (HH-60G) pilots? I am planning to build the Kitty Hawk HH-60G in the older Euro 1 scheme from late '90s to early 2000s and want to be accurate w/the helmet. Edited February 3, 2020 by HeavyArty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clinstone Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 They switched around 2002-2004 depending on the unit with the ANG/AFRES being the last to transition. You would really be safe with either helmet depending on what mods that you build in. It is safe to say that by the time of the Block 152 modifications, all of the helmets would be HGU-56s. This is a picture from the 56th RQS HH-60G deployment to Sierra Leone/Liberia in 2003 with the crew wearing the HGU-56. It is has a FLIR but no IEWS or the Bulldog flare buckets. It is basically the version in the Academy 1/35 model with a FLIR. Here is a picture of a IEWS modified HH-60G at Nellis in 2002 with the crew in SPH-4s. This IEWS modified HH-60G is in Iraq in 2003 (before the 56 RQS deployment to Africa) with SPH-4s. Finally here is a Block 152 modified HH-60G in 2004 with HGU-56s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted February 3, 2020 Author Share Posted February 3, 2020 Thanks Clint. Just what I was looking for. Great reference pics too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog-03 Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 The UH-1N crews flying support for my teams had a mix of both helmets in 1999-2002. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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