According to an article at Telegraph.co.uk, the RAF will be utilizing Star Wars like helmet displays in their next generation aircraft. From the article:

"The headgear being developed for the new, American-built F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will display navigation and targeting information on the inside of the pilot?s visor.

Precision head tracking software will allow pilots to "see through" the cockpit floor, with infra-red images of the ground below, during day or night time, being beamed in front of their eyes.

The advanced helmet mounted display is reminiscent of systems used by Luke Skywalker and pilots of enemy imperial TIE fighters in the first Star Wars film Episode IV: A New Hope, released in 1977."

Click here for the full story.


Thanks to Tom D. for the heads up.

More pics here at Gizmodo! (Thanks Jes?s)


UPDATE: Friend of TFN, Shane D. (AKA "Jade Jedi") sent us the following link showing what the helmets look like.

Click here to check them out.


Thanks Shane!


UPDATE #2: The Sun in the UK is reporting on some Star Wars like helmets and technology currently being used by the Royal Air Force in Afghanistan. Man do those goggles remind you of Anakin's pod racing helmet. See the excerpt below and click here for the full article with pics.

"THE RAF blitz on the Taliban was last night joined by souped-up Harrier jump jets ? boasting the call sign ?Jedi?.

Top guns piloting the futuristic fighters got the moniker because new night vision goggles make them look like something straight out of Star Wars.

At night, forward-looking infrared systems are used with the pilot?s all-seeing goggles. Squadron Leader Dave Kane said: ?The infrared beam is similar to the Jedi lightsaber ? and what with the goggles, someone compared us to something out of Star Wars.

?The Jedi name stuck and now we?ve adopted it as our call sign.?

But he stressed: ?Like the Jedi, we are guardians of peace ? because we support efforts to bring stability and peace to war-ravaged Afghanistan.

?We don?t seek to rule, but serve others who do ? in our case the elected government of the country.?'


Thanks Darren!