- Yes
- No
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Currently in game, United States / Germany (West) / Great Britain / Italy / France / Israel shares same pilot model in top tier aircrafts.
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However it was last updated in 2019, and features standard look of the late 1940s to 1950s U.S. Air Force pilot.
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This pictures show how U.S. military pilots looked like since 1980s. Needless to say, current model is quite outdated and very inappropriate for modern 4th gen fighters. So it needs to be improved as soon as possible.
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This could be a good sample for how the new pilot model may look like. Here is the list of possible items:
Helmet: HGU-33/P (USN), HGU-48/P (USAF), HGU-53/P, HGU-55/P, HGU-68/P
Oxygen mask: MBU-12/P (USAF), MBU-14/P (USN)
Flight suit: CWU-27/P, CWU-62/P (USN), CWU-66/P (USAF)
Anti-G vest: CSU-17/P (USAF)
Anti-G garment: CSU-13/P (USAF), CSU-15/P (USN)
Survival vest: SRU-21/P (USAF), SV-2 (USN), CMU-33/P (USN)
Harness: MA-2 (USN), PCU-15/P (USAF), PCU-33/P (USN)
Life preserver: LPU-9/P (USAF), LPU-10/P, LPU-23/P (USN), LPU-34/P, LPU-36/P
Gloves: GS/FRP-2, GS/FRB-2 (USN)
These equipment, represented by the HGU-55/P helmets and the MBU-12/P (MBU-14/P for navy) oxygen masks, would be suitable for aircrafts from the late 1970s and beyond.
Some countries with their own pilot model, such as Japan and Sweden, would also be able to use these new models.
I expect this change to improve both the visual aspects and historical accuracy of the game.
Sources
- Sabre Pilot from the National Museum of the United States Air Force
- US Military Aviation - US Jet Age Aircraft and Equipment by Andrea Salimbeti
- National Archives Catalog
- #6601851
- #6627995 - Flight Clothing Evolution from the National Naval Aviation Museum website
- Lights, Camera, Tomcat from the Northrop Grumman website
