ZSh

ZSh-5, Soviet Flight Helmet
And variants with a blue visor, green visor, and blue visor with neck pad

This is one version of the ZSh-5 helmet. This is the older ZSh-5 model and not the newer ZSh-5A.	The ZSh-5 helmet was standard Soviet issue for its fighter pilots in the 1970's. This is a complete set with all padding on the inside, ear pads with speakers, brown/tan sun shield, and includes the KM34 oxygen mask. The sun visor can be moved in manual mode to three separate positions or it can be set to automatic mode where it snaps all the way down with the touch of a button (or the activation of the ejection seat - nice safety feature!). This is a one-piece fiberglass helmet with interior blue padding and earphones with speakers. This helmet includes its air bag, consisting of a rubber bladder protected by a nylon bag, used to tighten the face against the KM-34 oxygen mask automatically as the oxygen pressure was increased.
	The ZSh-5 helmet had integral headphones and velcro-attached padding. This made the size of the helmet very important. These come in sizes 1, 2, and 3. Adjustments on fit can be made by making the oxygen mask fit tighter against the pilot's face. Look at the inside of the helmet beyond the material and the foam padding. Yes, that's right - it is styrofoam. The ZSh-5 can use the KM-34 and KM-35 oxygen masks (they clip directly into brackets on the helmet edges.
	These are two pictures of earlier ZSh-5 helmets. This version has a blue visor (hard to see in this picture). These visors are only on the oldest versions of the helmets - they were not a good deterrent against the sun and the charcoal visor soon replaced both this one and the green one shown below. And the helmet shown to the left is an incredibly rare version. This is the ZSh-5, one of the very first of these helmets. It does not have the occipital bladder - instead, it has a leather pad riveted to the back of the helmet. The gentleman I bought this from had absolutely no idea about the history of this helmet. It is very well used - although there is no oxidation on the brackets, much paint is rubbed off and you can see the cracks. Also note that this helmet does not have the bayonet receivers for the KM-34 O-2 mask! They have been removed and filled in. Additionally, the electronics have been removed from the earphones (and the helmet was used after that). Without the O-2 mask and communications package, this helmet appears to have been used for training purposes and not for flight. It was probably used during ground school where the pilot-candidates had the feel of a helmet on their heads and some pressure on their necks. This is a superb collector's item as it is a one-of-a-kind item that helped Soviet pilots improve their skills.
	A Here's the best side by side of the visors, which show their colors.
	A ZSh-5A with a green-tint visor. A KM-34D Series I is attached to the helmet.
	Another green-visored ZSh-5, however, you'll note that a boom microphone is attached to the left side bayonet receiver. This helmet came from an Mi-24 Helicopter pilot. (picture provided by Ron Kraan) For another picture of a ZSh-5 in a helicopter, check out the pictures in action page!

Purchaser tips: Look for the edges of the helmet by the front brackets - these will show cracking with only the most minimal of use. The rubber gasket that lines the edge of the helmet also turns gummy after limited exposure to the elements. Look for any discoloration of the padding on the inside or any loss of the styrofoam. The high-impact plastic of the helmet itself may be discolored under the glossy outside coating. The process caused discoloring on occasion and this is perfectly normal (especially brown stain-type spots).	The lowest end ZSh-5A helmets can draw from $150 to $225. A model in like new condition should draw over $300 (assuming that an oxygen mask is included). As for the helicopter variants or the ground school variant of the ZSh-5, these have had some after-market modifications made to them and the integrity of the helmet is in question (more rust, holes where holes should not be, etc). These are rare items, but not expensive (does the law of supply and demand apply here?). I wouldn't expect to pay more than $200 for even the best one of a helicopter or ground school variant of the ZSh-5.