True. This reminds me of something I heard a long time ago, so I may as well ask it.
Helmets worn in fighter aircraft, and other aircraft that operate at higher altitudes, include the HGU-26/P and HGU-33/P. These helmets have a styrofoam liner, with leather-faced foam pads placed at strategic positions for comfort and cushioning. Nowadays they have leather-covered expanded foam ‘shells’ that, often, are custom-fit to the pilot’s head. Helmets, such as the SPH-4, that are worn in helicopters and other low-flying aircraft have suspension systems. Nylon webbing is attached to the helmet’s shell, and there is a small, leather-covered foam pad in the middle. To this suspension web is attached a nylon ‘partial helmet’ (it’s kind of like the cloth helmets of yore, but only the bottom part) that contains the headphones. On the HGU-26/P type, the chin strap is affixed to the helmet. On the SPH-4, the chin strap is attached to the nylon bit that holds the headphones.
As Cecil points out, the purpose of the HGU-26/P type helmets is to protect the pilot’s head from bashing into things during violent maneuvers. It’s not really meant to protect the head in a crash. (It can protect the head if the pilot ejects.) I was told that the reason helicopter helmets have a suspension system instead of the traditional ‘crash helmet’ design, is because pilots stay with the helicopter during a crash. Kind of hard to punch out, with that Cuisinart over your head. Helicopters don’t maneuver like fighter jets; so while the helmet is intended to keep the pilot’s brain pan safe in case it hits something in the helicopter, it’s really designed the way it is to provide protection from the multiple impacts that occur when your helicopter goes into the trees.
Can anyone confirm or refute that?