British Mk4A Aircrew Flying Helmet
Based on the Mk4, the Mk4A featured a simplified two-piece liner (brow pad and nape pad), but all other main features remained as per the Mk4.
Advertisments / Brochures
Taken from a 1981 product catalogue, the below image shows an early Mk4A with flatter visors, chin strap mounted externally with metal fittings, and black knurled mask hook adjusters - these features would change on latter Mk4A's.
I found this image below in an old aircraft magazine and scanned it. The cross section artwork is by famed cutaway artist Tony Matthews, from 1980.
It shows a very early Mk4A helmet, with flatter visors, and chin strap mounted externally with metal fittings. For an unknown reason, a mask microphone cable is shown, but a mask is not.
Factory Image
Taken from the book "HELMETS: The Story of Helmets Limited, 1924 - 1984", this image depicts Wendy Clarke, Irene Winn, Avril Goldie, Audrey King, Lesley McGuire and Sue Bird assembling Mk4A helmets, (the book incorrectly states Mk3 aircrew helmets). They are at a workbench made form Dexion, covered with a soft materal to protect the helmets from damage during assembly.
RAF/RN AP Resources
AP108F-0213-1, Chapter 2-2, Page 4, Fig 1, (Amdt 6, October 1997)
This single page is all I have on the Mk4A helmet from AP108F-0213-1. I'd really like to find the rest of this AP, if anyone out there has a copy (either scanned or paper), please let me know. But as an exploded diagram, it demonstrates the fiddly complexity of British helmets.
