British Mk1 Aircrew Visor
The Mk1 visor was intended for use with cloth and leather helmets, but was also used on Mk1A helmets before the Mk2 visor was installed.
The Mk1 visor has a firm bar across the brow area with soft backing, and is held in place by an elastic headband, which can be clipped to the rear of the helmet like goggles would be. There is also a female pop-stud in the centre of the brow bar, which if the helmet is modified by installing a male pop stud to the brow centre, it can help to keep the visor in place.
The visor screen attaches to the bar with two bolts. One bolt has a wing-nut to allow the wearer to lock the screen in the desired position.
Publications
Flight International 25 January 1951
Source: Flight International Archive, part of an article on the work of the IAM. It very nicely dates the development of the Mk1 Visor to 1951.
Quote:
Work is also going ahead on a vizor to take the place of goggles. Carried on a shock-absorbing headband, the vizor takes the form of a curved piece of transparent Perspex, dyed to neutral grey. A friction-clamp butterfly-nut permits the vizor to be locked at any required position between the fully down and the fully up (out of use), and the neutral darkening of the Perspex is such that it provides utility as an anti-glare sunshield without destroying colour definition.
Detail of newly-developed flying helmet with modified earphone installation. The new vizor is shown in the partly raised position, where it would serve as an efficient sunshield.
Service Images
64 Sqn Meteor, date unknown
Source unknown, please let me know if this is your image, and credit will be given.
The informaion I have on this image is that it is either a photo of, or by Les Millgate. It is sid to be an AEW Meteor of 64 Sqn, based at Duxford.
502 Sqn Vampire, dated 1951 to 1957
This photograph of aircrew from 502 (Ulster) Squadron. It is dated between March 1951 and March 1957 (the dates that 502 Sqn operated Vampires according to Wikipedia).
The image shows a Mk1 visor strapped to a Mk1A helmet (third from right).
Image source: Belfast Telegraph.
RAF / RN Resources
AP4288C, Volume 1, Section 6, Chapter 1, Figure 2 (AL29, December 1955)
The AEA of the Glsoter Javelin from 1955 shows a Mk1 visor in use. This AP is specifically for the Mk3J ejection seat, but images include the AEA.
