ZSh-5 Soviet Flight Helmet – Cold War Relic
Description
When you picture a Cold War Russian pilot screaming low over the treetops in a Mi-24 Hind gunship or launching off a runway in a MiG-23 Flogger, odds are they were strapped into one of these – the ZSh-5 fiberglass flight helmet. Designed in the 1970s, the ZSh-5 was standard issue across the Soviet Air Force and remains one of the most iconic lids of the late Cold War era.
This isn’t some cosplay knockoff – it’s a genuine surplus helmet pulled from Eastern Bloc stockpiles. It’s seen better days, but that’s what makes it real. The fiberglass shell shows cracking from age, the foam padding has gone the way of the Berlin Wall, but the history is still baked into every centimeter of this lid.
Condition
- Used surplus with Cold War wear and tear
- Fiberglass shell shows age cracking
- Foam padding is mostly dried out/disintegrated
- Visor and frame still intact, but not flight-worthy
Key Features
- Genuine Soviet ZSh-5 fiberglass flight helmet
- Issued to both MiG-23 fighter jocks and Mi-24 Hind crews
- Fiberglass shell with visor flash protection – built for nuclear glare
- Cold War relic with authentic wear
- Perfect for display, collection, or Cold War loadout builds
Cold War Context
The ZSh-5 was the backbone helmet of Soviet fast-jet and attack helicopter pilots from the mid-70s through the late 80s. In the cockpit of the variable-geometry MiG-23 Flogger, it was strapped on for supersonic intercepts against NATO Phantoms and Eagles. In Afghanistan, it was the standard helmet worn by Mi-24 Hind crews as they tore through valleys unleashing rockets and 12.7mm fire. The integrated dual-visor setup was designed not just for sun glare but also for flash protection – because when you trained to fight NATO, that was always in the back of your mind.
