Thales dispalyed its TopOwl helicopter and Pathfinder at Paris Air Show 2009

Thales exhibits its TopOwl Helicopter Helmet Mounted Display at Paris Air Show 2009. TopOwl is the only binocular helmet-mounted system in production that could display the total clarity and contrast of the Pathfinder sensor. Teaming this beyond-state-of-the-art helmet with the most advanced piloting sensor in the world also decreases combat helicopter loss due to brownout during operations. Yves Joannic, Head of Helicopter Solutions activities said, “in a brownout situation, there is a fleeting glimpse of the terrain for a mere second and the pilot just can’t waste time looking for information within the cockpit, hence the utility of the TopOwl helmet. The pilot stays positioned head-up, eyes out, with images coming from the sensors". The TopOwl/Pathfinder system demonstrates advanced operational efficiency in brownout, night and bad weather situations through high quality imaging in addition to high accuracy head tracking and high resolution LCD displays. TopOwl is already installed and ffully operational on 5 major helicopters Tiger, NH90, Cobra AH-1Z, Huey UH-1Y and Rooivalk.