One of the things that makes the original Star Wars so great is the plethora of props that are inspired by or outright formed from old military weapons and gear. Such is the case with the Rebel X-Wing pilot’s helmet, which was based on a Gentex APH-6 flight helmet. This video by YouTube channel Mike’s Tiny Shop details a bit of this history, and even shows the channel owner’s father’s own Vietnam-era restored APH-6. This is then compared to a replica of Wedge Antilles’ helmet from Episode 4: A New Hope, which the owner created using a helmet shell and miscellaneous parts.
It’s a cool video to check out, whether your a fan of props, military gear, or tales of a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.