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- "Imperial pilots never remove their helmets in flight."
- ―AP-5, to Wedge Antilles

The flight helmet of Jessika Pava
Flight helmets, also known as starfighter helmets, were part of the flight suit worn by pilots. There were many different helmet styles throughout the various factions that fielded pilots, but they all had several design elements in common, in particular a visor protecting the eyes.
Flight helmets could also be repurposed for Jedi training as Luke’s helmet had blast shields[2] and used a KSE-H44 A-wing pilot helmet while training his sister on Ajan Kloss.[3]
The Republic era[]

Clone pilot Warthog's Phase I helmet
Before the Clone Wars, the Galactic Republic had no central military. Various planets had their own forces; however, and some of those, such as Naboo, had starfighter corps. Royal Naboo Security Forces pilots had brown, leather-like helmets with visors.[4] Early in the Clone Wars, clone pilots wore white helmets similar to Phase I clone trooper helmets, but with air tubes.[5] By the time ARC trooper Fives escaped from Tipoca City, a new model of helmet for clone pilots had been introduced, and this helmet left some of their face exposed.[6] This type of helmet was used by starfighter pilots like Clone Commander Davijaan "Odd Ball" during the Battle of Coruscant and Jag during Order 66.[7]
The Rebellion and Resistance[]

Luke Skywalker's K-22995 light flight helmet
Imperial pilots were not allowed to remove their helmets during flight, something that recruits were taught at the Imperial Academy.[1] Pilots of the Rebel Alliance often wore the starbird symbol on their helmets,[2] which often were the K-22995 light flight helmet.[8] There were several different designs of Rebel flight helmet. X-wing and Y-wing pilots, during the early rebellion and Galactic Civil War, usually wore a rounded helmet with a chinstrap.[2] A-wing and B-wing pilots, however, usually wore a different design with cheek pieces and no chinstrap.[9]
By the time of the Cold War thirty years later, the Resistance's X-wing pilots wore a helmet design that was an updated version of the type from the Galactic Civil War.[10] In all cases, modified helmets were available for those whose species prevented them from fitting into human-standard helmets. Rylothian pilot Yendor had a custom helmet with holes for his lekku,[11] and fellow Twi'lek Hera Syndulla wore a pilot's cap and custom visor.[12]
The Empire and First Order[]

TIE fighter pilot Oxixo
Imperial TIE pilots wore black helmets similar in design to those of stormtroopers. They had breathing tubes that connected to a control box worn on the chestplate of an atmospheric suit, as TIE fighters typically did not have fully pressurized cockpits. Some helmets had gray stripes.[2] Thirty years later, the TIE pilots of the First Order's starfighter corps, in keeping with the mimicking of Imperial aesthetics, wore similar-looking black flight helmets, some with red stripes.[10]
Aunt Z had a shelf of pilot helmets from across several decades in her tavern, including Mandalorian, clone, Imperial, and rebel pilot.[13]
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
- Rogue One: Recon A Star Wars 360 Experience
LEGO STAR WARS: Celebrate the Season — "Reindeer Walker"
LEGO STAR WARS: Celebrate the Season — "Sithmas Battle"
- The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
LEGO STAR WARS: Celebrate the Season — "New Year's Hothin' Eve"
"Splash Landing!" — LEGO Star Wars 96
Sources[]
Non-canon sources[]
Notes and references[]

Y-wing pilot helmet
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Star Wars Rebels — "Double Agent Droid"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Shadow of Malevolence"
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Fugitive"
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens
- ↑ Lost Stars
- ↑
Star Wars Rebels — "Wings of the Master"
- ↑
Bucket's List Extra: 9 Fun Facts from "The High Tower" - Star Wars Resistance on StarWars.com (October 29, 2018): "Aunt Z has a shelf of pilot helmets from across the decades, including Mandalorian, Imperial, clone, and rebel pilot." (backup link)