Glass/Plastic Transparent Armor for Helicopters,

This paper covers a program for the development of scaleup technology to produce contoured transparent glassplastic armored glazings for the UH-1D helicopter. This work incorporated recent advances in high-performance glassplastic composite transparent armor technology. Primary emphasis was placed on the design and scaleup required to add a significant level of such protection to a current inventory aircraft. The design and fabrication of direct replacement armored windshields duplicating the UH-1 contour and trim represented a significant advancement in the state-of-the-art. The program achievements clearly represent a milestone in aircrew protection and aircraft survivability. Findings apply to present aircraft, and provide the basis for the most efficient incorporation of transparent armor in the next genetration of aircraft. Author