"With the blast shield down, I can't even see..."

Old Plympto · Post by **Old Plympto** » 2004-12-26 03:49am

Nope it's not about Jedi danger sense, this thread.

Rather: what was that flight helmet doing hanging in the Falcon's lounge? Any official or conjectural explanation what it was dong there??

vakundok · Post by **vakundok** » 2004-12-26 04:52am

Maybe a helmet for the gunners with built in HUD?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-12-26 06:17am

I don't see any reason why the Falcon wouldn't be full of all the miscellaneous junk and equipment Han and Chewi have collected over their years, throw where they feel like. The actual blast shield its self is probably exactly what it sounds like, a shield to protect the users face and eyes from blasts and flashes. Given the yields of Star Wars weapons, a transparent shield probably wouldn't provide much protection. Though it could just be dark and dirty, the thing looked pretty old and heavily used as I recall.

SPOOFE · Post by **SPOOFE** » 2004-12-26 06:47am

It could simply be substandard equipment that Chewie found in a junk pile and decided was useful. We certainly didn't see anything like that in any of the Imperial armoring.

Hell, it could be from a million sources. Maybe it's construction gear, or mining gear, or any other non-violent job that might be exposed to stuff that's dangerous to the face. I think the idea that it's supposed to have a HUD inside is a pretty good one... perhaps it was broken, and that's why Luke couldn't see? I can see Han spotting it at a pawn shop and thinking, "Half a credit? Sure, you never know when one of these might come in handy... I'm about to pull that big job for Jabba anyway, so I can waste a buck..."

spongyblue · Post by **spongyblue** » 2004-12-26 12:23pm

I always took it to be a welding mask.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-12-26 12:41pm

I think it is; wasn't Chewie wearing it when he was fixing the Falcon in TESB?

Gunhead · Post by **Gunhead** » 2004-12-26 12:42pm

Well it is a universe were plasma cutters and other high power tools are common so you'd need some heavy protection. Welding or cutting metals that can withstand gigaton blast is gonna cause some serious heat.

-Gunhead

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-12-26 01:00pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:I think it is; wasn't Chewie wearing it when he was fixing the Falcon in TESB?

I think he held goggles up to his face. The same goggles, in fact, that Han was wearing when Leia told him about the Mynocks in the "cave."

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2004-12-26 01:49pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:I think it is; wasn't Chewie wearing it when he was fixing the Falcon in TESB?

It was just googles he had in his hand, he kept hold them up to his face. The helmet itself sort of looked like the rebel fighter helmets, just with a large shield coming down. Possibility is a helmet that was heavily used or left in rough conditions. I've seen motorcycle helmet shields do something similar, and be solid like that. Not to mention the possibility that the SW universe has dumbasses like the ones that work for me, and end up spray painting thier shield flat black because they think it looks cool.

Patrick Ogaard · Post by **Patrick Ogaard** » 2004-12-26 02:24pm

It's hardly unreasonable for Han Solo, an academy-trained fighter pilot, to have an old fighter pilot helmet kicking around his ship. It might have been a souvenir from when he flew an old Z-95 Headhunter and took out several cutting edge Corporate Sector Authority fighters. (Han Solo at Stars' End)

Then again, maybe not.

The Original Nex · Post by **The Original Nex** » 2004-12-27 09:14pm

I always thought it was for a gunners protection from flack. I picture it having sophisticated sensors behind the mask (which Obi-wan would have not turned on of course) to assist in targetting.

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2004-12-28 10:46am

I alway figure that it must have been part of a computer interface, maybe even the gunnery system. The blast shield being down would have something to do with welding, bright flashes or explosions from battle. As such it must have had a system to project the forward veiw or there would be no use for the blast shield at all. Incidentally there were atomic blast goggles issued to fighter pilots that basically make the pilot blind if worn.

The whole covering of the face suggests that it is a welding or maintanance helmat. The Rebels using modified working or construction helmats for flight helmats does kind of make sense.