Six Years. One Breakthrough. Meet the First Helmet to Pass the 600 KEAS Test

07/25/25

What does it take to build the most advanced fixed-wing flight helmet the U.S. Air Force has ever tested?

For LIFT Airborne Technologies, it took everything — vision, grit, and an unwavering respect for those who serve.

Six years ago, we partnered with the U.S. Air Force through its AFWERX innovation program to take on a challenge that had long gone unanswered: create a next-generation fixed-wing helmet that could keep pace with modern aircraft and aircrews.

But we didn’t want to tweak the status quo. We wanted to build something entirely new.
From the shell to the optics, every line of the AV2 Vendetta was reimagined for performance, safety, and adaptability.

And while the mission was clear, the journey was anything but smooth.

Some ideas failed. Some tests forced us back to square one. But with every obstacle, we adapted. We learned. We evolved.

Because for us, this wasn’t about proving what we could build — it was about building something worthy of the people who wear it.

That pursuit has now reached a defining milestone:

The AV2 Vendetta is officially the first fixed-wing flight helmet in history to pass the U.S. Air Force’s 600 KEAS ejection sled test — one of the most extreme benchmarks in military aviation. It has also passed over 50 additional MIL‑STD evaluations, setting a new bar for what’s possible in headborne systems.

What sets AV2 Vendetta apart:

  • 600 KEAS ejection sled certified — an industry-first for fixed-wing helmets 
  • 21% lighter than traditional systems 
  • 22% improved center of gravity for balance and reduced fatigue 
  • +2.6° increased field of view, enhancing pilot situational awareness 

Built with 12K aerospace-grade carbon fiber, Koroyd®/EPS hybrid impact liner, and MIL‑STD‑43511 magnetic visor system

At its core, AV2 Vendetta reflects more than innovation — it reflects purpose.

It was designed by aviators, for aviators — with input from test pilots, engineers, and aircrew who trusted us to think differently and aim higher.

We’re proud of what AV2 Vendetta represents: a leap forward in safety, comfort, and integration — and a renewed commitment to every pilot who puts everything on the line.

To those who fly — and to those who serve — this is our way of flying with you.

LIFT Airborne Technologies, LLC
4851 Goni Rd, Carson City, NV 89706

contact@liftairborne.com
310.637.5000