THE BEAUTY OF LIFE: November 2007

Fighter pilots will be flying in Lancashire-built jets in futuristic new "Terminator" helmets. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled the cutting-edge new head gear which has been developed for use in the F-35 Lightning II.The tail sections of the state-of-the-art aircraft are built at BAE Systems' base in Samlesbury, near Preston.An MoD spokesman said: "Unlike any other jet aircraft, the Lightning II does not have a traditional head-up display; instead the computerised symbols will be displayed directly in the pilot's vision."It will provide them with cues for flying, navigating and fighting the aircraft."It will even superimpose infra-red imagery on to the visor to allow the pilot to look through the cockpit floor at night and see the world below - like something out of Terminator."The head gear is currently being tested and developed by MoD scientists at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire in the UK.