Following on the footsteps of the GSh-6M, a modernized version of this helmet was rolled out. While maintaining an overall similar design, GSh-6A incorporated a number of changes that adressed problems with a previous version, as well as made the helmet more easier to produce.

The most noticable difference between the M and A models was the relocation of the inhale corrugated hose and exhale valve, which changed places with each other. This was done to allow for easier access to the parachute ripcord handle which is located on the left side and was previously obscured by the corrugated hose. In addition to that, the K-4 exhale valve found on GSh-6M was replaced with a newer K-66. New valve had a longer service life (350 hours) and was of smaller size which gave more room for pilot's head inside of the helmet's shell. K-66 exhale valve, when installed on GSh-6A helmet, also had 3/4 of its length inside of the helmet which made it more resistant to outside temperature (K-66 can operate in temperatures as low as -50º C) then the older K-4 exhale valve.

Tasked with trying to lower the overall weight of the helmet, designers opted to rework the neckring design. The two piece GSh-6M neckring with ball bearing joint gave way to a more weight efficient single piece construction. Worth of note here is that early GSh-6A helmets could have been used/issued with either, GSh-6A or GSh-6M neckrings - this was probably done until all of the previously manufactured -M style neckrings were used up (at least my early GSh-6A example came with a GSh-6M style neckring).

Another and not so apparent improvement was intorduction of the improved communication helmet design. A smaller UK-8 amplifier was introduced in place of earlier UM-1.

Early GSh-6A helmets retained the GSh-6M style mechanism with a metal cover, but as production went on, it was replaced with a plastic one. Likewise, early GSh-6A helmets often came with green sunshade visor, which later on in the production gave place to a charcoal one.

 

Late production GSh-6A inner communication helmet. Note the new microphone assembly.
Microphone of the communication helmet is placed on a rotatable boom and can be adjust to be closer or farther from pilot's face.
Located just under the microphone's mounting bracket is a small tag with a date of production of the inner helmet.
View from the back. The black leather pad was used to properly allign the inner helmet with the outside GSh-6 shell.
New style GSh-6A neckring - one piece metal assembly. Inside of the ring is a pinkish rubber neck seal. Also note a hermetic connection for the communication helmet.
Located on the back of the helmet are helmet position locks. These connect to special hooks located on VKK suit...
... and here is how it looks when connected to the suit.
Forward lock with a pull down ring. After both back locks and a forward lock are connected to the suit, pilots pulls down the plastic ring. This keeps helmet assembly firmly on pilot's head and shoulders...
... forward lock is connected to the suit and ring is pulled down.
First pilot pulls the neckring down his head to shoulders and the puts on the communication helmet.
Neckring is a one piece metal assembly. Also shown on this picture is a pin lock.
Bolted to the neckring on 3 and 9 o'clock are the cable trolleys. They prevent cables from going into the pilot's neck when helmet assembly is joined to the VKK suit.
GSh-6A helmet overview.
When helmet is not worn a special rubber cap is put on the inside part of the exale valve. This prevents dust and water from getting into the valve.
Exhale valve without the cap.
Located inside of the helmet is an ID tag. First line contains helmet's designation and size, on the second line is helmet's serial number.
Inhale valve is surrunded by rubber air channels with clear plastic over the valve. Channels have small holes all the way through their length. Air escapes through the holes and not only delivers fresh ait for pilot to breath, but also ventilates his head.
K-66 exhale valve from the outside and knob for the internal visor.
When helmet is not used, both air and pressure hoses are covered with green rubber covers.
On GSh-6A pressure hose and electrical wiring were placed over the back side of the helmet. On GSh-6M both of them were placed over the front portion of the helmet.
Shown here is a newer style visor heating mechanism.
Attached to the heating mechanism are tiny metal wires that run all across the visor and acctually heat it up.
Main visor lowering mechanism. It's the same one as on GSh-6M. To bring visor down, pilot pushes it to the down position and then, while pulling out the plastic ball, horizontally swings the lock into the closed position.
This and several pictures below show the GSh-6A set on "pilot's" head.
 
 
 
Here is a picture of early production GSh-6A helmet.
Note the early style green colored internal visor. In later helmets its color was changed to charcoal.
Front-left view of the early GSh-6A helmet. Note the old style bulky cover for the visor heatign mechanism.
Here is a close up on the cover.
Early production GSh-6A helmets had shell's serial number stamped out on the front of the helmet, under the main visor. On later helmets, this stamp was moved to the back.