As ZSh-5 helmet started to reach more and more pilots, it was found that while the new design was generally liked by pilots, there was room for improvement. The biggest problem of the ZSh-5 series was its fiberglass shell which was developing cracks after moderate use and soon needed to be replaced.

In early/mid 1980s work on the new helmet design, ZSh-7, was started and soon new helmets were starting to reach operational units (albeit in small quantaties, even now some pilots using ZSh-5 helmets). ZSh-7 shell is made out of 2 different shells joined together. Internal shell has a number of straps which could be adjusted for a better fit on pilot's head. Mask receivers and occipital bladder are also attached to the internal shell thus relieving the outer shell from constant stress and eventual break up as it used to be the case on the ZSh-5 series of helmets. 5 wind blast round openings with 2cm in diameter are located on top of the outer shell . These openings suppose to lower wind blast on pilot's head upon ejections.

ZSh-7 was the first Soviet helmet design with an internally stored visor. Visor is located in the upper front section of the helmet between outer and inside shells. Visor lowering mechanism was completely reworked and now has only two positional steps - full up and full down. Just like ZSh-5A model, ZSh-7 helmets were equipped with an automatic lowering mechanism which automatically snaps the visor down upon sensing high vertical g-load. All ZSh-7 models come with a charcoal colored visor (at least that's the only color I've seen to date).

 

ZSh-7A helmet - front view.
Left view of the helmet.
ZSh-7A - view from the back.
Right view of the helmet.
Located on the upper portion of the helmet are 5 wind blast openings which suppose to lower g-loading on pilot's head upon ejections.
Visor is in the down position. Unlike ZSh-3 and ZSh-5 helmets which had visors of 3 different colors, ZSh-7 helmets have only charcoal colored visors.
Close up shot of the knobs that operate visor position. One is attached to the visor frame and other is to the acctual lowering mechanism. To operate, one needs to sqeeze these knobs together and move visor up or down.
Pictured here is a mask receiver. It's similar in design to the receivers found on ZSh-5 helmets, but is made out of plastic. Also note that each receiver got a small metal plate which has a painted helmet model (ZSh-7A in this case) and a small star under it.
Helmet has several ID tags. Pictured here is a tag that shows date of production along with some other manufacturing data.
Here is another one...
And another one... Unfortunately I don't know what all these numbers mean.
Finally, here is the main ID tag which carries information about helmet model, size and serial number.
Inside, internal shell is covered by cusion pads.
This is how the internal ZSh-7 shell looks like with top pad removed.
Here is another shot showing back side of shell. Note that leather starps are hold together by string - helmet can be easily adjusted to diffrent head sizes.
Here are the removable pads. A circular one goes to the top and another rectangular one covers back of the helmet. Note that occpital bladder is inserted inside of the rectangular pad.
Same pads, but a view from the other, internal, side.
Early ZSh-7 helmets were used with KM-34D masks, which were later replaced with newer KM-34D series 2 and KM-35 masks. However even now, it's not that uncommon to see pilots flying with older KM-34D masks. Another thing worth noting here is that helmet pictured here had its occipital removed, this is common for pilots flying ground attack planes.
Another shot of the above setup.