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More of a modeling question, but why do Space Marine pilots in Storm Talons and Storm Ravens wear helmets? It seems like the windshield would be enough protection for regular fighting.

If said vehicle were to crash, the windshield wouldn't help them in fighting on foot. Plus extra armor on a space marine is a given, as they aren't cheap.

To answer your question, we can only look at real life for inspirations: so why do modern jet pilots wear helmets? According to wikipedia, a Flight helmet provides a level of protection against impact and windblast in the event of crash and ejection. The visors filters out intense radiations (sunlight is a form of radiation too). A helmet can filter out noise of a jet plane and the it's got a mic in it. Most helmets also allow for breathers attachments (for high-altitude flights)

At now to the Space Marine Helmets: well, it's certainly protective, maybe in certain scenarios enough to save their wears from a crash. It certainly can filter out noises and it's most certainly got a mic in it (and more). Being a part of a fully enclosed suit it's likely the helmet, together with the armor, can supply oxygen for a period of time. It likely has ports to attach to a thunderhawk, stormraven or whatevers for extended oxygen supply, too. All in all, a power armour helmet is an important part of a Space Marine fighter/flyer pilot.

More to the point: why do the pilots wear power armors in cockpit? Well, since it will take time to don the suit, it's just easier to put them on regardless. In case the fighter falls and (in case of fluff) the pilots survived, they will have a better chance against death/captivity.

Likely the pilot's helmet contains huge amounts of flight data, such as charted flight paths, trajectories of other craft and weapon's fire, can bring up pict-feeds and vid-calls without clogging up the windscreen with images

Some space marine vessels come down from orbit. Its no good if the windscreen has shattered and the pilot can't breath on the way down.

Auto-senses.

Yeah, they can propably link with the aircraft's systems, allowing flight data to be displayed directly to helmet's HUD.

 Deadshot wrote:
Likely the pilot's helmet contains huge amounts of flight data, such as charted flight paths, trajectories of other craft and weapon's fire, can bring up pict-feeds and vid-calls without clogging up the windscreen with images

Auto-senses.

That's the main answer. Power Armor is more than an armored suit - it's also a comprehensive electronics package that augments the marine's senses and presumably interfaces with the aircraft itself. Flying without the helmet would actually be a detriment.

(which, of course, brings up the bugbear of "why do sergeants take off their helmets")

 DanielBeaver wrote:

 Deadshot wrote:
Likely the pilot's helmet contains huge amounts of flight data, such as charted flight paths, trajectories of other craft and weapon's fire, can bring up pict-feeds and vid-calls without clogging up the windscreen with images

Auto-senses.

That's the main answer. Power Armor is more than an armored suit - it's also a comprehensive electronics package that augments the marine's senses and presumably interfaces with the aircraft itself. Flying without the helmet would actually be a detriment.

(which, of course, brings up the bugbear of "why do sergeants take off their helmets")

Yeah, I guess I never thought about that. Thanks! And duh, because guys without helmets = harder to kill

 jreilly89 wrote:
And duh, because guys without helmets = harder to kill

I've heard some people justify Primarchs not wearing helmets as being because they had energy shields that protected their heads. But of course, the real reason is that we want to see our hero's faces.

Thats exactly why. It gives them character.

But all my dudes wear helmets at all times.

Even real life combat pilots wear helmets. Why wouldn't you? They protect your head.

the real question is why do so many space marines not wear helmets, I think the pilots are just smarter than most of the normal space marines.

"Captain, I couldn't explain it. I just had an urge to not wear the helmet. Crazy right? I mean, it felt as if I fought better without it, as if looking cool replaced the protection and made me do better." Felt like I should throw that out there.

Also, if a pilot crashes, and he goes tumbling out of his birdie, he's gonna want some extra protection from breaking his genetically modified neck. Not just that, the thing can tell how battle brothers' conditions are, has a vox system, and who knows what else.

Senses, all linked into helmets HUD, air supply in vacume it in case of damage to asircraft. Vox built in, full air and NBC protection plus hostile environment.

Lots of advantages to wear a helmet. Also shrapnel, spark etc protection for the face.

 jhe90 wrote:
air supply in vacume it in case of damage to asircraft. Vox built in, full air and NBC protection plus hostile environment.

I didn't even think of that. In the context of the tabletop game, they're usually fighting on the surface of a planet. But Space Marines will often see space combat (e.g., boarding actions) or combat in a hostile environment, and everyone involved would have to be wearing helmets. It's no good if your cockpit gets punctured by shrapnel and you suffocate because you're not wearing a helmet.

Remember that this isn’t some gimpy pilot, but one of the Emperor’s finest Space Marines. If he gets shot down, he’ll get get up out of the crater, brush the wreckage of his bird off his armor, draw his bolt pistol, and fight his way to rejoin the nearest friendly forces. Or single-handedly wage war against the whole planet until he achieves victory. Because that’s how he rolls.

And while he wouldn’t mind doing all this without his helmet, sometimes he needs to operate on toxic hellholes, with atmospheres that burn the flesh off your bones. Helmets are nice to have there. Not that he needs one there, but it might make him irritable. We don’t want to see that...

 Nevelon wrote:
Remember that this isn’t some gimpy pilot, but one of the Emperor’s finest Space Marines. If he gets shot down, he’ll get get up out of the crater, brush the wreckage of his bird off his armor, draw his bolt pistol, and fight his way to rejoin the nearest friendly forces. Or single-handedly wage war against the whole planet until he achieves victory. Because that’s how he rolls.

And while he wouldn’t mind doing all this without his helmet, sometimes he needs to operate on toxic hellholes, with atmospheres that burn the flesh off your bones. Helmets are nice to have there. Not that he needs one there, but it might make him irritable. We don’t want to see that...

This, totally this.

Proper flow of oxygen maybe? What if the window screen got blown out? Maybe?