DCS 2.9.3.51704 custom helmets textures don't load unless...

[Muas]

...unless you use the new 4096x4096 sized texture, now named pilot_f18_helmet_hmd.dds, which you can get from the default textures FA-18C.zip.

New correct entry for the diffuse texture on the description.lua is:

{"pilot_F18_helmet_hmd", DIFFUSE, "pilot_f18_helmet_hmd", false};

Only the default grey helmet will load, until campaign and livery designers update their custom textures.

NOT A BUG.

[Muas]

A little update on custom helmets.

The above is for the HMD equipped helmet only.

If you want to have a custom helmet for the standard helmet, or when with the NVGs on, then there is another file for that helmet texture.

It's the standard pilot_f18_helmet.dds

So, to have a fully consistent custom helmet for HMD, NVGs or none, get a copy of your custom helmet texture, and name them pilot_f18_helmet.dds and pilot_f18_helmet_hmd.dds

And in the descriprion.lua add

{"pilot_F18_helmet_hmd", DIFFUSE, "pilot_f18_helmet_hmd", false};

{"pilot_F18_helmet", DIFFUSE, "pilot_f18_helmet", false};

Needless to say you can now have two different custom helmet art jobs for HMD and NVGs helmets on the same aircraft... 

And as bonus... if you want your pilot to fly permanently with no HMD (Maverick / Blue Angels style) set argument 509 to 0.5 by adding the below to the description.lua

custom_args = 
{

 [509] = 0.5

}

Enjoy.