schedule and many, many billions of dollars overbudget. i don t want like that. reporter: lockheed martin got the message and squeezed $5 billion out of the program. these doors open and those provide help to provide stability reporter: lieutenant colonel chad vaughn is command officer of the squadron at air base yuma. he calls the aircraft an engineering marvel. the combination of the sensors and the airplane and the way that the man/machine interface works is what truly sets it apart. reporter: the technology is woven into the customized helmets at an estimated cost of nearly $400,000 each. the view in the helmet, you look down on your helmet, you see through the bottom of the airplane. reporter: so it s automatic, wherever you point your head, you get the view exactly. it s going to automatically bring in that other camera from where you re looking. reporter: and pilots say the lightning ii deserves its