Hi, diginagain,
that must have been with these old style NVG, the ones with the three batteries which you couldn't use for the privat equipment ;-)
We only use these ones for daytraining - with a black cap in front - light coming through a needlehole.
The ANVIS NVG are much better - but we had to put extra weight on the back, otherwise the system wouldn't be balanced on the helmet.
Normally operations should be limited to 4 hrs a turn - but what do you do, if someone crys for help?
I haven't had mayor neck-problems yet - felt some discomfort from time to time - actually I have more problems with the headset in my helmet - missing my british helmet - should have "lost" that one, when I left the navy in Portland ;-)
But looking around and thinking about the design of a neck - problems will come for sure.
Unfortunately, with low budgets, not to much is done for the pilots, to keep the health up. Somebody should tell the guys from the moneydepartement, how expensive it is, to recruit a new pilot and get him all the ratings and experiance, he needs to do the job....
Back to Portland - I was only a paying guest to her majestys senior service ;-)
Just to get my wings and the Lynx-Rating - the Navy Lynx-rating :-)
Greetings "Flying Bull"