I don't think that anyone would ride with me if I wore a helmet. Maybe that is a good idea!

FWIW, I don't wear a helmet in anything anymore except a Thrush. The standards it's built to safety wise are predicated on wearing a helmet. The cockpit area is extremely tough, but only the glare shield has padding, everything else is bare steel tube.

a64pilot wrote: I'm sure the Gallet is fine, but it's French isn't it? If able, I'll buy American first. I will buy form overseas, but not if a comparable American product is available.

In May 2002, MSA Worldwide bought CGF Gallet, the leading European manufacturer of protective helmets for the fire service and specialized head protection for law enforcement, aviation, and military personnel. MSA Europe, where the aviation helmets are manufactured, is headquartered in Germany. The quality shows. MSA USA is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traded on the NYSE as MSA. They just won a $25 million contract to the US Air Force.
There are a few distributors in the US. The best service and quality workmanship is Tiger Performance in NY. Cutting edge stuff. Even the hydroplane racers have caught on to the Gallet helmet and are using them with full survival gear. Several Red Bull comp pilots fling themselves around at over 8 G's with them. I'd say Gentex has some real competition.

The Gallet helmet is not even in the same league as the others. It is simply the best helmet you can buy. Depending on who sets you up and what you equip it, with not much else can touch it. I know lots of Gallet owners and only one changed brands when it came time for a new one, and that was because at the time (several years ago) there was limited customer support.

The SPH series will work just fine as proven on a regular basis by our military helo pilots, tons of law enforcement types, and ag pilots galore... a64 is correct the only difference in a SPH4 and a SPH4b is the 4b is a kevlar helmet. On average the -b is 7 ounces lighter. The passive sound suppression kinda sucks on these, (add ANR) but the radio attenuation is generally better than anything else. This is just because the "chin strap" houses the earcups as well so they just get sealed around your ears better... IMHO these are the best value out there if you are on a budget and don't live in the thing.

An HGU 56 is a great helmet, but being the "newer" military helmet of choice they are not as plentiful on the civilian market and the cost is on par with the Gallet, which is a superior product. There is a real cool looking face shield that adapts to these to make them a full face helmet if you really want that darth vader look

The DCs do a great job of keeping knots off you head in turbulence. They probably are better than nothing, but factor in the cost of your headsets and you probably could have bought an SPH4.

Lots of outfits selling "refurbed" SPH4s and the likes I don't get this, how do you know if the shell has hairline cracks under that new paint? Or if the paint system used was compatible with the fiberglass? ie. didn't break it down? Probably not the way to go... Flightsuits.com and others will sell you a new one and make sure it fits right too

I have been flying with a Peltor lately. It is the lightest of the bunch, and as comfortable as a Gallet, but you can't take the nomex liner out and wash it like a zeta lined Gallet. Not a big deal for recreational use, but not great if you make a living sweating in it. Support is not great for Peltors unless you race rally cars, but there are at least three outfits dealing in Gallets that I know of. I would go with splashpilots source although I bought mine through Merritt... Nomex liner is Peltors big push... if there is fire inside your helmet you are probably beyond worring about whether your liner is nomex or not...

When figuring the cost of a top end anr helmet don't forget to back out the savings you realise for not buying the Bose headset, or Oakley (ANSI saftey glasses)...all of a sudden that $1k helmet price tag doesn't look so bad...

Like a64, the only time I wear a helmet is in a spray plane...

Take care, Rob

Got to fly in a GenTex last week, and compare a Gallet and some others. Only the Gallet had active noise reduction. Seems to be the Cadillac out of the lot.

I also agree the David Clark helmet looks pretty bush league compared to any of them.

Heard an account of a guy being found with his head lodged in the V-brace of his Supercub. Probably not the only case of that happening either

This is another option. They are good, but not in the same league as a Gallet if you are going to wear it for 6-8 hrs a day, every day.
I have this one and an sph4 as back ups and if I were to do it again I would just have had another Gallet.