Backcountry Pilot

[denalipilot offline]

Well, I sprung for a David Clark Helmet today, after windowshopping them for a few days. I've got some Flightcom ANR Classics that are compatible.

I brought my headsets into the store and actually tried installing them in the helmet to see how they would fit. The comfort was surprisingly high. I got a snap on visor too, since you can't wear a ball cap like I normally do.

I asked if they sell many, and they said a few hundred a year. (This was at Northern Lights on Merrill field.) She said pilots will come in and buy two at a time at the opening of float season each year.

I just started this thread to see what experience anybody else has had with the DC helmet, or others.

Hope everyone else's weather is better than ours

-DP

[mtv offline]

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish with the helmet.

The DC "helmet" is not an aviator's helmet. It is specifically a hard hat designed to facilitate flight deck crew communications on aircraft carriers, and to provide a little protection while walking around and under the wings of aircraft equipped with ordinance, etc. Lots of things to bump your head into on a carrier deck.

So, if you're just looking for a comfortable way to hang your headsets on your noggin, the DC helmet is fine.

There is no doubt that it will also provide A LITTLE protection to your forehead in the event you do something ugly in an airplane, but it is NOT designed to protect your head in a crash scenario. Talk to DC if you don't buy that.

Also, this "headset holder" provides absolutely NO protection to the sides of your head or to the temple areas, which are pretty fragile parts of your noggin.

Frankly, these things are "feel good" items....they may make a headset a little more comfortable to wear for long periods, and the wearer can fool himself into thinking he's actually wearing a "helmet".

You could wear a bicycle helmet and provide more protection, frankly.

Sorry, but these just don't provide any reasonable amount of head protection.

MTV

[sticknrudder offline]

Well, I sprung for a David Clark Helmet today, after windowshopping them for a few days. I've got some Flightcom ANR Classics that are compatible.

I brought my headsets into the store and actually tried installing them in the helmet to see how they would fit. The comfort was surprisingly high. I got a snap on visor too, since you can't wear a ball cap like I normally do.

I asked if they sell many, and they said a few hundred a year. (This was at Northern Lights on Merrill field.) She said pilots will come in and buy two at a time at the opening of float season each year.

I just started this thread to see what experience anybody else has had with the DC helmet, or others.

Hope everyone else's weather is better than ours

-DP

HGU-55 and full O2.. the only way to go.

But, all kidding aside- it's amazing that more pilots don't wear helmets. Here's an interesting story of a Pitts pilot who happened to be wearing a helmet. The article was recently featured in the AOPA mag.

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... highlight=

Chris

[TrevDog offline]

^ is this photo for real?? wow that is a great story, I've never even thought about a hamlet thanks for the info. :

[Zzz]

I've never even thought about a hamlet

Is that like a helmet made of ham? Sounds delicious.

[LowAndSlow offline]

I've never even thought about a hamlet

Is that like a helmet made of ham? Sounds delicious.

Noggin' protection and survival kit all in one!

[GroundLooper offline]

I've never even thought about a hamlet

Is that like a helmet made of ham? Sounds delicious.

To wear or not to wear? That is the question.

[TrevDog offline]

I've never even thought about a hamlet

Is that like a helmet made of ham? Sounds delicious.

LOL right a helmet that is funny

[a64pilot offline]

The only helmets that are crashworthy are helicopter helmets. Fixed wing helmets have three functions, communication, O2, and protection in the ejection sequence. Helicopter helmets are designed to protect your noggin in a crash sequence. I preach this all of the time to Ag pilots, fixed wing helmets look cooler, weigh less and cost less, but the protection isn't there.
I just returned from Columbia assisting in an accident investigation where I'm sure the pilot would have walked away if he had worn an HGU-56P. He wasn't, he was wearing the 55 and I don't think he survived.

[Splashpilot offline]

MTV is right, that is just a bump helmet. Not going to do much.

If you want my honest opinion I live in a helmet for my job 6 months a year, and did ALOT of research before buying a MSA Gallet LH250. Its an absolutely awesome helmet that is used by the US Coast Guard, NATO fighter pilots as well as several SAR teams around the world. It is very light weight, kevlar/carbon fiber, built MIL SPEC and exceeds those requirements including confined cockpits. The visors are optically clear. The comfort is like having a pillow on your head. If you have to have a helmet on your head upwards of 7 hours a day, quality and comfort are top priorities. Getting custom molded CEP earmolds are also the way to go in a high noise environment. It puts the Bose headset to shame.

Remember that High-G helmets are designed for jets with the sound BEHIND them and vertical ejection impacts. "Helicopter style" helmets are designed for being surrounded by sound and full impact, with the visors designed to withstand bird strikes.

The bad side???? Be ready to plunk down $1000-1500.00. But if you do the things that you see on the Big Rock Long Props videos it would not be a bad investment. I don't wear one in my 180 plunking around strips, but I guess the perceived risk doesn't warrant it. In my job, there is no option.

[a64pilot offline]

I think I paid about $100, maybe for my SPH-4B at the Golden Eagle pawn shop in Daleville Al. First pawn shop out of the Ft. Rucker gate . They used to always have helmets, couldn't hurt to give em a call.
I put www.headsetsinc.com ANR kit in it. I still have my CEP's , but never liked them. I have a set of custom molded ear plugs and could see how that would make CEP's much better.
I want a custom painted HGU-56P.

[Splashpilot offline]

Posted a couple of pics of the helmet if you are interested. Worth the $$$ if you use it.

[mtv offline]

Just as a point of interest, the Department of Interior has been seeing a fair number of failures in the SPH 4 and 5 helmets, probably from folks prying the sides apart to don the helmet.

I don't know if I'd trust an old SPH-4. Oh, and by the way, SPH 4's are REALLY heavy, and really bulky. Trust me, I've worn them for many hours.

The Gallet helmets are definitely the hot ticket if you're going the helmet routine.

How much is your head worth, by the way?

MTV

[TrevDog offline]

...HGU-56P...

btw found one here for $50 if anyone is interested.

http://www.baymil.com/Home/tabid/529/CategoryID/79/List/1/catpageindex/3/Level/a/ProductID/1088/Default.aspx

[qmdv offline]

I knew an old B-36 bomber pilot that spent way to many years bouncing around in the front of those planes. That heavy helmet that they wore just destroyed the vertebra in his neck.

I could have used one of these when I was at Austin this summer when I met up with the BC**AHs.
http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=FQiC_4kbVlA

Tim

[gbflyer offline]

I got one from http://www.beasafepilot.com. A good guy there named Spencer, very accommodating. It is a Peltor racecar lid modified with aircraft comms. If I recall correctly, there is also a Nomex type liner inside of it which is nice if things get a little hot. The acro guys are starting to use them quite a bit. Pretty comfortable, not sure if I could wear it all day, as I have never tried to do so. I use it in the cub because I don't like the thought of smashing my skull on those V-braces.

Pretty decent price, around $900 with shipping. Not a bad way to go for us non-professional types buying our own gear.

gb

[182 STOL driver offline]

Well, I sprung for a David Clark Helmet today, after windowshopping them for a few days. I've got some Flightcom ANR Classics that are compatible.

I brought my headsets into the store and actually tried installing them in the helmet to see how they would fit. The comfort was surprisingly high. I got a snap on visor too, since you can't wear a ball cap like I normally do.

I asked if they sell many, and they said a few hundred a year. (This was at Northern Lights on Merrill field.) She said pilots will come in and buy two at a time at the opening of float season each year.

I just started this thread to see what experience anybody else has had with the DC helmet, or others.

Hope everyone else's weather is better than ours

-DP

I flew with helmet for all of my Military service. You got to have "skid Lid" if your going to fly Military helicopters.Tested by me many times-I still have my old APH-4 in locker at hanger. Helmet bags hang near by. I also used the Helmet on some test flights -primarily helicopters. Have used it in Gary's L-19 to go to airshows. Have converter to plug into to convert Military to Civilian radios.

[Savannah-Tom offline]

Here you go: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=328408

Me? I sit on my brains, so I don't need a helmut.

tom

[a64pilot offline]

...HGU-56P...

btw found one here for $50 if anyone is interested.

http://www.baymil.com/Home/tabid/529/CategoryID/79/List/1/catpageindex/3/Level/a/ProductID/1088/Default.aspx

Only if you have a tiny , tiny head. extra small.

[a64pilot offline]

There is a significant difference between a SPH-4 and the 4B. The "B" has Kevlar, I think and is lighter and stronger than the 4. Neither one is suitable for acrobatic pilots because of the weight, but I try to stay below 6 or 7 G's so it's OK for me
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.
Either way the HGU-56P is the standard by which others are measured as far as crashworthiness is concerned. It's not the coolest looking though.