http://store.tigerperformance.com/bose-msa-gallet-lh050-flight-helmet-single-visor.aspx

I ran across this today. It appears that Tiger Performance is offering a Bose A20 retrofit version. I think they must be doing the retrofit and not the factory because this option is not offered by Merit Apparel.

Has anyone purchased this option and have a pirep?

Wow! They're really proud of those! Not sure my head is worth near that much--might oughta put it into life insurance premiums instead.

Cary

David Clark makes one that is functionally the same as the Army SPH-4 without Mickey Mouse ears. The headset ears fit outside the helmet. Any standard headset works. DC will sell the helmet w/o the headset. I liked the adjustable mesh net webbing because it let air get around my head like the Army helmet. I would have kept using my NG helmet but they quit exchanging it with a new one when the old one began smelling too much like parathion. Sgt. Lopez suggested I just cut a wire so he could DX it. I wasn't that desperate. The helmet only was about $300 in the 90s.

contactflying wrote:David Clark makes one that is functionally the same as the Army SPH-4 without Mickey Mouse ears. The headset ears fit outside the helmet. Any standard headset works. DC will sell the helmet w/o the headset. I liked the adjustable mesh net webbing because it let air get around my head like the Army helmet. I would have kept using my NG helmet but they quit exchanging it with a new one when the old one began smelling too much like parathion. Sgt. Lopez suggested I just cut a wire so he could DX it. I wasn't that desperate. The helmet only was about $300 in the 90s.

Aircraft Spruce has the DC K-10 helmet for $349. Closer to what my noggin might be worth.

Cary

I have no real experience to report, except that I have tried on a Gallet helmet and they are much more comfortable and lighter than my Gentex and I would love to incorporate the A20 avionics into my helmet. That sounds like the perfect set-up, and I can't imagine you would be unhappy with it. I can't remember, do you have helmets currently?

I have an old DC helmet that I stuck my Bose AX headset into. It has basically fallen apart, but it is also 8 years old. Hence, I'm in the market for a new helmet.

I have now found a kevlar helmet that is a copy of the Gallet style. Unlike the Gallet which is a combo of kevlar and fiberglass, the Evolution is pure kevlar and consequently lighter. They also offer the Bose A20 retrofit option.

http://www.evolutionhelmets.com

I am ordering a Evo helmet with Bose.

Yes, all of the major resellers of the MSA line order them without comms and do the ANR install in house. Most of the ANR set ups currently offered are in fact headsets inc, although the helmet dealer don't openly advertise that. Most of them have also tried installing DC ANR, but that proved to be hit and miss when installed in helmets.

I have no experience with one of Tigers A20 conversions, but did try one on my own. I did it for an easier cell / music interface, and while it worked out in that respect, it was more of a pain to set up and no better than a headsets inc set up in the ANR aspect. In fact I find the headsets inc set up better suited to the application. This all could be due to my personal installation tho. The Bose mic also doesn't play as well with the cockpit noise of a Thrush, but may be just fine for other applications.

In the headsets inc install the 'microphone' that sees the ambient noise is incorporated in the headset module and meant to be in the ear cup. In the A20 it is also in the ear cup, but sees the ambient noise outside the ear cup via a small hole in the ear cup. Since this was an experimental set up for me, I was not about to drill holes in my $2K ++ helmet. I would be interested in seeing ho Tiger crossed that bridge.

FWIW my initial intention was to use Zulu's as they don't appear to have that issue, it just happened that a donor set of A20's popped up first.

I think we missed the main point, Cary. It has a built in spice rack.

I've got several old SPH-4 military Helmets and Headsets.inc kit for ANR -hiding in supply cabinet. Need to get those out and make better use of them. Counted the other day and have 6 head sets 4 ANR's and 2 old David Clark .

I hear an outfit in New Zealand or maybe Australia is setting up msa gallet's with Zulus haven't been able to find a name so far though. Anyone down there have any ideas?

contactflying wrote:I think we missed the main point, Cary. It has a built in spice rack.

Riiiiiiight!

Cary

Anyone have experience with these?

http://www.helicopterhelmet.com/EVO--BO ... c_483.html

contactflying wrote:David Clark makes one that is functionally the same as the Army SPH-4 without Mickey Mouse ears. The headset ears fit outside the helmet. Any standard headset works. DC will sell the helmet w/o the headset. I liked the adjustable mesh net webbing because it let air get around my head like the Army helmet. I would have kept using my NG helmet but they quit exchanging it with a new one when the old one began smelling too much like parathion. Sgt. Lopez suggested I just cut a wire so he could DX it. I wasn't that desperate. The helmet only was about $300 in the 90s.

Jim,

Actually, the David Clark helmets aren't similar to the SPH 4 helmets at all. The DC helmets were originally developed (and still used, I believe) to issue to aircraft carrier deck crews. Their primary purpose was to provide sound reduction (with the attachable headsets), communication (ditto), and a little protection for your noggin if you bump into a wing/ordinance/etc on a very noisy and busy flight deck. They were never designed to provide true head protection in a crash.

Which doesn't mean they won't provide some protection, of course.

MTV

Tom wrote:Anyone have experience with these?

http://www.helicopterhelmet.com/EVO--BO ... c_483.html

Yes, in one of my earlier posts, I reported that I purchased one. I have used it for a couple months and find it to be a very nice helmet. It did take some work on my part to get the ear cups to fit correctly and I did take a grinder to some of the material inside the shell to make the ear cups fit better. I also used different foam to pad between the ear cups and the shell.

The helmet is SUPER quiet and the EVO guys say that you probably don't even need the Bose and I'm inclined to believe them. One day I took off and forgot to turn on my Bose and it wasn't terrible. The fact that I didn't notice that the bose wasn't on for a few minutes is saying something. The thick shell around the ear cups is very noise insulating.

The helmet is heavy but I don't really notice it that much. I really like the dual visors and especially the dark gray. If I were to do it over I would order the white color to minimize heat absorption from the sun.

Squash wrote:

Tom wrote:Anyone have experience with these?

http://www.helicopterhelmet.com/EVO--BO ... c_483.html

Yes, in one of my earlier posts, I reported that I purchased one. I have used it for a couple months and find it to be a very nice helmet. It did take some work on my part to get the ear cups to fit correctly and I did take a grinder to some of the material inside the shell to make the ear cups fit better. I also used different foam to pad between the ear cups and the shell.

The helmet is SUPER quiet and the EVO guys say that you probably don't even need the Bose and I'm inclined to believe them. One day I took off and forgot to turn on my Bose and it wasn't terrible. The fact that I didn't notice that the bose wasn't on for a few minutes is saying something. The thick shell around the ear cups is very noise insulating.

The helmet is heavy but I don't really notice it that much. I really like the dual visors and especially the dark gray. If I were to do it over I would order the white color to minimize heat absorption from the sun.

Thanks,
I've noticed with the a20's if you don't turn them on, they are pretty quiet, as compared to my Zulus, when the battery dies, you know it.

The Evo Helmet in action

I have quite a bit of time now with this helmet.

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Here are the pros:
Nice helmet. The fact that I have Bose A20's in it makes it awesome. The helmet is bomber. The customer support is actually quite good. I would buy another one. The color is beautiful. The helmet is about as comfortable as I need.....except for the heat (see below).

Cons:
With the 2 visor system AND the Bose, the helmet is a bit heavy. I talked with Ron before installing the Bose and he said that if you didn't want the extra weight that the non-noise-cancelling regular ear cups attenuate the noise surprisingly well due to the extra thickness of the helmet shell. It is a quiet helmet. BUT.....I love the Bose and wasn't willing to let them go so I accept the weight.

With the Bose ear cups, I had to do a bit of fitting to secure the ear cups in the wells. The way they came out of the factory wasn't satisfactory.

They don't have many different sizes (if any) so make sure your head size is appropriate.

About that beautiful color.....I would go back and get a white helmet. I have a sun roof in my plane and when the sun is out my dark helmet gets really hot. Go white if sun is an issue. I have now installed sun visors and that helps.

Unless you really want the two visor system, you could save weight by going with a single visor. Be sure to think through the visor system because if you go single internal visor, you won't be able to convert to a two-visor system. However, if you go single external visor, you could always install a second later.

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Those who have seen my helmet like it. Compared to a Gallet, it is definitely thicker and more rigid.

Squash wrote:I have quite a bit of time now with this helmet.

Excellent report on the EVO helmet, thanks.

I think I am sold on the EVO's. Interesting point regarding the helmet color; hadn't considered that. I was thinking of going headsets inc, along with the in-ear...what is it called-SEP? My thinking is the ANR will be working the noise coming into the earcups, while the earplug speakers will have just com audio. I am one of those lucky people that can wear earplugs all day without discomfort: did so for years riding off-road motorcycles. By going with the cheap ANR I can afford to experiment.

The plane I am building is a pusher and *very* loud, so I need all the attenuation I can get.

-M3X

I have a Gentex helmet with the *CEP* (communication ear plug) and no ANR. For me, I see zero reason to have that and ANR. I can't hear a thing, other than the radio, with those in. It took a little while to get used to flying with only a trace of engine noise. Your pusher may be different but that is my experience.

I fly a turbine helicopter for work with a .50 cal barrel just outside of our doors (that are removed 90% of the time).

We use helmets and CEPs, no ANR. No need for the ANR, imho.