kevbert wrote:

It would be terrific fun to taxi up to a ramp wearing one of these, in fact, wear the whole uniform.
Someplace you never been before.
Act totally nonchalant as you give them your fuel order, buy a soda, chk the wx, pay for everything in gold, then leave.

Littlecub wrote:

I mean which wife would not want me around ....?

How big is your 'Life Insurance Policy'........
Everything in life is a trade off....

And how many do you have?

lc

Ha Ha Ha! in case she ends up here reading our gibrish, I only have one, I love you babe!! you love me too right Oh and babe, I have no insurance policy so not worth the extra stress of coming up with a plan

On another note, BCP members have convinced me to go MSA Gallet. I sent a telegraph to Rob Hamers at Merit Apparel in Florida, he got back to me and we chatted for nearly 10 mins about all options available. He also gave me a little science lesson in audiology! I think I am sold on the earplug although I do understand the downside of putting them on, taking them off, putting them on, taking them off when I fly many short cargo legs...but reall that's not the majority of my flying. I'm also sold on the dual lense rather than single, for the simple fact that if I get the LH050 single lens, you cannot add a 2nd one down the road as the outer visor system is pounded in the helmet during construction.

The real kicker is the safety aspect, unlike Gentex, Gallet helmets are crash rated for rotary applications. In Speaking with the FAA at the Ak aiman show in ANC this past summer, Hamers was told that in 60% of fixed wing crashes, helmets may have saved a life on board...I mean even if it would save a life in only 10% of crashes, it could be the cheapest $1500 I ever spent.

As for the ANC, I did a bit of reading about it after speaking with Hamers and realized that it does not really spare my earing as much as I thought...I've had my telex for 13 years and love the ANC but not loving the fact that it goes through batteries like no tomorrow. With the earplug system, although not ANC, it provides a much better earing protection while providing a much clearer communication at lower volume levels and uses internal power, NO BATTERIES

Now the colors comes in 14 different ones!! I'm thinking about going OregonMaule style...Super Dave Osborne special with yellow stars and white stripes...what you guys think!

Backcountry Tundra wrote:The real kicker is the safety aspect, unlike Gentex, Gallet helmets are crash rated for rotary applications. In Speaking with the FAA at the Ak aiman show in ANC this past summer, Hamers was told that in 60% of fixed wing crashes, helmets may have saved a life on board...I mean even if it would save a life in only 10% of crashes, it could be the cheapest $1500 I ever spent.

BCT, that sounds like a nice helmet. FYI I just went helicopter skiing out of Girdwood, AK and our pilot had the MSA Gallet including the CEP outlet and dual visor...that's a very nice lid. The Gallet is top of the line. Did you get yours yet, how is it?

Since I already have a set of Lightspeed Zulus, I've been considering helmet options that will work with a headset. There are several helmet's like this here, though I've not seen either of these in person:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/av/helmets.html

The David Clark K10 helmet, $359. I read elsewhere that it is made for the DC headset, but will work with a Zulu.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... helmet.php


There's also the GA Detach Helmet from Sport-Link, $238. Looks like it's designed to allow easy instal/removal of the head-set from the helmet.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... linkls.php


For the price I'd consider buying a couple of different sizes for passengers to use in higher risk flying. Does anyone have any experience with any of these helmets?

Helmets, well people look at you strange when you wear one. But I wear one biking, skiing, rock climbing and kayaking. I do wear a helmet about half the time. I have a really nice kevlar custom form fit helmet made by Flight Suits limited in San Diego, only about $2k. But it works with Jets & O2 Masks and boom mikes and has four different hook ups for multiple types of aircraft & heli's. It is also lighter than my David Clark headset! It is nice to have the retractable visor when the aircraft your flying does not have visors installed. I am fairly religious about wearing it when I am doing low altitude work. I have had a friend get a bird through he windscreen and the helmet/visor is what made it from unfortunate instead of fatal. My other helmet is a David Clark Cloth helmet with Cranial Plates, more comfortable when it is blazing hot, not as effective though.

In the course of my work I do accident work as well. Frequently going in behind the NTSB guys, for the insurers (I have a graduate degree in accidents and safety). Most of the deaths that are not directly due to massive crushing trauma are head related. My favorite being the neurosurgeon that had a AA Battery get imbedded in his forehead when he slammed forward on a short of the runway incident. He liked to listen to music when he flew and tossed the spent batteries on the glarescreen. This was a totally survivable incident, which a helmet would have prevented the battery from being shoved into his brain.

There is soooooo much hysteria about helmets for nearly every other activity, like motorcycles. Yet nothing on aircraft. I really don't want the motorcycle guys wearing them. I'm getting older and may need a slightly used kidney or liver soon. I guess pilots don't make for good donor organs, so nobody cares.

Seems like a good place to put in a plug for Headsets Inc. I bought a quality, well-fitting Peltor helmet via this forum, but the audio portion was a sore letdown from flying with Zulus. Headsets Inc swapped in good ANR earcups for a couple hundred bucks. Still not like Zulus, but heaps better.

-DP

4Whitey wrote:

Backcountry Tundra wrote:The real kicker is the safety aspect, unlike Gentex, Gallet helmets are crash rated for rotary applications. In Speaking with the FAA at the Ak aiman show in ANC this past summer, Hamers was told that in 60% of fixed wing crashes, helmets may have saved a life on board...I mean even if it would save a life in only 10% of crashes, it could be the cheapest $1500 I ever spent.

BCT, that sounds like a nice helmet. FYI I just went helicopter skiing out of Girdwood, AK and our pilot had the MSA Gallet including the CEP outlet and dual visor...that's a very nice lid. The Gallet is top of the line. Did you get yours yet, how is it?

Since I already have a set of Lightspeed Zulus, I've been considering helmet options that will work with a headset. There are several helmet's like this here, though I've not seen either of these in person:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/av/helmets.html

The David Clark K10 helmet, $359. I read elsewhere that it is made for the DC headset, but will work with a Zulu.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... helmet.php


There's also the GA Detach Helmet from Sport-Link, $238. Looks like it's designed to allow easy instal/removal of the head-set from the helmet.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... linkls.php


For the price I'd consider buying a couple of different sizes for passengers to use in higher risk flying. Does anyone have any experience with any of these helmets?

4Whitey...I did not get the helmet yet... (new baby girl taking all my time!) but I will not settle for less...I will get the MSN Gallet this year for sure...I think its the way to go although pricey...those other options are much better than nothing on your lid if you ask me. Cheers, BCT

dogpilot wrote:There is soooooo much hysteria about helmets for nearly every other activity, like motorcycles. Yet nothing on aircraft. I really don't want the motorcycle guys wearing them. I'm getting older and may need a slightly used kidney or liver soon. I guess pilots don't make for good donor organs, so nobody cares.

A-hole.

So it looks like the smartest, yet less fun,thing to do with my next $5000 would be to buy helmets & nomex setups for my wife and me INSTEAD of Bushwheels & HD landing gear. CURSES!
Mike

So it looks like the smartest, yet less fun,thing to do with my next $5000 would be to buy helmets & nomex setups for my wife and me INSTEAD of Bushwheels & HD landing gear. CURSES!

Well, Mike, it could be the best money you EVER spent......
Or not. Good 'crystal balls' are pretty scarce.....
There could be some ongoing 'peace of mind' benefits, but that is hard to quantify directly in $$.
I need to 'pony up' for the helmet myself.....

lc

PS-
When I was young, a motorcycle helmet salesman said to me, "Only spend as much as you think your brain is worth"....
(Ok. It WAS worth a hell of a lot more then, but it IS the only one I've got)

[/quote]The real kicker is the safety aspect, unlike Gentex, Gallet helmets are crash rated for rotary applications. In Speaking with the FAA at the Ak aiman show in ANC this past summer, Hamers was told that in 60% of fixed wing crashes, helmets may have saved a life on board...I mean even if it would save a life in only 10% of crashes, it could be the cheapest $1500 I ever spent.[/quote]

I wish more folks would realize that even if it's a one-in-a million chance a helmet will save your life, it's money well spent! I'm not sure what the Gallet dealers are putting out, but Gentex helmets are indeed rated for rotary application, you just have to select the applicable model. The HGU-33, and HGU-55's were originally designed to protect mellons from ejections, thus more kevlar in the top of the helmet, the HGU-84s, and HGU-56s are specifically designed for fore and aft impacts more likely in helicopters (or bush flying, pipeline patrol, wildlife survey's, etc)

The HGU-84s are what the Navy/USMC helicopters guys have been wearing now for almost 2 decades and looks identical to the HGU-55. The HGU-56 is the Army and USCG's choice, while it's very comfortable, it makes your head look like Dark Helmet from Space Balls.

My HGU-84 is fitted with CEPs (Communication ear Protection) http://www.cep-usa.com/ which are the standard for all military helmets now and are the absolutely the best thing going. I've been wearing them in my Army helmet since 2002 and consider them essential safety equipment now. Not only do they deaden the ambient noise, but it actually puts a little speaker in your ear, all in the size of a small ear plug, so if you're going to wear ear plugs anyway? No more turning up the radio, you'll actually have to turn the radios down. They can also be retro fitted to David Clark-type headsets.

I think Gibson & Barnes/ Flight Suits sells them, but just send your helmet/headset direct to the factory and Ben Mozo in Enterprise, AL and it'll save you some $$.

Mike-

[/quote]The real kicker is the safety aspect, unlike Gentex, Gallet helmets are crash rated for rotary applications. In Speaking with the FAA at the Ak aiman show in ANC this past summer, Hamers was told that in 60% of fixed wing crashes, helmets may have saved a life on board...I mean even if it would save a life in only 10% of crashes, it could be the cheapest $1500 I ever spent.[/quote]

I wish more folks would realize that even if it's a one-in-a million chance a helmet will save your life, it's money well spent! I'm not sure what the Gallet dealers are putting out, but Gentex helmets are indeed rated for rotary application, you just have to select the applicable model. The HGU-33, and HGU-55's were originally designed to protect mellons from ejections, thus more kevlar in the top of the helmet, the HGU-84s, and HGU-56s are specifically designed for fore and aft impacts more likely in helicopters (or bush flying, pipeline patrol, wildlife survey's, etc)

The HGU-84s are what the Navy/USMC helicopters guys have been wearing now for almost 2 decades and looks identical to the HGU-55. The HGU-56 is the Army and USCG's choice, while it's very comfortable, it makes your head look like Dark Helmet from Space Balls.

My HGU-84 is fitted with CEPs (Communication ear Protection) http://www.cep-usa.com/ which are the standard for all military helmets now and are the absolutely the best thing going. I've been wearing them in my Army helmet since 2002 and consider them essential safety equipment now. Not only do they deaden the ambient noise, but it actually puts a little speaker in your ear, all in the size of a small ear plug, so if you're going to wear ear plugs anyway? No more turning up the radio, you'll actually have to turn the radios down. They can also be retro fitted to David Clark-type headsets.

I think Gibson & Barnes/ Flight Suits sells them, but just send your helmet/headset direct to the factory and Ben Mozo in Enterprise, AL and it'll save you some $$.

Mike-

hey David..... was that your signature?

Finally remembered to grab my hot WX helmet. It is an ex-military unit I had which I have used for years in the hot spots. All the bit, headset, protective plates, come off so you can wash it. It is insanely comfortable. It is mainly designed to protect your head from flying items in the cockpit from the rear and the bash your head into the panel from the front. It will not go through a canopy or leave you with a perfect head if you fly through a water tower. It does protect from the main sources of injury. It accepts all models of the David Clark or similar (but not the 20-XX models). It was free to me, but you don't want to do the dance I had to to get it.

Tell me what's wrong with my thinking--I carry a snowmobile helmet within easy reach. If I experience an engine out, at most altitudes that I fly, I have time to put it on--yes, I've had 2 engine outs--it is amazing how much time you have ! Anyway, that's less expensive, more comfortable and doesn't interfere with headsets. I figure the only time you need a helmet is for a forced landing. Mid-air and takeoff accidents wouldn't allow time to put on helmet--otherwise, this works for me--I think

Having just survived a engine failure @200 feet on take off I can attest to the need for a helmet. Aircraft was a Exp PA-12, with X braced cabin top and still both the X and the rear carry through tubes V'd downward causing nasty head wounds on both of us. Another lesson taken away is the need for BOTH shoulder harnesses AND a crotch strap. During the crash, which consisted of two separate impacts, we suffered not only the head lacerations mentioned above but many broken ribs. During the first impact we were forced downward, our lap belts rose up on our chests, the second impact simply broke all our ribs off our sternums.

Take from this what you will, but you can bet that we will wear helmets and crotch straps from this point forward. In reading this thread I am totally amazed at the number of folks worried about how they will look and what others will think, these same folks think nothing of spending big $ for other aircraft "eye candy", but feel that $400-500.00 is to much to spend on a helmet.


Best,
Doug Sapp

Wow glad to hear you servived Doug.
What bent the cary throughs did the wings hit trees?

Damn, Doug that sounds painful. As a paramedic I've seen plenty of rib fractures, although I've never seen the anyone with complete fractures of all ribs at the sternum, thats a serious injury. I hope you're not in too much pain, i know rib fractures hurt.

Hang in there my friend and heres to a fast recovery.

TundraJoe wrote:Tell me what's wrong with my thinking--I carry a snowmobile helmet within easy reach. If I experience an engine out, at most altitudes that I fly, I have time to put it on--yes, I've had 2 engine outs--it is amazing how much time you have ! Anyway, that's less expensive, more comfortable and doesn't interfere with headsets. I figure the only time you need a helmet is for a forced landing. Mid-air and takeoff accidents wouldn't allow time to put on helmet--otherwise, this works for me--I think

I think you answered your own question. Plus, most emergencies don't play out like you dreamed they would. I can't even remember to get something at the grocery store after having decided what to get while pulling out of the driveway. I personally do not trust myself to put a helmet on last-second. The best bet is to just have one that's comfortable to begin with.

Probably right--
Thanks Zane

So which is comfortable? Comfort is the main reason I haven't shopped for one.
I wear one when on the sled or quad, so I figger I should in the plane too. What i've heard about the un-comfort level makes me avoid that issue. Sounds about as much fun as wearing a cast & having an itch.

Anyway, is there such thing as a comfy helmet??