Headsets for Open Cockpit use

[poetpilot]

I'd be interested to hear opinions, recommendations, avoidance recommendations, abuse, whatever on the subject of a suitable, noise minimising headset & avionic kit for open cockpit use.

Just bought a share in a Luton Minor which uses an ICOM transceiver, (minimalist flying but GREAT fun), and may occasionally need to talk to someone on terror firmer.

Whats' the view on the ex-military gear (eg cloth headset, RAF Mk1 helmet) versus the newer but distinctly moped-looking microlight helmets and kit? I appreciate the ex-mil stuff will need conversion for microphone impedances.

[ 20 August 2001: Message edited by: poetpilot ]

[Tiger_ Moth]

Are you by any chance the guy from that flyer forum? Im the guy who recommended Stuart Case at www.flightcaseinternational.com (http://www.flightcaseinternational.com)
Theres no reason why it needs to be leather or microlite, what about an ex military hard helmet which are the best for noise reduction, if you dont mind masks instead of booms that is although you might be able to rig up a boom on one of them.
And what is a luton minor? Does it look like a luton major which i saw a picture of in pilot magazine.

[poetpilot]

Hi, affirmative, I am that person who posted in Flyer forum. I was hoping to get some microlight flyers' opinions to weigh up against the military kit.

Thanks for that link, I've emailed them but so far had no response on availability or prices. In addition, I was after some "in the field" reviews on kit so I could weigh up alternatives. I appreciate what you are saying about the hard hats - and really I suppose it's pretty sensible to have some extra protection in any case, let alone the noise reduction.

The Luton Minor is in fact pictured on the lancashire aero club site www.lancsaeroclub.co.uk (http://www.lancsaeroclub.co.uk) in the gallery section. It's a bit scruffy but sturdy. Parasol wing, single seat, smaller and lighter than the Major and there's a few more of them around. Designed in 1936.

Someone at Barton did have a Major a long time ago. It crashed killing two on board. I believe people at the time used to say it flew like a brick but they really should not have attempted aerobatics in it.

The Minor by comparison is pleasant to fly, handles nicely a bit like a Cub. Climbs at 50kts, cruises 65kts, VNE 90kts, stalls power off at 28kts. Won't win contests for speed but who cares? I'll hire an Archer if I want to get there faster.

[Valiant]

Poetpilot - just curious as to whether its G-AYSK you're flying? I used to to have a share in it myself a few years ago. Flying it off the beach at Middleton Sands was great fun! I cant offer any advice on helmets I'm afraid, I just had one of those cloth helmets with the holes cut in the side for the earpieces of the headset. It worked fine for me, though most of the time I just trundled about non-radio.
Have fun in it!!

[Dan Dare]

Ahh, open cockpit, pottering arround the sky, wind in your hair...

I suspect that the "wind in your hair" effect is lost with a helmet. I currently use a custom made low noise headset with noise cancelling mic.

Longer term I'm looking at the ear inserts available similar to what the police use. They are moulded for your ear and give much better (passive) noise cancellation without the bulky headset round the outside.

If anybody has experience of them I'd be grateful for some gen....

[poetpilot]

Well I'd love the wind in my hair, but I havent got very much (hair that is, not wind....).

Pottering around Barton I'll probably stick to non-radio, but it's longer trips where I would like something to keep the ambient noise levels down and of course to chat to people. I've already bought the paint scraper to chip the ice off on the transatlantic attempt, so once I have a headset I'll consider myself fully airways equipped........

Yes, it is good old G-AYSK. Been at Barton for many years, originally built 1971. I'm really just reliving my misspent youth - had a VP1 in the 80s which was even windier. I didnt have a very satisfactory headset for that, and I remember getting headaches on the longer runs... partially the noise, partially the frostbitten ears.

Must dig out that thermos flask and longjohns...

[SOHCAHTOA]

Flying a Luton Minor myself and I am using a DC H10-13.4 with an Icom. Works fine.

Just notched up my 80th hour in type and only paying £13 p/h makes it even more enjoyable :p

I originally got involved with the Luton as a means to an end (cheap hour building) but have found myself thoroughly enjoying the type of flying it offers and the real friendly PFA atmosphere you find with other PFA flyers. There is always somebody who is willing to lend a hand with maintenance or knows somebody who has a box full of spares !!
I have yet to land at an airfield were nobody has come over for a look and a chat, its a real spotter magnet :D

Im about to do my 300 mile in it and believe me, at 60kts its going to be a real challenge getting the whole thing done in a day, but much more enjoyable than hiring the club spam.

[poetpilot]

Excellent! I'll certainly try to borrow a DC set and give it a whirl.

Yes, it is a heck of a lot of fun. Initially the noise makes it quite scary (even though I flew open years before) and the feeling seemed to me so different from gazing through plastic. Like a motorbike compared to a car.

What engine has yours got? VW? Ours is an A65. Makes it heavy but goes well.

Are you planning on coming up north? Why not drop into Barton and I'll make a point of dragging ours out to meet you!!!!

[SOHCAHTOA]

Yeah its a bit of a strange feeling when you start open cockpit flying. I remember when I started hangar ratting to help pay for my Licence, I used to get a lot of rides in Tigers and stampes. No matter how much you jacked the seat up there was always that slight movement as you slid in your harness as you went over the top of a loop. Made me pucker every time ;)

My Luton (not all mine, group owned) has a VW 1800. Climbs like the shuttle and cruises like a brick !!

Might well take you up on the Barton visit. But only if you guarantee that no bugger will nick my wheels ;)
(im from liverpool originally so im qualified to say that !!)

Just one piece of advice, if you have a heavy nose, be VERY careful with tailwinds on the ground and be very light with the brakes. Once the tail lifts it can be difficult to stop it.

Drop me an email if you want to chat. Cannt promise to know everything about the luton, but I can tell you about the mistakes I have learnt from !!

[criticalmass]

Poetpilot,

In my microlight I'm using a Communica intercom, Communica Mk2 helmet with full-face visor and a non n/c Peltor headset.

Excellent bit of kit, good noise reduction and still light on the bonce even after 3.4hrs in one sitting. Almost all the microlighters I know use this gear, no-one says a bad word about it.

Suggest if you want to wear sunglasses under the headset, get the best lenses and the absolutely thinnest frames you can afford... a headset pressing side-wings of glasses/sunglasses into your temples can result in genuine agony after a couple of hours!

[agent.mulder]

Back to helmets. I've done quite a bit of open cockpit flying and have tried a handfull of helmets. The RAF Mk3a and Mk4a are fairly easy to get hold of from surplus stores etc, but beware...their history will be unknown and could very well have been disposed of because of damage to the shell that could be hidden. Also RAF aircrew have their helmets fitted by 'squipers' and these guys know what they're doing, so adjusting the helmet by untrained bods could result in a helmet becoming uncomfortable and could result in headaches etc. After trying a few, I opted for buying a new helmet from the US. This was the US Navy HGU33P which I still have to this day. It was supplied by Flightsuits Ltd of El Cajon California, but are now available in the UK. They are much cheaper than the Alpha and do not require specialist adjustment. One final point is to make sure that whatever you buy is CE marked so that you can rest assured that it does what its supposed to.... protect your head!!!!... as a mate of mine pulled up into loop in a Stampe, the guy that had last occupied the front seat had forgotten to make up the seat harness and the buckle came over the top and smacked him quite hard on the forehead resulting in a cut that required stitching and also the urgent need to get back on the ground. ;)