Flying helmets
Thread Starter
Flying helmets
I have an open-top Turbulent and I'd like a helmet in case I should ever tip it upside down. By far the cheapest seem to be RAF mk iv military helmets. Alas it's hard to integrate a headset to my old hang-gliding helmet.
I'm considering trying to fit an ANR module using the same conversion kit that I used for my David Clarke headset.
I really don't care how I look. The RAF wear Nomex and hard helmets for a reason and if as a side effect of being cheap, I end up looking like a poser, that's fine. But are there any downsides to these helmets in a small wooden aircraft - e.g. too big, bulky, heavy, overkill, plutonium contamination etc?
I'm considering trying to fit an ANR module using the same conversion kit that I used for my David Clarke headset.
I really don't care how I look. The RAF wear Nomex and hard helmets for a reason and if as a side effect of being cheap, I end up looking like a poser, that's fine. But are there any downsides to these helmets in a small wooden aircraft - e.g. too big, bulky, heavy, overkill, plutonium contamination etc?
Last edited by abgd; 12th Sep 2016 at 08:40.
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If when seated your head is above the aircrafts windshield, wearing a military helmet that is in the airflow will be dragging your head backwards all the time. Probably better to find a leather style flying helmet with a built in hard shell.
Thread Starter
Thanks no... the Turbulent canopy is reasonably high and fairly well sheltered. There's just the top of my head that seems somewhat close to the top of the steel rim of the windshield.
Depending on your budget, there is an Alpha for sale in nearly new condition on eBay with ANR fitted. If that's not suitable, the guy selling has lots of kit and can probably help you out with what you need. 
Alpha Eagle 901 ANR flying Helmet, Size LARGE | eBay
Alpha Eagle 901 ANR flying Helmet, Size LARGE | eBay
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After an engine failure I landed my Turb upside down in a field of barley that looked like a pasture from the air, but it wrapped round the langing gear and flipped me over. I was using a motor cycle crash helmet, but of course no radio back then. No injury, but incredibly hard to exit the aircraft. In doing so I kicked the fuel cock off! As a side note, had what seemed like half of the Surrey police force out, thinking I was a downed airliner. I had flown ove a police sports field and they had called in an emergency. But would you believe that the officer in charge loaned me two poicement to help remove the wings and truck the aircraft home. Nice folks! Had to make a new prop though!!
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Campbell Aero Classics (NZ) do a nice one. You may need to sell the Turb to pay for it sadly.
I have an Alpha Eagle for GA stuff (Yaks, etc). Great bit of kit. Fit CEPs instead of ANR though. Cheaper and better.
cep-usa
I have an Alpha Eagle for GA stuff (Yaks, etc). Great bit of kit. Fit CEPs instead of ANR though. Cheaper and better.
cep-usa
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Flycom
Try a Flycom - they are designed for use in open-cockpit aircraft, unlike the military ones.
And I'd agree with the comments on CEP rather than ANR for noisy open-cockpit aircraft. I had an ANR conversion on my helmet which I abandoned in favour of CEPs.
And I'd agree with the comments on CEP rather than ANR for noisy open-cockpit aircraft. I had an ANR conversion on my helmet which I abandoned in favour of CEPs.
Thread Starter
Creweite: thanks for the story. That's exactly the sort of scenario I had in mind. Those wheels are small.
The Flycom helmets are certainly cheaper than the Alpha helmets. What distinguishes the design of an open-cockpit helmet though?
CEPs... hmm... if it wasn't for the headphones then any old helmet would probably do the job.
The Flycom helmets are certainly cheaper than the Alpha helmets. What distinguishes the design of an open-cockpit helmet though?
CEPs... hmm... if it wasn't for the headphones then any old helmet would probably do the job.
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Flycom helmets are designed to keep the draughts out and have microphones which are better than most at rejecting the type of wind and engine noise you get in an open-cockpit aircraft. They also have a full-face visor which keeps the bugs out. They are the helmet of choice for flexwing and gyro pilots.
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Having recently changed propellers on one of my planes, I have found the new one to be more noisy in the cockpit. This has sent me on a quest for more effective hearing protection. I had a David Clark H10.13XL ENC - it didn't do it. I borrowed a Bose A20, better. I went to the avionics shop for help.
The David Clark was not working properly, though was older technology anyway. I bought a David Clark One-X. Better, but still not as good as I wanted.
I have a David Clark K10 helicopter helmet (larger ear cups), so I tried that, not as good. I found that the cloth helmet within the hard shell did not hold the ear cups as firmly on my head, and the noise leaked in. Otherwise, it's a nice helmet though...
I contacted David Clark for advice. They told me that the H10.13XL would have superior noise attenuation to the One-X, it has bigger ear cups, with more foam. Yes, I had been there already, what else could I do. They recommended the H10.56, which is the headset version of the helicopter helmet I have. I had pieces of one of these, so was able to reassemble the H10.56. Instead of the regular foam which can be found in these headsets, I cut and fitted that super memory foam in the ear cups. That has produced the best result for noise attenuation.
I know that the OP is considering a helmet for protection, and that is excellent, but possibly it's noise attenuation will be a bit less than the same headset as a basic headset. 'Just my observations based upon very recent experience...
The David Clark was not working properly, though was older technology anyway. I bought a David Clark One-X. Better, but still not as good as I wanted.
I have a David Clark K10 helicopter helmet (larger ear cups), so I tried that, not as good. I found that the cloth helmet within the hard shell did not hold the ear cups as firmly on my head, and the noise leaked in. Otherwise, it's a nice helmet though...
I contacted David Clark for advice. They told me that the H10.13XL would have superior noise attenuation to the One-X, it has bigger ear cups, with more foam. Yes, I had been there already, what else could I do. They recommended the H10.56, which is the headset version of the helicopter helmet I have. I had pieces of one of these, so was able to reassemble the H10.56. Instead of the regular foam which can be found in these headsets, I cut and fitted that super memory foam in the ear cups. That has produced the best result for noise attenuation.
I know that the OP is considering a helmet for protection, and that is excellent, but possibly it's noise attenuation will be a bit less than the same headset as a basic headset. 'Just my observations based upon very recent experience...
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Do update us when you decide and have worn the helmet for a while.
I am saving for one myself. I always liked the look of them, anyway, but was somewhat put off by some attitude I got for wearing a flying suit.
Then I met a Typhoon and BBMF Spitfire pilot who gave my nomex 'official' approval which was good enough for me
The idea of a flying helmet also came firmly back into play when subsequently I witnessed a runway excursion in which the ship flipped upside down.
Now I don't bother with losers who look down on dressing up. To hell with them.
P.S. I would love to get my hands on a Turbulent! I fly a Condor
It is amusing to moor one by the other and compare.
I am saving for one myself. I always liked the look of them, anyway, but was somewhat put off by some attitude I got for wearing a flying suit.
Then I met a Typhoon and BBMF Spitfire pilot who gave my nomex 'official' approval which was good enough for me
The idea of a flying helmet also came firmly back into play when subsequently I witnessed a runway excursion in which the ship flipped upside down.Now I don't bother with losers who look down on dressing up. To hell with them.
P.S. I would love to get my hands on a Turbulent! I fly a Condor
It is amusing to moor one by the other and compare.
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Now I don't bother with losers who look down on dressing up. To hell with them.
I generally wear a helmet when I fly helicopters. Though rare, helicopter accidents seem to have a higher risk of fast, heavy sharp things flying in all directions while you hit something, during a crash. I always wear a life jacket when flying beyond gliding distance of shore, or landing on the water, it's just a good idea. But, I'm not wearing it to be dressy. I always wear clothing which has properties of lesser flammability - like jeans and cotton or wool shirts and outer wear. But none of it is "pilot" dress, it's the same clothing I wear under my firefighting gear. I always wear a headset, because it's good for my continued hearing. I only ever wore a parachute when my employer required doing so for government policy reasons.
In an open cockpit monoplane, a helmet sounds like a good idea, perhaps less so flying a 172 on a routine day. One thing to consider, is if you're going to wear super personal protective wear, you should plan to provide the same wear to your passengers. They will need a headset (or helmet) if you wear one, they should have a flight suit if it is providing protection appropriate to that environment. Certainly a life jacket. Otherwise, if you're flying a few pax in a GA aircraft, wearing a flight suit, helmet, life jacket, and parachute, your passenger(s) might feel they should have them too!
Thread Starter
Well, I don't carry many passengers in my Turbulent though I agree with you that it would be unseemly to dress up in a helmet, lifejacket etc... and not offer them the same.
So far my flying gear consists of two nomex long-johns, nomex socks, one nomex long-sleeved top one ex-RAF surplus grow-bag and a bomber jacket. Tuesday was the first day I've flown and not wished I had another few pairs of nomex underwear but I got heat exhaustion running for the train. Often I take a thin fleece to wear over the top of the grow bag on my way to and from the airport. But if I really don't care what people think, then why be so self-conscious?
It used to be argued that driving helmets would prevent more head injuries on an hourly basis, than cycling helmets. Before airbags became ubiquitous this may well have been true. I suspect it would be quite reasonable to wear a helmet in a 172. Perhaps not on an SR22.
I've bought the shell and liner from an RAF Mk IV helmet for not very much money. If it fits comfortably I'll consider cannibalising some old headsets I own to convert it or go for a ready-made one for £220. Otherwise I'm tempted by a Flycom helmet at £500 or so.
So far my flying gear consists of two nomex long-johns, nomex socks, one nomex long-sleeved top one ex-RAF surplus grow-bag and a bomber jacket. Tuesday was the first day I've flown and not wished I had another few pairs of nomex underwear but I got heat exhaustion running for the train. Often I take a thin fleece to wear over the top of the grow bag on my way to and from the airport. But if I really don't care what people think, then why be so self-conscious?
perhaps less so flying a 172 on a routine day
I've bought the shell and liner from an RAF Mk IV helmet for not very much money. If it fits comfortably I'll consider cannibalising some old headsets I own to convert it or go for a ready-made one for £220. Otherwise I'm tempted by a Flycom helmet at £500 or so.
Last edited by abgd; 16th Sep 2016 at 05:06.
I suspect it would be quite reasonable to wear a helmet in a 172.
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Helmets
Depending on how much you value your head, the Campbell Aero Classic hardshell helmet is unbeatable.
Campbell Aero Classics NZ Ltd
I have worn mine for years in very noisy open cockpit machines. The noise attenuation is very good indeed. Made to measure, the helmet is also very comfortable.
Its a one-off purchase. Bite the bullet and pay the money. You won't regret it.
HP
Campbell Aero Classics NZ Ltd
I have worn mine for years in very noisy open cockpit machines. The noise attenuation is very good indeed. Made to measure, the helmet is also very comfortable.
Its a one-off purchase. Bite the bullet and pay the money. You won't regret it.
HP
abgd,
From many years of trial and error I now use (and thoroughly recommend) CEP allied with whatever decent helmet/headset takes your fancy. Personally I use an Alpha Eagle, but that may not suit everyone and certain applications.
ANR often cannot cope with an open cockpit/doors off environment and actually makes things worse. Many times I had to turn my ANR off when firefighting and having my helmet out in the open as the feedback became quite unbearable. CEP has no such problem, and is a passive noise attenuation not reliant on any power supply or circuit boards.
It can also be transferred from helmet to headset, creating the same excellent protection regardless of platform.
I wish I'd had something similar all those years ago when the real damage to my hearing started.
From many years of trial and error I now use (and thoroughly recommend) CEP allied with whatever decent helmet/headset takes your fancy. Personally I use an Alpha Eagle, but that may not suit everyone and certain applications.
ANR often cannot cope with an open cockpit/doors off environment and actually makes things worse. Many times I had to turn my ANR off when firefighting and having my helmet out in the open as the feedback became quite unbearable. CEP has no such problem, and is a passive noise attenuation not reliant on any power supply or circuit boards.
It can also be transferred from helmet to headset, creating the same excellent protection regardless of platform.
I wish I'd had something similar all those years ago when the real damage to my hearing started.