Helmets - Should you? and Which?
Join Date: May 2005
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helmets
i've got a new alpha eagle helmet and it's great!!! i did have to wait for nine months to get it, and then the visors scratched every time i put them down!! but they gave me a new helmet and it's bloody great!! it is very quite and it's very comfortable!! i would highly recomend it to anyone that is thinking about getting a helmet!!!!
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Wouldn't be without it, would you?
G'day all,
We (in the military) have to wear GENTEX HGU 56Ps. American designed and supposedly fitted once you get the inserts moulded to fit all the bumps on your noggin'.
We used to wear Alphas and they were always comfortable.
If I was given a choice to wear or not to wear, I'd remember a colleague of mine who was wearing his helmet but with visor UP (against SOPs). When he crashed, his head hit the coaming and the stand by compass ripped his face apart.
I was one of the first on the scene and I crawled into the wreckage and reached him trapped in the cockpit. Watching the flies crawling all over the blood on his mangled face as he was moaning in pain convinced me of the value of a helmet with visors worn down.
I'll always wear one if it's available. To hell with what other people think if they see me in one.
Safe flying.
Conway B
We (in the military) have to wear GENTEX HGU 56Ps. American designed and supposedly fitted once you get the inserts moulded to fit all the bumps on your noggin'.
We used to wear Alphas and they were always comfortable.
If I was given a choice to wear or not to wear, I'd remember a colleague of mine who was wearing his helmet but with visor UP (against SOPs). When he crashed, his head hit the coaming and the stand by compass ripped his face apart.
I was one of the first on the scene and I crawled into the wreckage and reached him trapped in the cockpit. Watching the flies crawling all over the blood on his mangled face as he was moaning in pain convinced me of the value of a helmet with visors worn down.
I'll always wear one if it's available. To hell with what other people think if they see me in one.
Safe flying.
Conway B
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I haven't had a chance to look through the other 17 pages of this thread, so this question may have already been answered (and I appologise if it has).
I'm am trying to get hold of an ex-mil Alpha Mk10B (or a Mk4A etc..) helmet in the UK - does anyone know the best place (or any place) I can get one?
Unfortunately, although I do value my head greatly, I can't afford the £1000 price tag of a brand spankers one from HSL at Shoreham, so it will have to be second hand!
Can anyone help?
I'm am trying to get hold of an ex-mil Alpha Mk10B (or a Mk4A etc..) helmet in the UK - does anyone know the best place (or any place) I can get one?
Unfortunately, although I do value my head greatly, I can't afford the £1000 price tag of a brand spankers one from HSL at Shoreham, so it will have to be second hand!
Can anyone help?
Join Date: Nov 2001
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As a result of reading all of this thread and everything else I can find, I have bought an Alpha helmet. The clinching act was sitting in the cockpit with the lap belt tight and leaning forward to see which bit would hit the cyclic. Answer, the forehead! That coolie hat trimmer on the top looks very unpleasant to head butt.
There are a constant stream of ex military helmets going through Ebay. Expect to pay around £400 plus the cost of a mic and adapting the avionics for civilian use (not difficult if you can solder). Civilian helmets come up less often and seem cheaper, probably because the collectors are not interested. They are more likely to come with the right impedences and a mic. I got a non military one.
Anyone else decided to go hard hat as a result of reading this?
As with everything on Ebay, Buyer beware.
There are a constant stream of ex military helmets going through Ebay. Expect to pay around £400 plus the cost of a mic and adapting the avionics for civilian use (not difficult if you can solder). Civilian helmets come up less often and seem cheaper, probably because the collectors are not interested. They are more likely to come with the right impedences and a mic. I got a non military one.
Anyone else decided to go hard hat as a result of reading this?
As with everything on Ebay, Buyer beware.
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I have also now purchased an Alpha helmet (ex-mil Mk10B). You can get them from a company called Mart Aviation (www.martaviation.co.uk). Also, Headset Services at Shoreham can supply an in-line amp lead which alows military equipment to be used with civy radios (although they do state that you should check compatibility with them first).
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As a result of this plus some other background reading, I'm buying one to use in an R22 for private flying, mainly solo. I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford a new one, so it'll be an Eagle from HSL with double visor, but if I wasn't I'd dig up the best I could afford.
Couldn't really care less what others think. When bike helmets became mandatory, there was a similar fuss, but now nobody thinks twice about it. ditto ski/boarding helmets.
I use a helmet snowboarding, and have had a couple of big falls - it did actually go through my mind as I sailed through the air 'thank god I've got the helmet' just before my head smacked into the ground and ground its way along the ice. I still saw stars, but it would have been much worse!
BW
Couldn't really care less what others think. When bike helmets became mandatory, there was a similar fuss, but now nobody thinks twice about it. ditto ski/boarding helmets.
I use a helmet snowboarding, and have had a couple of big falls - it did actually go through my mind as I sailed through the air 'thank god I've got the helmet' just before my head smacked into the ground and ground its way along the ice. I still saw stars, but it would have been much worse!
BW
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bladewashout
I second you on that!
I'd rather look a little bit silly wearing a lid in an R22, than bare a hideous scar (at best) for the rest of my life.
Plus, the more people that start wearing helmets, the less silly and 'unnecessary' they look!
I second you on that!
I'd rather look a little bit silly wearing a lid in an R22, than bare a hideous scar (at best) for the rest of my life.
Plus, the more people that start wearing helmets, the less silly and 'unnecessary' they look!
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Am now in the market for a helmet and have looked at all the responces and can summerise.
Gallet: comfortable and light but noisy
Alpha: Comfortable and light, Quiet but maybe not as durable
Gentex: Trusty old design bulky but very durable.
Think price/ value/options will have to be the decider for me.
At this stage looks like a Gentex from flight suits in USA with all the fruit is the best value so far.
Gallet: comfortable and light but noisy
Alpha: Comfortable and light, Quiet but maybe not as durable
Gentex: Trusty old design bulky but very durable.
Think price/ value/options will have to be the decider for me.
At this stage looks like a Gentex from flight suits in USA with all the fruit is the best value so far.
I have used Gallet and Alpha and I know people that have Gentex.
They all have different characteristics but I think you can get used to using them all.
I liked my Gallet better when I firts started using the Alpha but now I feel the Alpha is ok.
I think the most important thing is to use a helmet and with the visor down in bird areas.
It“s like wearing shouder epaulette“s.. what the f**k do you care what other people think. If your company wants you to wear it and you want to then wear it.
They all have different characteristics but I think you can get used to using them all.
I liked my Gallet better when I firts started using the Alpha but now I feel the Alpha is ok.
I think the most important thing is to use a helmet and with the visor down in bird areas.
It“s like wearing shouder epaulette“s.. what the f**k do you care what other people think. If your company wants you to wear it and you want to then wear it.
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I got my Alpha. Great. Really comfortable. Fitted the guts out of my Pilot 17-79 ANR headset. Awesome.
Its a bit of a bugger when you put the visor down without taking off the leather cover and it jams!!!! Worse than going IMC.
Its a bit of a bugger when you put the visor down without taking off the leather cover and it jams!!!! Worse than going IMC.
Last edited by Gaseous; 15th Jun 2005 at 16:22.
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Got an HGU56 on ebay for a good price from one of the "ebay shops" Its a reconditioned Mil one thats been modded for civvy use. No names no advert - but type in "Helicopter Helmet" and see what comes up. Good service, new lenses, new liner and harness and no bull****. Have a look. As for paying $1400 ozzy for an Alpha - dreaming. I paid $750ozzy for mine including all post and bloody GST and its like a new one. Kiwi **** send me an email from Czecho??
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BigMike,
Pilot gel ear seals which stick on will fit - but I couldnt get the helmet on my fat head as they dont squash as flat as the foam alpha seals. Back to the foam ones.
Phil
EDIT
I notice all the Ebay ex mil ones are Kevlar and the civvy ones are carbon/aramid. Which is better?
Mines a carbon 700.
Pilot gel ear seals which stick on will fit - but I couldnt get the helmet on my fat head as they dont squash as flat as the foam alpha seals. Back to the foam ones.
Phil
EDIT
I notice all the Ebay ex mil ones are Kevlar and the civvy ones are carbon/aramid. Which is better?
Mines a carbon 700.
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Gaseous
I'm not sure if ebay sellers may be getting confused (or don't know the difference) between aramid carbon fibre and kevlar.
Mine is military spec and it's definately carbon on the inside layer that I can see.
However, it may be layered in both carbon and kevlar (kevlar sandwiched in the middle).
Either way, as a general rule, carbon gives rigidity and strength, and kevlar gives flexibility and strength, so to answer your question - in theory, a carbon/kevlar helmet is better than a purely carbon helmet because it gives better impact absorbtion i.e. the kevlar allows the helmet to 'give' a little if you take a bump on the noggin!
Having said that, the guys at Alpha know alot more about helmets than I do, so what ever they have done must be right!
P.S. My knowlege of carbon/kevlar composites comes from the racing industry, so it may be completely inaccurate for helmets!
I'm not sure if ebay sellers may be getting confused (or don't know the difference) between aramid carbon fibre and kevlar.
Mine is military spec and it's definately carbon on the inside layer that I can see.
However, it may be layered in both carbon and kevlar (kevlar sandwiched in the middle).
Either way, as a general rule, carbon gives rigidity and strength, and kevlar gives flexibility and strength, so to answer your question - in theory, a carbon/kevlar helmet is better than a purely carbon helmet because it gives better impact absorbtion i.e. the kevlar allows the helmet to 'give' a little if you take a bump on the noggin!
Having said that, the guys at Alpha know alot more about helmets than I do, so what ever they have done must be right!
P.S. My knowlege of carbon/kevlar composites comes from the racing industry, so it may be completely inaccurate for helmets!