Helmets - Should you? and Which?
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alderney or Lancashire UK
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I tried it. I put my (full face)shoei on and went for a quick fly about. Hopeless. no attenuation of low frequency noise at all and totally horrid in a hot cockpit with the visor down. Was only up for about 3 minutes and that was too long. My Alpha is built for the job. No comparison, not even close, and it just felt wrong. Maybe an open face would feel better but I wouldnt even consider it. If you can afford to get a PPL and you want a helmet at all, get a proper one. The pain of the cost soon fades. I cant even remember how much mine cost.
I've said it before on this thread but its worth saying again. The Alpha tinted visor alone is enough reason to wear one.
I've said it before on this thread but its worth saying again. The Alpha tinted visor alone is enough reason to wear one.
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: UK
Age: 47
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My helmet was away for servicing and I had to use the spare headset. That was hard work, not only was I hearing loads of creaking noises the ANR and helmet normally filter out but also not being able to use sunglasses without it getting louder coupled with the fact that the sun manages to enter around the rim making it almost pointless of having the glasses.
If I ever leave my current job I hope I can convince my new employer to allow me to wear helmets.
If I ever leave my current job I hope I can convince my new employer to allow me to wear helmets.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alderney or Lancashire UK
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Two hours ago I had a very unpleasant experience. As I lifted to the hover and began to back out of a confined area I was stung between the fingers of my left hand by a HORNET!! I almost lost it. The pain was incredible and disorientating. I landed and killed the f****** thing. My hand is now hideously swollen and sore. I didn't see it or feel it on the collective until it stung me. I have seen them before under the canvas cover but not in the cockpit.
My helmet was stored in the aircraft and I hate to think what would have happened if it had been in there.
Just a thought. Check your helmet before you put it on particularly if you leave it in the aircraft.
Insects are on my preflight list now.
I'm still shaking - literally.
My helmet was stored in the aircraft and I hate to think what would have happened if it had been in there.
Just a thought. Check your helmet before you put it on particularly if you leave it in the aircraft.
Insects are on my preflight list now.
I'm still shaking - literally.
Is anyone else having a problem with their Alpha Eagle visor getting scratched all the time? I have already had one replaced and need another one. I live in Cape Town so it's a pain to get them replaced. My lid is two years old and it's been happening from new.
My mate also has one and he's gone through two already.
My mate also has one and he's gone through two already.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Over here
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I once had a couple of mosquitoes get inside my headset, and remain quiet and unmoving until I was on short final to a platform, when they suddenly woke up and started buzzing and biting. Not as bad as a wasp, of course, but very distracting. I've killed a fair number of wasps and bees in the cockpit, but I usually found them before I cranked. A couple, though, started flying around when I started cranking, and somehow I managed to avoid hotstarting while keeping my attention divided between the TOT and the threat. I keep a pair of leather gloves in my flight bag for dealing with them, along with other tasks.
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Is anyone else having a problem with their Alpha Eagle visor getting scratched all the time?
It's got to be the cover, I took mine apart and tried to insert a soft thin piece of lens cloth but I then couldn't lower the visor!
Well I guess it's going back the next time I'm in the UK!
Well I guess it's going back the next time I'm in the UK!
There are other sites with the posts regarding damage to visors, again we seem to be doing the R&D for an expensive product, why should the end user foot the bill.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: South of the border
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How about a real carbon fibre rigid cover with a soft lining, rather than a mock carbon cover which can flex and scratch the visors?
Surely it wouldn't be the hardest thing to design
PR
Surely it wouldn't be the hardest thing to design
PR
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Variable
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Farmpilot
I used an Alpha in SA years ago and wrote off a visor because that useless, flexible visor cover got pressed against it in my helmet bag and then scratched it as the bag got moved around.
I bought another Alpha Eagle a couple of years ago and for the above reason also got the NVG visor cover which is very rigid and I have not had problems again.
I used an Alpha in SA years ago and wrote off a visor because that useless, flexible visor cover got pressed against it in my helmet bag and then scratched it as the bag got moved around.
I bought another Alpha Eagle a couple of years ago and for the above reason also got the NVG visor cover which is very rigid and I have not had problems again.
It looks like most people are having problems with their lids. I'm going to 'chat' with headset services and see what they propose. It's now a hazard as I can't use the visor.
Will let you know.
Will let you know.
So jab farmpilot Daysleaper & a lot of others are saying is you were sold a product that had\ has a design fault, there is a cure but the manufacturer ignores the problem, (how many times have I heard "You are the only person who has complained") and we the user\ buyer pays,
Rely telling remark JAFO good customer relations, the cure is supply the device so as not to self destruct, if only one cover made there need not be a price increase due to inventory and manufacturing savings.
These are not cheap items, If your visor is being damaged by poor design \ manufacture COMPLAIN, Ask for rigid cover and new visors At no cost including shipping! & keep asking.
There are customers looking for helmets who will look at other options, or not buy one.
Rely telling remark JAFO good customer relations, the cure is supply the device so as not to self destruct, if only one cover made there need not be a price increase due to inventory and manufacturing savings.
These are not cheap items, If your visor is being damaged by poor design \ manufacture COMPLAIN, Ask for rigid cover and new visors At no cost including shipping! & keep asking.
There are customers looking for helmets who will look at other options, or not buy one.
I've found the same solution as jab: NVG visor cover is far more robust, and doesn't seem to have the same scratching problem on the visor as the standard piece of kit.
NVG one weighs more, unfortunately
NVG one weighs more, unfortunately
Had a mail back from Headset services. The cover has been re designed and will be sent to me under warranty along with a replacement visor - cant ask more than that! 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Land of the Trolls
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ANR V's CEP
Has anyone had any experience of using ANR or CEP in a helmet and which works best for cockpit noise/vibration reduction
Any comments for or against either
Pv
Any comments for or against either
Pv
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Over here
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CEP works for me. The combination of earplugs and having the speaker in the ear gives higher noise reduction than any ANR system, and excellent clarity. Plus, no need for batteries. The only downside is that it takes a few seconds longer to don the helmet, but even if you're in a hurry, it's not that much longer.