Warbird Information Exchange

I didn't want to detract from the ongoing thread on warbird safety but did think the topic of helmet use as worthy of its own thread.

I fly a 65hp T-craft L-2M -- hardly the epitome of a performance airplane. With that being said, a survey of the cockpit yields all kinds of tubing and pointy/sharp objects within a few inches of my head. While these obstacles maintain a respectable distance during normal operations, any type of unplanned arrival would almost assuredly involve a game of head meets harder-than-head-object. I would imagine most aircraft have similar obstructions in the cabins.

I've read a few posts over the years arguing the pros and cons of different helmet types. Folks have often pointed out that HGU-26/33/55/68 helmets are designed for protection in an ejection sequence and offer no side-impact protection and that the SPH-4/5/HGU-56/HGU-84 are better suited to the non-ejection seat environment. While these observations are likely at least somewhat true, I would argue that any properly fitting helmet is better than no helmet at all.

Skiers and bicyclists now generally wear helmets -- a far cry from how things were 20 years ago. I never understood why aviation never made the same safety connection? We advanced from hand-held mics and overhead speakers (remember those?) to headsets pretty quickly but the general trend since has stubbornly been to pooh-pooh helmets as being unnecessary.

Anyone noticed that Army pilots are now wearing maxillo-facial shields attached to their helmets? It pretty much makes the helmet a full-faced helmet. Again, motorcyclists have been wearing them for decades with aviation finally catching up.

I know it sounds weird but I wear a helmet while flying my Luscombes. Too used to a helmet from flying the Extra/SU-29/Pitts and at work in the C-130. My HGU-68 with all the Oregon Aero goodies is quieter than my ANR headset. I also do a lot of formation flying with another Luscombe and usually wear a chute as well. Dan.

If I had a bulky helmet on during my aircraft accident, I probably would not have had 100 stitches in my scalp. But there's a very good chance that my neck would have been snapped, compressed, or my head simply ripped off. I think wearing a helmet is generally a good idea, but it's not a guarantee of safety. However I do credit Hooker Harness for saving my life.

I still choose not to wear a helmet when I fly. On my motorcycle, I wear one faithfully. If I get the opportunity in the future to upgrade to higher performance aircraft, I'll re-evaluate the benefits of wearing a flight helmet.