Forum: Off-topic

TC, that's sure a lot to learn and stay current on Shocked

! And I thought I had a lot to learn with my new job troubleshooting T1 and DSL internet connections Laughing

! If I ever manage to rig that Megabucks machine, I'm calling you for help with all the life support gear for the jet airshow team I'll just have to start Thumb

!

allenperos, thanks for the info Very Happy

! High altitude skydiving, dogfighting in T-34Bs. very cool stuff Cool

! You're lucky to have a job that lets you dogfight and stay civilian.

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It seems like a lot of stuff when it is all spread out before you, but fortunately life support gear, just like components on the aircraft only have to be periodically inspected, so one day you might be working on a couple G suits and a helmet, or another day it could be 3 harnesses, 2 scheduled fit checks, and a survival kit.

It's Tuesday? That must mean I have a mask to work on. Wink

You get the picture.

Something else I forgot to mention that we worked on are the Anti Exposure (aka "Poopy") Suits. I almost forgot those, because we only kept 3 or so in the shop. If we had been in Alaska, or Iceland, we'd have many more, but I never did much to those suits except run the occasion wax over the zippers, and keep the rubber seals lubricated.

Speaking of spread out equipment, you'd think when you open up the survival kit, you'd think they were planning on leaving you, and never picking you up! Shocked

Hell, we had to use the hose attachment on a Dust Buster just to shrink that sucker down when we got it all packed up!

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

Thanks for all that great info TC Very Happy

! I definitely get the picture now Wink

. For some reason I hadn't thought of all the maintenance that goes into all the gear the pilots use and wear in the jet. Now I have a much better understanding of what's involved!

Quote:

Speaking of spread out equipment, you'd think when you open up the survival kit, you'd think they were planning on leaving you, and never picking you up! Hell, we had to use the hose attachment on a Dust Buster just to shrink that sucker down when we got it all packed up!

Now you've got me thinking about the survival kit - where will it end Shrug

?!

I think I'll start a new thread about survival kits over in the F-16 General section!

TC, thanks for all the info. Your second guess for me was correct though. I only plan on using it for display purposes. I know safety equipment is expensive, heck, my motorcycle helmet was $800 retail. But i didn't pay even half that for it new. I'm just trying to find a deal on one since i'm not actually going to "use" it.

MATMACWC wrote:

Best place to get an old helmet? Life support shop in a Fighter Squadron. I just picked mine up the other day, I guess it kinda helps that I'm a fighter pilot in that squadron. Helmets get put outta service after about 5 years so I picked mine up, had the mask from pilot training cause we use the Combat Edge version these days. By the way, got fitted for my HMCS's this week too, pretty cool stuff!!! As far as the high contrast visor, you haveta take another color vision test with the visor on....yeah right.....

So hows about hooking a brother up? Very Happy

Giving away a helmet, at least in my experience, and that of many other Life Support troops you'll talk to, is something we reserved for a pilot leaving the squadron. At that, it's usually just for say, a retiring pilot, or a Colonel or General leaving the unit or base.

We'd either take their helmet, or take one of our spares, get it cleaned up and/or install new parts on the helmet, and then customize a visor cover for them.

It's hard enough to obtain the equipment for ourselves, so you'd be hard pressed to find any unit that would just give one away to a total stranger, no offense.

If you're really serious about getting one for display only, I'd say ebay is your best bet. Expensive they may be, but you'll find what you're looking for.

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

They outta make a Novelty Version of the Pilot Helmet like they do with the Infantry Helmets there just like the real thing except they arent made of the same materials like the Ballistic PASGT on the Infantry Helmets or PVS racks,covers or Cat Eyes, course you can buy those pretty cheap, im sure the pilots helmet would be a differnt story

I still keep thinking they could do something like that with the Pilots Helmet, instead of useing the ballistic protection use a hardened plastic and just use a standard Tint that youd get with any pair of Sun Glasses, and use just general rubber for the pilots mask, just an alternative for people who cant afford the REAL deal y'know?

Don't people make replicas of these, just for 'showing' ? I wouldn't mind one in my studio, I always look for an inspiring piece to hang on the wall or put somewhere while I try to make some good music Smile

So far I got a violin, my old Skate-helmet, my old surfboard (no worries, it's still ok with accoustics) and a wakeboard (hehehe), I wanne add an NFL helmet and a pilot helmet to that, but not a real one, heck the violin in the wall was an el cheapo 30$ one (it's just for decoration/inspiration)

[edit] typo

parrothead wrote:

TC, thanks for that post Very Happy

! It's amazing when you find out how much you don't know about something! I know that pilot's helmets are important pieces of safety equipment, but I didn't know they required THAT much maintenance Shocked

! Makes me wonder which requires more maintenance, the jet or the pilot's flight gear Laughing

!

Easy answer - the jet!

First post!! I googled Combat Edge Helmet for sale and this place was one of the search returns. Anyway, I have a complete Combat Edge Helmet for sale. It came from a retired F-16 pilot from the Viper unit that used to be in Richmond VA. I have no use for it anymore and would rather it go to someone who will really enjoy it (and NOT use it until it has been reinspected).

Here are some pics. It is in pretty decent shape. The Helmet size is Large and the mask is a Medium. I have a HUGE head and this thing fits me as if it were molded to my head. Very comfortable.

It comes with helmet, mask and brand new helmet bag. I am asking $675.00 + shipping. If I do not sell it here, I will toss it on eBay. Shoot me a PM.

TC wrote:

Now, lemme guess, I just gave you that whole schpiel, and you're just wanting a helmet/mask combination to look pretty on your bookshelf or some $hit, right? Rolling Eyes

That's where mine is now!

And no, it's not for sale...

Forum: Off-topic

Obtaining a pilot helmet?