helo helmet upgrade from oregon areo- hush kit or soft seal cups?

[PR1 H]

Stupid question maybe. Are crash protection and ballistic protection mutually exclusive? Or would combining the two be prohibitively heavy on the grape?

Way to heavy, especially when you start talking g-loading both in manouvering and and more importantly during mishaps. Keep in mind your brain housing unit is already a good 15 or so pounds, now start throwing on a 5-10 pound kevlar, you are looking at 20-25 pounds. Even at a minimum loading of a 10 g impact, you are looking at having your neck support 200-250 pounds. Granted it's short in duration but not something I'd want to do.

I've had the chance to watch the high speed video from the ejection tower here in Pax, and it is just scary how much the head snaps down and then back up during ejection with a regular light-weight helmet on, and that's just the catapult phase of it.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I assume these are incompatible with jet style helmets?

 

[Gatordev]

I assume these are incompatible with jet style helmets?

My T-34 helmet had the seals and zetaliner. It's my understanding that your "jet style helmet" in the TRACOM is your T-34 helmet w/ hardware switched out. If so, it should work.

 

[PR1 H]

I assume these are incompatible with jet style helmets?

If you are using a TACAIR helmet (HGU-87/P), you are authorized to use the hush kits along with the Zeta-liner or the Gentex X-Liner.

From the 13-1-6.7-3 again, para 4-79:

Notes: 1. Oregon Aero Softseal Ear Cushions are authorized
optional replacements for P/N88D7554-1
earpad sets. The Oregon Aero SoftSeal/Hush
Kit Combo is an authorized optional replacement
for P/N 89C7735-1 earcup assembly.
Both items are commercially available​

from Oregon Aero Corporation

 

[MIDNJAC]

Awesome, thanks. I currently use CEP, but maybe I will try this as they tend to go dead on one side (bad connection) when I turn my head to the right in dynamic stuff

 

[PR1 H]

Awesome, thanks. I currently use CEP, but maybe I will try this as they tend to go dead on one side (bad connection) when I turn my head to the right in dynamic stuff

NP... again... just make sure you have the right helmet. Hush kits in TACAIR helmets = OK... Hush kits in rotary wing helmets = Illegal.

If you guys have any questions about flight gear that your PR's/F.E. guys can't answer, shoot me a line and I'll either know the answer, or know who to talk to to get the right answer.

 

[MIDNJAC]

NP... again... just make sure you have the right helmet. Hush kits in TACAIR helmets = OK... Hush kits in rotary wing helmets = Illegal

Yeah mine is a TACAIR helmet; thanks for the help!

 

[busdriver]

In my experience, when CEPs cut in and out it's usually the connection at the helmet on the CEP plug side. The temp solution is to take a knife and gently push the connector "clamps" on the plug in a bit. It should tighten up the connection; eventually you'll need new CEPs however.

 

[MIDNJAC]

In my experience, when CEPs cut in and out it's usually the connection at the helmet on the CEP plug side. The temp solution is to take a knife and gently push the connector "clamps" on the plug in a bit. It should tighten up the connection; eventually you'll need new CEPs however.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try that. They actually replaced them once already, but it only made the problem marginally better, and it has since regressed to the original level of annoyance

 

[pourts]

Thanks for the tip, I'll try that. They actually replaced them once already, but it only made the problem marginally better, and it has since regressed to the original level of annoyance

How do you wear your CEPs so they don't yank out of your ear when you are looking around during dynamic stuff? I had an awesome tacform with one CEP in and one out.

 

[MIDNJAC]

How do you wear your CEPs so they don't yank out of your ear when you are looking around during dynamic stuff? I had an awesome tacform with one CEP in and one out.

I dunno man, ask me at the squadron tomorrow after I go flying......hint: you used to be in my class

Seriously though, I put them under my chin, put in the ears, put on skullcap (or not), helmet, and then connect them. Normally I have to sit there in marshall screwing with the helmet side connector for a while until I get a good connection (left ear is always cutting out).

 

[busdriver]

Yep under the chin is key, prevent the nape strap from tugging on the cord. Also make sure you have the correct size for the foamy. If you can't get the foam actually into your ear canal it'll fall out easily.

Also, if brand new CEPs are still giving you problems, you may need to get your helmet looked at. If you are getting signal loss in the helmet due to bad connections, the additional signal loss at a loose CEP plug may be the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[lowflier03]

I actually route the CEP wires up and around the back of my ears, then out the back of the helmet. Has worked great with no issues. The other big thing if you are going to use CEP's, I highly recommend getting the custom molded ones. Those make a huge difference in both sound quality and comfort. Even if you have to pay the $120 out of pocket, it's worth it. The foam ones suck!

 

[PR1 H]

Definitely get the custom fit ones. Contact your flight surgeon to get them. He should get in touch with the local audiologist to do the impressions, or as a last resort (I can't stress the "last resort" enough here) the local AMSO can do the impressions. As for forking out your own dime... try and get the squadron to pay for the CEP's first. They should come out of 7F funds.

 

[pourts]

Definitely get the custom fit ones. Contact your flight surgeon to get them. He should get in touch with the local audiologist to do the impressions, or as a last resort (I can't stress the "last resort" enough here) the local AMSO can do the impressions. As for forking out your own dime... try and get the squadron to pay for the CEP's first. They should come out of 7F funds.

Yeah... I don't know about that. Just read a ***** about those that sounded painful.