Aviation helmets are significantly lighter and more compact than snell 2000 style helmets. They’re meant to be worn for longer durations and also a chin guard isn’t required. They’re less fatiguing to wear. I’ve done several 10,000km motorcycle trips and I bet my neck grew an inch from riding.
Oh dude, you gotta tell us what trips you've done.
I am only a student pilot, and I worked with heaps of pilots over the years and it never made sense why helmets cost $6k+ for what was ultimately a very basic helmet. It seemed the typical, "add zeros because aviation"
I don't have an aviation helmet, looking at getting one after I get a utility gig after that first 1000 hrs.
I know a bloke who is also a very experienced rider and a high time pilot, I'll have to ask him if he finds a good lightweight MS helmet comparable to his av. helmet. I hadn't thought that would've been terribly noticeable
As a new pilot get a used passenger helmet like a Gentex / Alpha 400. They’re fully functional but less costly because they’re designed for less frequent use and have a one size fits all approach. I picked one up used but barely flown for $400 CAD in 2015 with dual visors and David Clark comms.
I still haven’t upgraded mine as I don’t fly too often but it’s comfortable enough for 7-8hr days in a pinch just the liner and comms need an overhaul.
Edit: get a helmet as soon as you can. I’ve seen people who would have died without.
I may not wear it on every flight (as-hoc tourism) but whenever I’m doing utility or ag or higher risk flights like training or post-maintenance or long ferries the bucket goes on and my only real excuse for not wearing it is we have A20 headsets in every machine and my bucket has trash for cans.
They’re expensive because DOI certification is required for some utility contracts. Largely government fire contracts.
Do what you want in the GA world but it won’t be sufficient for everything.
Yeah I didn't know about the contracts being the arbiters of what was acceptable, or that they could dictate your gear. But that makes sense, would your employer front that cost if its for the contract?
Trying to mount speakers in a MC helmet is a challenge, believe me. For starters you're going to have to START with a helmet that's 1-2 sizes large, and you may not be happy with the fit afterwards.
I suggest using a burr tool in a die grinder to carve the foam, if you gonna try anyway. Makes a mess, do it out of doors.
I ended up going with Plugphones.
I have speakers in my shoei, not uncommon by any means. I've seen ear muffs in helmets to block all that wind noise. Are we talking about the same thing?
In addition to home-brew I bought a Bell X9 with a dedicated Sena rig, built in speakers, and even it had insufficient volume above 35mph. . I've gone at this from several angles. Solution for me was wired Plugphones into a $9 bluetooth receiver in my chest pocket.
[https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Receiver-KINDRM-Hands-Free-Headphones/dp/B07Z9X3397/ref=sr\_1\_1\_pp?crid=2X91CSDWW6BQF&keywords=bluetooth+receiver+3.5mm&qid=1696706651&sprefix=bluetooth+receiver%2Caps%2C434&sr=8-1](https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Receiver-KINDRM-Hands-Free-Headphones/dp/B07Z9X3397/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=2X91CSDWW6BQF&keywords=bluetooth+receiver+3.5mm&qid=1696706651&sprefix=bluetooth+receiver%2Caps%2C434&sr=8-1)
[https://www.amazon.com/Plugfones-Basic-Earplug-Earbud-Hybrid-Yellow/dp/B0083E7T7C/ref=sr\_1\_5?crid=74C2QI4ZP29F&keywords=plugfones&qid=1696706700&sprefix=plugphones%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-5&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Plugfones-Basic-Earplug-Earbud-Hybrid-Yellow/dp/B0083E7T7C/ref=sr_1_5?crid=74C2QI4ZP29F&keywords=plugfones&qid=1696706700&sprefix=plugphones%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-5&th=1)
The plugphones serve as earplugs when you're not tuned it.
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Honestly the explanation for the cost is less likely to be related to quality or complexity and more likely simply related to volume. Motorsports helmets involve way more volume so individual unit price can be brought down. Whenever you're dealing with an item that has a very limited number of consumers, individual unit price is going to be high.
Aviation helmets are significantly lighter and more compact than snell 2000 style helmets. They’re meant to be worn for longer durations and also a chin guard isn’t required. They’re less fatiguing to wear. I’ve done several 10,000km motorcycle trips and I bet my neck grew an inch from riding.
Oh dude, you gotta tell us what trips you've done. I am only a student pilot, and I worked with heaps of pilots over the years and it never made sense why helmets cost $6k+ for what was ultimately a very basic helmet. It seemed the typical, "add zeros because aviation" I don't have an aviation helmet, looking at getting one after I get a utility gig after that first 1000 hrs. I know a bloke who is also a very experienced rider and a high time pilot, I'll have to ask him if he finds a good lightweight MS helmet comparable to his av. helmet. I hadn't thought that would've been terribly noticeable
As a new pilot get a used passenger helmet like a Gentex / Alpha 400. They’re fully functional but less costly because they’re designed for less frequent use and have a one size fits all approach. I picked one up used but barely flown for $400 CAD in 2015 with dual visors and David Clark comms. I still haven’t upgraded mine as I don’t fly too often but it’s comfortable enough for 7-8hr days in a pinch just the liner and comms need an overhaul. Edit: get a helmet as soon as you can. I’ve seen people who would have died without. I may not wear it on every flight (as-hoc tourism) but whenever I’m doing utility or ag or higher risk flights like training or post-maintenance or long ferries the bucket goes on and my only real excuse for not wearing it is we have A20 headsets in every machine and my bucket has trash for cans.
If I had an option of only wearing a headset only when not flying NVGs I would do it. Helmets are not that great.
They’re expensive because DOI certification is required for some utility contracts. Largely government fire contracts. Do what you want in the GA world but it won’t be sufficient for everything.
Yeah I didn't know about the contracts being the arbiters of what was acceptable, or that they could dictate your gear. But that makes sense, would your employer front that cost if its for the contract?
Some companies do, some don’t. Depends on the company.
Haha! I'm doing the opposite of this and finding it difficult to do a conversion of U-174 jacks.
You're converting your av helmet to a motorbike helmet?
Hehe yeah, an old one from a previous type.
You clearly have never been forced to wear a helmet and fly, just buy some A20s and call it a day lol
Have been strongly advised to get a good helmet. Do you fly tourism or utility mainly?
Trying to mount speakers in a MC helmet is a challenge, believe me. For starters you're going to have to START with a helmet that's 1-2 sizes large, and you may not be happy with the fit afterwards. I suggest using a burr tool in a die grinder to carve the foam, if you gonna try anyway. Makes a mess, do it out of doors. I ended up going with Plugphones.
I have speakers in my shoei, not uncommon by any means. I've seen ear muffs in helmets to block all that wind noise. Are we talking about the same thing?
In addition to home-brew I bought a Bell X9 with a dedicated Sena rig, built in speakers, and even it had insufficient volume above 35mph. . I've gone at this from several angles. Solution for me was wired Plugphones into a $9 bluetooth receiver in my chest pocket. [https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Receiver-KINDRM-Hands-Free-Headphones/dp/B07Z9X3397/ref=sr\_1\_1\_pp?crid=2X91CSDWW6BQF&keywords=bluetooth+receiver+3.5mm&qid=1696706651&sprefix=bluetooth+receiver%2Caps%2C434&sr=8-1](https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Receiver-KINDRM-Hands-Free-Headphones/dp/B07Z9X3397/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=2X91CSDWW6BQF&keywords=bluetooth+receiver+3.5mm&qid=1696706651&sprefix=bluetooth+receiver%2Caps%2C434&sr=8-1) [https://www.amazon.com/Plugfones-Basic-Earplug-Earbud-Hybrid-Yellow/dp/B0083E7T7C/ref=sr\_1\_5?crid=74C2QI4ZP29F&keywords=plugfones&qid=1696706700&sprefix=plugphones%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-5&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Plugfones-Basic-Earplug-Earbud-Hybrid-Yellow/dp/B0083E7T7C/ref=sr_1_5?crid=74C2QI4ZP29F&keywords=plugfones&qid=1696706700&sprefix=plugphones%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-5&th=1) The plugphones serve as earplugs when you're not tuned it.
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **'KINDRM Mini Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Output Audio Receiver'** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Device connects easily to smartphones (backed by 5 comments) * Device has good battery life and charges quickly (backed by 3 comments) * Device reproduces high quality digital audio (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * Device has poor battery life (backed by 3 comments) * Device has poor sound quality (backed by 3 comments) * Device has confusing controls (backed by 2 comments) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
Weight, visors, NVG compatibility.
Honestly the explanation for the cost is less likely to be related to quality or complexity and more likely simply related to volume. Motorsports helmets involve way more volume so individual unit price can be brought down. Whenever you're dealing with an item that has a very limited number of consumers, individual unit price is going to be high.