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HGU-55 vs David Clarke

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CJcanuck

Joined: 05 Jul 2006
Posts: 39

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

Hi All!



I'm starting to shop for my Xmas list and I'm keen to get an HGU-55 helmet from Flightsuits.com.  I'd like to know if there are any problems with compatibility with a set of David Clarke's when using the built-in intercom of a Garmin SL-40 Comm radio.



How good are the standard earpieces for noise attenuation?  Is the ANR option worth the money? How much room is there between the top of the helmet and a standard canopy?  How effective is the visor?



Any and all info would be appreciated!



Mike

C-GYMK

drc(at)wscare.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:38 am Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

Just a note on Flightsuits - they are very slow and hard to deal  

with.  It's like they do not want a sale.  From inquiry about options,  

shipping a fitting kit, replacing a fitting kit, getting a quote - I  

had to call and keep them on the ball.  They never initiated any  

contact even with followups.  After much back and forth and waiting I  

did get a nice helmet from them.  I have the ANR, but I am not sure it  

is worth the cost.  I use the helmet in a Yak 52 and 55.  At high  

power settings the ANR "pops" trying to reduce the noise.  I am trying  

some better fit seals for the ears but I think I would just order  

without the ANR especially if you wear glasses.  I have not had the  

same problems with a FlightCom ANR headset.  If you decide to get the  

ANR it is worth the 40$ to hardwire the power supply in.  (no  

batteries and no box to keep track of)



The helmet comms work well in the 52.  No issues with the back seat  

headset.



Herb





On Nov 6, 2007, at 11:58 AM, CJcanuck wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Hi All!



 I'm starting to shop for my Xmas list and I'm keen to get an HGU-55  

 helmet from Flightsuits.com.  I'd like to know if there are any  

 problems with compatibility with a set of David Clarke's when using  

 the built-in intercom of a Garmin SL-40 Comm radio.



 How good are the standard earpieces for noise attenuation?  Is the  

 ANR option worth the money? How much room is there between the top  

 of the helmet and a standard canopy?  How effective is the visor?



 Any and all info would be appreciated!



 Mike

 C-GYMK





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=144184#144184

viperdoc(at)mindspring.co
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

I thought about ANR also but just went to wearing foam ear plugs under my

Oregon Aero noise attenuating ear muffs in my HGU-55 helmet. I was lucky,

life support made up my helmet initially. When we changed over to IPPB mask,

that required making up a new helmet. I got the old one. 

Sometimes my life support guys will do work on the side if you (obviously)

have all the pieces when it needs to be done.

The fitting of the helmet itself is easy if you use the Oregon Aero foam

skull cap. They are not having to pour a special foam cranium cushion and

cover it with leather as in the old days. All you need is to figure out the

size of your hat to fit the helmet. 

Doc



--

ByronMFox(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:42 pm Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

In a message dated 11/6/07 10:39:23 AM, drc(at)wscare.com writes:

 

 

  	  Quote: 	
		  Just a note on Flightsuits - they are very slow and hard to deal 

 with.  It's like they do not want a sale.

 	


 

 Have had just the opposite experience with Flight Suits, Mike. No problems. In the course of time, how-ever, I did replace their ear muffs and lining with those offered by Oregon Aero only because I couldn't resist when I was at their booth at OSH. I have Headsets Inc (http://www.headsetsinc.com/) ANR gear in he helmet as well. Also satisfied, and I believe it's the same electronics that Flight Suits installs. Have noted ,though, that it is not compatible with a friend's Lightspeed headset. He can hear the intercom well but the radio is faint.   

 

 None of this is reponsive to your question. Don't know about Headsets/Flightsuits compatiblity with your Garmin radio and David Clark headsets.    ...Blitz

**************************************

steve.fox(at)mac.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

Like my brother, Blitz, I have had just the opposite experience. I will say I did have some issue with the ANR cutting in and out and popping and sent it back three time for fixes the third and final time I had the power for the ANR rigged so the power came off a cigarette lighter jack in my 52 cockpit. Solved all the problems.

 Stephen Fox

Consulting Partner/Facilitator & Trainer

thinkx Intellectual Capital

Think Exponentially

308 Columbus Ave. #2

Boston, MA 02116

http://www.thinkxic.com

email: steve.fox(at)thinkxic.com (steve.fox(at)thinkxic.com)

Boston Office: 617-379-0865

New Hampshire: 603.924.8660

Cell: 603.547.0448

SKYPE: jstephenfox



 



On Nov 6, 2007, at 3:42 PM, ByronMFox(at)aol.com (ByronMFox(at)aol.com) wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 In a message dated 11/6/07 10:39:23 AM, drc(at)wscare.com (drc(at)wscare.com) writes:

 

 

  	  Quote: 	
		  Just a note on Flightsuits - they are very slow and hard to deal 

 with.  It's like they do not want a sale.

 	


 

 Have had just the opposite experience with Flight Suits, Mike. No problems. In the course of time, how-ever, I did replace their ear muffs and lining with those offered by Oregon Aero only because I couldn't resist when I was at their booth at OSH. I have Headsets Inc (http://www.headsetsinc.com/) ANR gear in he helmet as well. Also satisfied, and I believe it's the same electronics that Flight Suits installs. Have noted ,though, that it is not compatible with a friend's Lightspeed headset. He can hear the intercom well but the radio is faint.   

 

 None of this is reponsive to your question. Don't know about Headsets/Flightsuits compatiblity with your Garmin radio and David Clark headsets.    ..Blitz

**************************************

 	  Quote: 	
		  

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href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Yak-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Yak-List

href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com



	
	


 [quote][b]

HawkerPilot2015

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 503

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

Just remember the -55/P offers virtually no impact protection. They are not intended to. They are there for earphones and a place to put an oxygen mask. Not much more. 



I find the helmet restricts headroom in the -50 and I have been using a cloth helmet with DC's. It offers better attenuation and is a whole lot cheaper. Plus, like Doc, I got my helmet for free via the ANG.

brian-1927(at)lloyd.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

On Nov 6, 2007, at 9:58 AM, CJcanuck wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Hi All!



 I'm starting to shop for my Xmas list and I'm keen to get an HGU-55  

 helmet from Flightsuits.com.  I'd like to know if there are any  

 problems with compatibility with a set of David Clarke's when using  

 the built-in intercom of a Garmin SL-40 Comm radio.



 How good are the standard earpieces for noise attenuation?  Is the  

 ANR option worth the money? How much room is there between the top  

 of the helmet and a standard canopy?  How effective is the visor?


	


I found that the standard ear seals and fit kit left something to be  

desired. After hearing complaints of poorly fitting helmets, I opted  

to have my helmet fitted by Oregon Aero. I purchased a "bare" helmet  

from Flight Suits (nothing to fit it to your head and with the bare  

earspeakers dangling by their wires). Oregon Aero then provides  

everything that goes into the helmet to make it fit your head and  

ears. The result was a *very* comfortable helmet (I literally wore it  

16 hours one day) that does an excellent job of passive noise  

attenuation. It would probably work well with ANR earspeakers and  

electronics but I never felt the need.



As for the visor, I found I wanted both smoked and clear. They work  

well and are much better than sunglasses.



Clearance on top depends on the length of your torso. I certainly  

have never had a problem sitting up high enough to see and having my  

helmet clear the canopy.



As for compatibility with other headsets, that is more of an audio- 

panel or intercomm issue. Good audio panels and/or intercomms have  

separate amplifiers for each headset. I would *NOT* try to use the  

intercom built into the SL-40 for anything. Having to open a menu on  

the display to set the level and squelch is just too annoying. You  

really want something with a knob you can grab and quickly adjust.  

Get yourself a good intercom from PS Engineering with separate level  

controls for your two seats. You will be much happier in the long run.



--

Brian Lloyd                         3191 Western Drive

brian HYPHEN 1927 AT lloyd DOT com    Cameron Park, CA 95682

+1.916.367.2131 (voice)             +1.270.912.0788 (fax)



I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry



PGP key ID:          12095C52A32A1B6C

PGP key fingerprint: 3B1D BA11 4913 3254 B6E0  CC09 1209 5C52 A32A 1B6C

HawkerPilot2015

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 503

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

I have a high contrast visor and it works well in the Herk,,,,

drc(at)wscare.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:30 am Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

To clarify - I have the HGU33.  I also have a soft leather with DC ANR  

that I prefer for noise and acro.  Not that the hard helmet is  

uncomfortable or that much inferior - its just that the other combo  

fits like a glove and the ANR is flawless.

Herb

On Nov 6, 2007, at 4:32 PM, Tim Gagnon wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Just remember the -55/P offers virtually no impact protection. They  

 are not intended to. They are there for earphones and a place to put  

 an oxygen mask. Not much more.



 I find the helmet restricts headroom in the -50 and I have been  

 using a cloth helmet with DC's. It offers better attenuation and is  

 a whole lot cheaper. Plus, like Doc, I got my helmet for free via  

 the ANG.





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=144224#144224

fougapilot

Joined: 20 Jul 2007
Posts: 89
Location: Flat on my back with minimum airspeed

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:54 am Post subject: Re: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

CJCanuck,



I have had a positive experience with Flightsuits. I opted for the -55 with the -33 visor set. The idea was to protect the visor from scratching. I am very happy with the result. I also went for the ANR and love it. Never did it "pop" at any power setting. I even prefer it to my Bose X!



However, a quick word on US Federal regulations. For some reasons, "military style helmets with communications capabilities" is listed as a weapon in the Coded Federal Regulation (CFR). Flightsuits does NOT have an export permit, and is thus not permitted to export their helmets to Canada. They will refuse to ship you a helmet as it WILL be stopped by US custom and be seized.



There is an easy fix to this. The same CFR provides an exemption to Canadian citizen and allows us to export most weapons (there is a list of weapons not exempt and flight helmet is not on it). What you need to do is buy the helmet t your specs, have it shipped to a friend south of the border, fly down with the CJ, put the helmet on your head and fly back home. Canada custom will only look for the Tax$$, they couldn't care less about the fact that the USA consider the helmet to be a military item. In Canada, it's a fancy headset.



That is how I got mine back in 2006. Completely legal method to get a great tool.



Cheers,



Dan

CJcanuck

Joined: 05 Jul 2006
Posts: 39

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:02 am Post subject: Re: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

Thank for the info, Guys!



Now the big decision; a helmet, a parachute, or both!



Mike

viperdoc(at)mindspring.co
Guest

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:26 am Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

Both! It's your rosey pink and cranium!

Doc



--

isaligman(at)saligman.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:34 am Post subject: HGU-55 vs David Clarke

I recently put the  headsets inc. helmet anr Kit in my hgu55.

  

 The difference is  unbelievable compared to a headset (due to tighter helmet fit) and compared to  the HGU standard leather triangle foam and standard speakers.  

  

 It really sounds  like starting one of those fancy L-39s.  Even at high power, it is  silent. 

  

 The only drawback -  if it is a drawback, is there is not separate ear volume control.   

  

 I set up my system  with power adapter and the 9v battery pouch (in case I go into another aircraft)  

  

 Call if you would  like to discuss.  Brooks at headsets Inc was very good in getting me  exactly what I needed - needs may vary based on what you already have. The  Kit comes with the Oregon aero seals.  

  

  

  

  

   Ira Saligman

  



 o   610 940  0420 

 c   610  324 5500

 f    215 243 7699

  

 isaligman(at)Saligman.com (isaligman(at)Saligman.com)





  

   [quote][b]

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