I don't get it!!!!!!!!

What's with the full face helmets on the pilots in all the stunt planes? Big ARFs

Is there something I'm missing? I have never seen any one do it in real life.. thats not to say people haven't, but it just looks out of place.

Full scale aerobatic pilots usually do wear full face helmets, and nearly every pylon pilot wears one. It is a requirement that pilots wear a helmet at Reno.

One of my friends was practicing his sequence in a Super Decathlon several years ago. His elevator cable failed while attempting to recover from a right hand spin. He was unable to push the door open, because it is on the right side of the plane. At 2000 Ft. AGL, he smashed the door open with his helmet and was able to exit the aircraft. Had he not been wearing a full face helmet, he probably would have died that day!
Doug

At 2000 Ft. AGL, he smashed the door open with his helmet and was able to exit the aircraft.

That's using his head!

Dr.1

His chute was still inflating as he hit the ground. He suffered 4 broken ribs, a broken wrist, and two broken ankles[X(] Aerobatics is a dangerous game. But, the fun factor makes it worth the risks

Nope, my #1 rule in life is:

Never participate in any event where the first consideration is: Don't die!

That means I shouldn't be driving to work!

Ok, let me rephrase that...

Never participate in any LEISURE ACTIVITY where the first consideration is: Don't die!

I HAVE to drive to work, I DON'T have to Bungie Jump

LOL! Yeah, that's better.

Just reflecting on the Red Bull air races..(and i just looked at the site with pilot pics)
The pilots all seem to wear open face helmets. Not trying to start a war just stating
something i can back up.

Actually, military style open face helmets are more popular than full face helmets. I bought one when I intended to start flying airshows. That dream did not come to pass.[] I still have my helmet. But, I would look silly getting out of my Cherokee wearing it. So, it just stays in my closet.[&o] When i finish my Glasair, I will probably wear the helmet again. That way I can feel like a jet pilot

fly your models wearing it, I would those have one heck of a sun visor lol.

Reason for full face versus open face. It's easier to paint a dust/glare shield than it is a face. It's also cheaper to make.

So true I searched high and low to find a 1/12 Scale pilot for my 24" JMG Cosmic Wind. I finally found them on eBay and paid $20.00 for two of them. Being resin cast, they are pretty heavy. I had to hollow out the head to get it down to an acceptable 3 grams.

This is my Cosmic Wind "Lil' Screamer". IT was built from a JM Glascraft kit. It has modified substantially, all glassed and ready for paint. Estimated top speed: 150MPH

I like Pat Roy's answer the most......
I can understand racing....especially in the formula style planes but, an ultimate aerobatics plane? That's like doing gymnastic with a motocross helmet on. Too many (Gs) going to many different ways. You would rip your head off.

I think what I'm getting at is.........If a company is going to spend all this money on producing an awesome ,extra 300,260,330, ultimate bipe/pitts,yak, or sukhoi........can't they make an effort to get the pilot right?


Can you show me a picture of an aerobatics pilot (not including ultra lights) with a full face helmet on?

I hope evrey one understands, I'm just having fun with the topic........and if there is a picture of one I'd love to see the color scheme. Some of the aviator helmets a works of art, unlike the painted thumbs under the canopies of some of the other wise nice looking large scale ARFs..

There, now I feel better.

Sorry if I offended any one.
firstplaceaviator I only wanted to use the quotes around your statement I don't know what the bold face deal is. Feel free to take any shots at my ignorance........or spelling for that matter.

Ever see the Red Bull Air Race World Series? I have never seen those guys in full face helmets. Not trying to dispute what others have pointed out (especially the bail out at 2000' story), just adding another perspective. Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing anyone wearing these at Air Show's I've attended (unless you count the Jets )

-MA

firstplaceaviator

That is one hot looking electric.

What colors are you going with?

Interesting. When I was doing aerobatics training a few years back in a Super Decathlon the RHS door had removable hinge pins. Pull the pins and the door falls off. The same setup was on the Citabria that I was flying. The Pitts I flew also had an emergency jettison mechanism for the canopy. Your friend may not have had to use his head after all!

I was told to use the the 5 Hs in the Super D - (remove) headset, (unfasten) harness, (remove door) hinges, (exit) headfirst, (pull parachute) handle, if I had to bail out. Never did tho. What sense would it make to require a pilot to wear a parachute without providing an easy method for him/her to get out of the airplane if needed? We did use cloth helmets to keep out headsets on.

Regards,
Jerry

Gjesion

It sounds like you have done the exat thing that I have never done, but always wanted to. "Start with a Super Decathlon and move into a Pitts" Thats just what I have planned for my next life. or at least always dreamed of. I started flying but then joined the U.S.M.C. , looking back on it I think I did the right thing.

How was your first solo in the Pitts?

I really don't feel like poking around on line to find one. They are out there. Years ago, Jimmy Franklin wore one during his "Zar" routine in an Aerostar. I saw several pilots wearing them at competitions years ago in Oklahoma and Texas.

Not at all! I corrected my initial statement: "Actually, military style open face helmets are more popular than full face helmets."

Thank you! White, fluorescent green, fluorescent raspberry, silver and black highlights. Yes, I have airbrush skills[8D]


That is a requirement for all aerobatic aircraft. Try jettisoning the door to the inside of a spin. Sometimes, things just don't work out the way they were planned![X(]

We also had a Christen Eagle crash here a couple of years ago that could not recover from an inverted flat spin. Both the instructor and student were killed. The crash investigation revealed that, even though the jettison handle was pulled, the canopy did not release until impact. Also, both occupants had there harnesses off before impact.

O.k.

I stand corrected. Thank you for the scoop.

What kind of gear(motor specs, batt ect.) are you puting in the cosmic wind.

Little Screamer Jet Scream Motor 5100 Kv (Stay away from the spinning prop!)
Flightpower Evo 25C 1200 7.4 For the initial flights
Flightpower Evo 25C 1200 11.1 Once I know the bugs are worked out
APC 4.75x4.75 for the 2S battery
APC 4.1x4.1 For the 3S battery
E-flite 40amp ESC
Hitec HS-65HB servos
Berg 4 Microstamp receiver


All up weight estimate 14-15.5 Oz.
125 sq.in. wing area

Kudos to you! I have the utmost respect for the USMC and think that they have the best dress uniforms - bar none!!

Sad to say that I never soloed the Pitts only the Super D. The Pitts was a joy to fly. It really seemed to be an extension of my body. Very responsive and light on the controls. But a real bugger to land. Flying from the back seat forward visibility was basically nil. I was taught to do a sort of overhead break turn to final rather than a traditional pattern (to keep the runway in sight as long as possible). Once lined up one had to rely on peripheral vision to land. On the ground the close coupled short fuselage made ground handling a real bear.

Regards,
Jerry

I must admit that I cannot envision any aerodynamic force that would keep the door from opening with a push in a spin to the right but I am not an aerodynamicist. Also I would imagine that the FAA would require that the door would be able to be easily jettisoned in both right hand and left hand spins before certifying it for aerobatics.

Do you have the N number of that plane? I would be interested to read the NTSB report.

Regards,
Jerry

Son of gun that is going to be a screeeeamer.

I don't think I would have the "berries" never mind skill to put something like that in the air wide open.

I'd love to see it all done up. Do you plan on posting any thing on it?

Jerry,

Watching the Pitts land does look like it would be a high pucker facter. Slipping a 152 on a short runway got me a bit on edge......I can't imagine what it's like with out seeing touch down....
O.k.
I should be building "Spring will come at some point in NewEngland" and I'll end up rushing to get one of my planes air born to soon.

Yeah, I wish spring would get here in Michigan too! The weatherman predicts snow tomorrow.

Regards,
Jerry