Thought About a Helmet for Flying? Maybe You Should

Everyone wears a headset when flying, but how about a helmet? Might seem like overkill, but the data shows that a flight helmet has a measurable safety benefit. In this AVweb video, Paul Bertorelli dives deep into the topic and find a really stylish flying helmet with skull icons. Seriously? Yeah, seriously.
Here's a link to Maxime Compagnon’s helmet crash experience.
• Post crash analysis an...
Find the helmets mentioned in this video at
www.aircraftspruce.com
Sky Cowboy Supply
www.skycowboysupplyco.com/
One correction: Bonehead points out that the protective guard for the visor is carbon fiber, not plastic.

[@RedSailor1701]

Paul Bertorelli to aviation is Ryan Fortnine to Motorcycling. Well spoken, to the point, gently sprinkling of humour and superbly delivered. MORE PAUL CONTENT PLEASE

[@misters2837]

That's Funny....Ryan's Helmet/Gear Age Video...from 5yrs ago...made me come back and visit this one.

[@JoshuaTootell]

I found Ryan WAY too annoying. I tried to watch his videos since everyone seemed to like him, but he feels way too know it all to me. But then again, I have been riding off and on for 30 years, with most of my on time being on the track.

[@superjoeyman1]

Hell yeah more Paul content

[@Seanman23x]

Lol I think he's the only reason I follow this page

[@MelvinHughesatp]

I realize that I live on the dark side of aviation. I started out as a military airplane pilot who was transitioned into helicopters. Since 1972, I have mostly flown helicopters both military and civilian. For the last 38 years I have flown civilian EMS in helicopters. So the vast majority of my flight time has been using helmets, specifically the SPH-4 and SPH-5 with some experience with the HGU-56. I know that the US Army Safety Center has a great deal of information about the protection or lack thereof provided by wearing a helmet in a helicopter crash. I may be comparing apples and oranges here but I think that the majority of the accidents they studied involving military helicopter crashes don't differ that much from the realm in which most GA aircraft operate. Certainly the airspeeds and off-airport landing areas (both intentional and accidental,) would be similar. Granted, usually no one is shooting at the GA aircraft but still I think the data and research they have put together could be beneficial to study when deciding whether or not a helmet is appropriate. I think that when a good, solid aviation based helmet, like a Gentex, is incorporated into one's daily flying routine, the benefits outside the general protective ones actually make it a welcome improvement in communications as well as not being restrictive. I am still flying into accident scenes in all kinds of locations, day and night (NVG aided,) using a current Gentex SPH-5 with CEP hearing protection. I never feel that my view is compromised. I know first-hand that the helmet communications are much more effective than my David Clark headset alone. And, like using seat belts and shoulder harnesses, once accustomed to the helmet, I feel pretty naked without one in the cockpit. But I never was cool.

[@arnavsadhu]

The last line sums it up. I had the same experience when riding bikes. Once I got used to wearing a helmet, my face felt naked when riding without one. Lets just say safety is pretty cool to me.

[@georgielancaster1356]

My next door neighbours had an apple orchard. Every year, they had a brain surgeon call in to buy apples, through the season.. HE DID wear a bike helmet in his car. He had done so many repair jobs, attempted so many repair jobs that DIDN'T work... He didn't care what people thought of him. He had seen enough. No matter how small a % he was facing.

[@StephaneDemers]

What Melvin said! Bang on.

[@markmcgoveran6811]

I personally don't think you need an expensive special task force helmet for anything motorcycles aviation or anything. I wear a bicycle helmet for almost everything. What are the difficulties we have here is we have to have something to see or we cannot believe. In the aviation situation it's very easy to hit some turbulence and get a surprise and have the side of your head gets slapped against the side of the airplane and it may impede your flying enough that you hit the ground before you've got a chance to come back to common Sense. If you were wearing a bicycle helmet and you ran into some turbulence and you smack your head in the bicycle helmet so you didn't have anything to impede recovery from the turbulence no one would ever know. I picked up a thousand things that were tripping hazards in my life if not 10000 pencils bits of paper drill bits. I'm pretty sure somebody would have fell on that and broke her hip and died by now after all these years but I can't point at which time I picked up a pencil that was the time that saved the life.if you were wearing your helmet and you bumped your head a little bit and kept your wits about you and flew home anyway you'd never report that.

[@Nderak]

As a car enthusiast, we are taught to always wear a helmet in a vehicle with an exposed roll cage, even if the cage is "padded". In a crash our heads hitting that tubing will kill us before the vehicle comes to a stop. I imagine in a light aircraft at the mercy of sudden turbulence being protected from concussion/unconsciousness could go a long way to stopping single occupant plane crashes.

[@blakethegreatone2058]

I used to wear a helmet while 4-wheeling in my jeep. Had a full roll cage and 5 point harness. Rolled the jeep down a hill one day and that helmet saved my life as my head smashed into the roll cage. Helmet had a huge dent in the side and I had a headache. 100% worth it.

[@ParadigmUnkn0wn]

Yep. I always cringe when I see guys with cages and no helmet, and a lot of them don't even have padding on the cage, and if they do it's a damn pool noodle or something and not proper high density roll cage padding (which is still made to protect a helmet impact, not a bare head impact).

[@77thTrombone]

_If you have a $10 head, get a $10 helmet._ -Bell ad campaign in late 1970s for bicycle helmets. I saw a poster with this statement in a store window. I thought it made sense, so I inquired within. Turned out helmets started at $25. Having already assessed my head at $10, I wasn't so sure if it was worth $25, and I moved on. It was a much different world back then. Now I've learned any 1 concussion can be a life-changing event, so Paul's review is very worthwhile.

[@KevinSmith-ys3mh]

Seriously, look at the costs per treatment/hours of emergency room or trauma centers, it's like $10 per second! What is your kid's life worth?

[@JoshuaTootell]

One of the motorcycle magazines did an independent test of a large selection of helmets. One of the safest helmets they tested was one of the cheapest. Many of the more expensive helmets were over built, and just transferring more energy to the head.

[@SuperTrb0]

Helmets would absolutely help with small aircraft. With larger GA aircraft like the Beechcraft B36, TBM 940, Cessna 182, ect, there really needs to be a re-vamp of current design GA that includes things like airbags. Weight is minimal and the increase in safety are the upside. The down side would be cost. Still though I’d like to see seat mounted airbags, panel mounted airbags and a-piller airbags. Finally 4 point safety belts as standard.

[@josh6pack]

I'll be 40 this year. I've been in an airplane exactly once, when I was 6, for just a little half hour sightseeing tour. It's also unlikely I'll ever own my own plane, but I do keep the dream on life support. I just really like watching this dude's videos.

[@CCitis]

You don't need to own one, but you could get your license and rent one.

[@chadmcdowell5582]

Don't let that dream die. Even if you're not in a financial position to get the license, go do a discovery flight. It's $100-$200 for an hour in the air with a CFI. You'll know if it's a dream to persue after this flight

[@pittss2c601]

What does this have to do with wearing a helmet?

[@jekanyika]

@@pittss2c601 It's one of this dude's videos.

[@jj4791]

Hint for the OP: You can Learn to fly, and fly Solo, on your own, around and airport and then cross country. With around 8-12 hours, and less than $2,000. The License is not Your stated goal. If Your goal is to fly an airplane around on your own. You can archive this in about a dozen weekends. Or on two weeks of vacation if you study.

[@canoe365]

Decades ago I spent time with an engineer who was tasked with improving safety and survival in small aircraft used in mission aviation. Some of the locations they operated in were very hazardous, thus the study. He found that the best bang for the buck was well-designed four point harnesses and helmets. Another improvement was 'stroking' seats. In a high sink rate upright crash, the seat structure would 'stroke' downward up to about 10", at a controlled rate that protected the pilot's spine from injury. That mission aviation outfit now has all three of these improvements in their entire fleet.

[@timkiwi]

In West Papua, which must be some of the most difficult flying anywhere in the world the missionary pilots all use helmets. Broken Bones can heal but head injuries normally have life changing effects that ends your chance of getting your medical back. I’ve flown there for the last ten years without a helmet but always felt i should wear one but didn’t. Even after one crash. Many pilots just become fatalistic.

[@michaelbusch3809]

I fly a Cub. I have a Lift helmet that has a Bose A20 headset built into it. I love it. Why do I wear a helmet? Well, my wife thought it would be a “good idea”! She asked if I wear a helmet for skiing, why wouldn’t I do it for flying. BTW, she knows a bit about aviation, her father flew transatlantic for TWA after flying A26s in the Air Force. At first I was self conscious when wearing my helmet, I now I feel naked without it. All that being said, it is a personal choice.

[@cduemig1]

I don’t judge anyone for being safety conscious. If you’re the type to, then I don’t want to fly with you anyway!

[@HieronymousLex]

Good man!

[@georgewalker6883]

First thing we did after purchasing our 1960 172 was to put in full shoulder harnesses. Thanks Paul, as always, great work.

[@sport2175]

I did the same with my 1966 Mooney

[@Kenriko]

Same here. Flying a GA plane without a full harness is crazy.

[@ctykckcktyvc7558]

@@Kenriko absolutely, i love the cesnna 150 aerobat more than the standard 150, sure its heavier and climbs slower but shoulder harnesses and better seats are priceless

[@RadioMarkCroom]

@@ctykckcktyvc7558 Agreed, had dual instruction in 150 and Aerobat, and we went with the Aerobat because of the seats mainly (I'm small and funny-proportioned). It was a little sports car compared with the 172 that I also trained in later.

[@alexandermiller6317]

I'm getting into agricultural aviation. I was told by my chief pilot that I have to have a helmet. Flight suit is optional, lol which is a whole other discussion. I have an EVO 252, that has a built in Bose A20. It was expensive. But it's a really nice helmet. Once I got it adjusted properly, it's also very comfortable.

[@Mike_Costello]

In your game a fireproof flight suit might be a good idea. For all the same reasons the helmet is for it's purpose. Sounds like an exciting job though.

[@HECTORFARRA]

Get a Nomex suit and a seatbelt cutter/window breaker when you can. It will be sad to survive a crash and not be able to leave the aircraft due to a jammed seat belt

[@liaisonliam3013]

You'd be hard pressed to find guys in ag who DON'T fly with a helmet, atleast here in the states. Not only are they protection in an accident, but they help reduce the pain of slamming your head back and forth into the windows during a turbulent day down low

[@alexandermiller6317]

@@Mike_Costello I agree! I'm going to just start out wearing one. I have a military background anyways so I'm used to wearing a ton of PPE in hot environments lol.

[@alexandermiller6317]

@@HECTORFARRA I agree!

[@paulharmo]

Perhaps I'm a little bit jaded, but I truly thought I had a 50/50 shot of opening this video to find a satire piece about how important it is to augment your GA pilot parachute with a helmet, a la Trevor Jacob. Instead, I'm thrilled to see another great presentation of the data that exists, some first-hand experiences and opinions, and naturally, the dry humor that I'd have expected even in the satirical option. Great video, Paul!

[@caseyhutson5392]

If Paul makes a video, I’m watching it!

[@chloehennessey6813]

Good thing racing has helped us with these GA accident problems! In racing I’m required to wear a full face helmet, full head and face fire resistant balaclava and the last is what’s called a HANS Device. It keeps my head from cracking forward hard enough to snap my spine from the base of my skull- much like the injury that killed Dale Earnhardt Sr.

[@richardseton7014]

Spot on Chloe! HANS has proved to be beneficial in reducing/eliminating severe whiplash injuries along with impsct injuries.

[@SVSky]

Fly aerobatics, definitely considering a helmet. I wear one riding a bike, flying a hang glider and wore one in the military... why not?

[@pittss2c601]

Some aerobatic airshow pilots wear helmets while many don't. Lots of controversy there.

[@pittss2c601]

@@marlinfitzwater7898 Do you wear a full face helmet when you drive your car? People should. It would make a difference in an accident.

[@robfredericks2984]

I am a former Navy jet and prop (T-28) pilot. I have flown some civilian air-taxi in Alaska and GA in Florida (Lake Amphibian). The helmet safety factor is huge, but no GA pilot goes flying thinking about a crash---won't happen to me! The most obvious improvement is in communication. A good helmet as in all military A/C is a huge improvement. Paul has provided a wonderful presentation of A/C and flying information, once again. Thanks!

[@maxleitschuh7076]

20 or so years ago I used to ski quite a bit, and almost nobody on the slopes had helmets. Nowadays you go skiing and pretty much everybody has one. Things can change.

[@jamesbergman581]

I’ve worn a helmet for the last 20years while flying my T6texan, feel naked without it PS also have 5 point harness

[@ZeeCaptainRon]

Paul finally just couldn't not crack a tiny grin at the end. I was an early adopter for helmets for skiing and snowboarding, long time motorcycle rider, and even wore a brain bucket for riding my Jet Ski, I guess it's not a stretch for aviation, but maybe only in the biplane with open cockpit and the necessary scarf floating behind.

[@hillcrestannie]

I always find your videos educational with good humor . Keep them coming .

[@Jacob-qu8kj]

Quite amusing as I just spent the last few hours last night learning about aircraft helmets, it seems Paul and I think alike.

[@KitfoxGrin]

I'm very happy with my Sky Cowboys helmet with a Lightspeed Zulu headset that I installed into it. And yes, it's more comfortable to me than the headset alone on long trips, as I don't feel like I'm getting a hole pushed into the top of my head from the top band of the headset. Good discussion, Paul. Thanks for providing it.

[@RustyCoon]

You rock those skulls on your skull, Paul! Great video as always. Last year we required pilots to wear a helmet for competition at ArkanSTOL. Thank you for helping make the case for helmets.

[@Sometungsten]

Saw a KZbin video recently in which a CFI and an adult under instruction were wearing a multi belt system with a single buckle. BOTH of them had the buckle north of their navels... a near certain fatal outcome upon striking a solid object during a mishap. Long term memory item: In the early 60s, riding in the back seat of a station wagon, my father "tapped" the car in font of us on an icy road. My sister and I were immediately thrown into the space between the rear seat and the front seat, jammed down on the floor. Our parents had to tug us up and out. My father installed factory lap belts after that.

[@stephenyoungblood3683]

My wife and I just talked about this yesterday after a day of snow skiing with a helmet!

[@PhilbyFavourites]

Great point, for about 30 years I skied in a huge amount of silly hats (mainly to keep a bald head warm). Culminating in an impressive “Hunt for Red October” genuine Russian naval officers furry hat. That’s now sadly consigned to the back of the wardrobe with current world circumstances. Although it was fun to ski around Heavenly in the USA in the George W Bush era. It got a lot of comments. But skiing for us gradually became helmet wearing in the last 8 years or so. And now it’s like motorbikes, we wouldn’t go out without one on. I wonder when life jackets will go the same way in UK….

[@brucemamont2289]

Some feedback for Paul: I watched this video and also read your Aviation Consumer piece. As an aerobatic competitor I had already purchased a Comtronics helmet, but wearing it over my Bose X and Bose A20 headsets was not a great solution for me. It was awkward and hot even in mild temperatures, which made me less willing to wear it. I looked into the idea of adding an Exfil rail system and headset adaptor (which might have solved the awkwardness), but decided instead to purchase a Sky Cowboy DIY kit that allowed me to install a Bose X headset I already own. The Sky Cowboy helmet (basically a Team Wendy SAR helmet on which is mounted an Exfil rail system and the hardware to adapt an aviation headset) was an affordable solution. It is very comfortable compared to the Comtronics headset fits (kind of) over a headset. The Comtronics helmet-over-headset configuration preserves the option to use the headset with and without the helmet, which initially attracted me to it. I had to permanently (and irreversibly) disassemble my Bose X headset to install it in the Sky Cowboy helmet. This was easy and took less than 30 min (there are KZbin videos). I was so happy with the Sky Cowboy helmet that I just ordered a mirrored visor for it. As much as I would have like to have bought a Lift helmet, I couldn't justify the cost. If I were flying in an airplane with a canopy (e.g., an Extra, Pitts, or Giles) instead of a SuperD, I probably could have talked myself into purchasing the Lift helmet, which seems very robust to me. I personally know people who had canopies fail in flight; wearing a helmet protected them from injury when canopy fragments hit them in the head. I'm less vulnerable to that kind of mishap in a SuperD...but if you wear a chute, you need a helmet if you jump. I broke a helmet on a jump while I was in the Army. The winds on the DZ weren't as strong as winds in which we fly during IAC regional contests. There are big rocks and boulders at the airport at which we conduct our contests (unlike on Army DZs). Having said all of this...I don't wear my helmet when I fly in a Cessna. I do wear my helmet when I fly with a passenger in my SuperD, even on a non-aerobatic flight so that my pax can wear my Bose A20.

[@timking2822]

My face has received the penalty of not wearing a helmet flying. My relatively minor facial scars are not a "badge of honor". One factor not mentioned is the distance to the instrument panel. In my case, I was wearing a four-point harness in addition to a secondary lap belt (which separated during my accident). Despite this, I tried to put my face through the instrument panel. If I were to continue my flying, I'd wear a helmet. For those concerned with the high costs of flying-specific helmets, even a moderately priced m/c helmet offers a lot of protection. You can even get ones in similar configurations as flying helmets. All this being said, this is an excellent video on an important topic. You covered it very well.

[@gustav901]

You missed a helmet certification, FIM which is the highest standard and is required for professional motorcycle racing. Most likely not ideal for flying (because of the formfactor) but it's always worth knowing what the absolute best is. The FIM standard is basically ECE22.05 on steroids, lower transfer of energy and better protection against rotational injuries (something that's probably good to have in an aviation accident). ECE22.06 is around the corner also. Great video as always!

[@rkan2]

Some motorcycle helmets could really be nice for aircraft - especially with an integrated headset :P

[@TheSoaringChannel]

A racing helmet for cars would be way better for the Hans device. Since you're strapped into the aircraft: you want one. Otherwise I wouldn't dare wear a helmet in an airplane. That mass will pop that precious connection and it's lights out.

[@andrewahern3730]

Specs are a wild debate on their own. I will challenge a car spec might be better than motorcycle, as they’re designed for repeated impacts to the same spot (pinballing in cabin/roll cage)

[@JoshuaTootell]

Glad someone mentioned the Hans device. Not sure I would want to wear a helmet with a shoulder strap without a Hans.

[@FlyingtheBigTireCruzer]

I have been using the Sky Cowboys helmet with Dave Clarks the last couple of years, and just got a second one with A20's. They are insanefly comfortable and the visor is so useful. I do a lot of Back country flying in the Pacific Northwest Mountains and Islands so a unimproved or grass strip is on the menu for half my landings. I feel naken wearing the headset alone now! Plus it is cool to wear a helmet, no one givees me crap about it because they know I am serious about my mission.

[@tomcoryell]

I am immune to anyone giving me crap regarding my use of any safety equipment. At 65 I have a lot of cool but dead friends.

[@brianberezowski5352]

Recently bought a Sky Cowboy Helmet with visor. Very COMFORTABLE and easily adjustable and secure. I've worked as an Orthotist for the past 32 years .. I've seen enough "head injuries" that have left people PERMANENTLY impaired .. on many different levels. It DOESN'T take much of a hit to your head to cause life long PERMANENT DAMAGE that can impact you physically and or mentally. As a GA pilot why wouldn't you wear a helmet??? CYQT 👍🇨🇦👍 Fly SAFE everyone. 😊 Avid Magnum sn04

[@SuperDave_BR549]

Thanks Paul. I always enjoy your videos bigly

[@jcmcclain57]

I liked the helmet demos with the chin strap hanging to the side.

[@robertpopescu6695]

It's safer, it's cooler, it's contagions... skip the tattoo :) . Very much appreciated all this information!

[@larsfinlay7325]

I am going to wear a helmet on the next commercial flight I take to dallas.

[@larryvrooman4672]

I started wearing a helmet when I started doing aerobatics in my 7KCAB Citabria. It occurred to me that my parachute would be useless if I hit my head on the door frame or tail on exit and was unconscious. It also made a great deal of sense when landing off field, where again the chance of a crash is a bit greater. I recently bought a Pawnee after attending a part 137 school and I am building time and experience in pursuit of an ag flying career change. I started wearing a nomex flight suit in addition to the helmet, given the 42 gallon fuel tank right behind the firewall. Pawnees tend to burn in a crash. A nomex flight suits and leather flight boots that would minimize the thermal injuries getting out of the plane after a crash makes sense. As a practical matter most things you drop in a Pawnee are going to end up in the belly - and there isn’t any place to put things other than in your pockets. A military flight suit has lots of pockets in very convenient locations. It’s almost a must have item. The 1.5 gallon header tank under the panel in my 7KCAB also makes a flight suit a good choice. The problem, as I see it, is the potential for other pilots to see a helmet and flight suit wearing pilot as having Top Gun fantasies, while forgetting the practical reasons for it.

[@pittss2c601]

Some aerobatic airshow pilots wear helmets while many don't. Lots of controversy there.

[@docholiday7758]

I always wear a fly fishing vest in my RV-8 because it provides plenty of pockets to store stuff I might need in flight. I've been looking at helmets for months. Would like to find an outfit that can incorporate my existing nearly new Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset into the helmet.

[@edbreyer]

@@docholiday7758 As an RV6 owner (canopy with limited headspace) - I'm wondering if you ever found a suitable helmet.

[@andrewbeldin659]

Another great vid. Thanks for these practical and informative series.

[@jjtinkler97]

I brought a helmet skiing 15 years ago and felt like the odd man out, now you go on a ski trip and might come across one guy not wearing one.

[@av8bvma513]

Thanks Paul! Always fun and worthwhile stoppin' by to hear your thoughts!

[@speedbirdpdx]

Awesome video Paul / AVweb! You make these topics very informative and entertaining at the same time.

[@kevinheard8364]

I really enjoy these videos... thank you for creating them (... and I enjoy your dry sense of humor... keep it up) :)

[@Maynardtkrebs]

Add in helmet head retention strap (HANS) to prevent spinal cord extrusion in crash as torso is restrained by the 4-point but head is catapulted forward. Major cause of fatal/severe injury is severed/injured spinal cord caused when spinal cord is literally pulled out of skull as skull keeps flying forward but torso is restrained by the harness. Adding helmet weight to head exacerbates problem. HANS prevents the injury.

[@docholiday7758]

Excellent point. I wonder if an airbag would be a feasible alternative to the HANS?

[@Maynardtkrebs]

@@docholiday7758 Doubt airbag can work well in aircraft due to turbulence. Ballistic parachute does work.

[@lisaleedavidson]

Paul, you do the most informative videos and keep viewers attention with your unique and fun sense of humor. Thanks for all you do for Aviation. Keep the great work coming.

[@DutchThackers]

Excellent video thanks. One thing you didn't mention was the protection the visor brings if you have a bird strike into the cockpit. I see this as a more likely event where I fly and its something that has made me consider getting a helmet.

[@christheother9088]

Flew hang gliders for many years and used an open face with ear cutaways for most of that time. Actually being able to hear air speed was critical. For many the sport was about being out in the wind and a fullface helmet with a shield was simply trying to take a shower with a raincoat on.

[@skinnyflea2628]

Thanks for another informative video. Looking forward to the seatbelts one.

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

As long as you don't start recommending parachutes ;)

[@christosvoskresye]

He should!

[@jamesengland7461]

Exactly. We can't have him getting carried away!

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

@@jamesengland7461 I was making a tongue-in-cheek reference to flying with a parachute à la Trevor Jacob. 😂🤣

[@jamesengland7461]

@@blessedheavyelements8544 I caught that :)

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

@@jamesengland7461 👍😃

[@shorttimer874]

I can see this gentleman in the same quiet but interesting delivery going over the results of zombies wiping out a town after the apocalypse.

[@peejster4732]

Great video - I learned a lot. Never really thought about a helmet but now its on my list to research further. Also, Paul, please post a video of you getting your skull tattoo.

[@MattThornton87]

As usual, a great video! Fascinating to hear your thoughts, I'd never even considered a helmet in a PA28

[@TheBlahblahblahhh]

Paul's content is awesome as always.

[@ackack612]

As always, well worth viewing. Thx Paul.

[@andypuempel2570]

Good video, Paul. Very informative discussion mixed with your dry humorous style. Head protection is something that GA pilots have likely never given any thought to. Thanks for highliting the risks and possible benefits of using head protection. I always look forward to your very entertaining and informative work!

[@philhill184]

Excellent video. Great food for thought! Thank you for this video!

[@Qrail]

One of the problems I see with a helmet is….most pilots have big heads. Seat belt option might be better.

[@miporsche]

Excellent! None of my helmets, car racing , motorcycle or bicycle, accommodate a headset. Got me thinking though.

[@millerdp]

Superb philosophical and practical thoughts. Subscribed!

[@JoshuaTootell]

Funny that this video pops up now. Just last night a "Shorts" video popped into my feed of a guy making a very short, soft field landing. A good chunk of the comments were about his helmet, including people saying things such as "You know he's reckless if he thinks he needs a helmet" and "I would never fly with someone who wears a helmet". I come from the motorcycle world where there is certainly a weird culture around helmet use (road racing for me). But I also race mountain bikes, and I definitely test my helmet often. Though, I still have my brand new full face in its protective bag, unworn.

[@benthurber5363]

A word of caution on four-point harnesses!! You should absolutely get something with an anti-submarining device, like Schroth's ASM. Without this device to payout one of the shoulders, you're at a far greater risk of your body sliding under the lap belt. With a standard harness your chest hits the shoulder belts and this lifts the lap belt, positioning the lap belt off your hips and at your stomach level. This might be more critical for aircraft, where impacts may be at odd and unfavorable attitudes. Three-point and five-point harnesses don't have this problem. And as far as helmets. Even if you're not bald as I am, if your dome is exposed to the sun, a head covering of some kind makes sense. A shaded visor has significantly more coverage than sunglasses, and there are no legs to interfere with headset cups and be pressed into your temples for potentially long hours. So looking at the helmet as a system, it's both more comfortable and less stuff to forget or lose in the cabin mid-flight. You could also have an appropriate flashlight mounted and still have your hands free.

[@flying_ultralights]

Love your videos Paul, you are definitely living out your life’s calling, thank you!

[@tomcoryell]

Thank you so much for your analysis and dry humor.

[@kiltedpiper98]

Thanks Paul. Well done like usual. Good info.

[@pstol53]

Early birthday present! (About 6 months early) A new Paul AVWEB video! 😎

[@in2flying]

Always a treat, thank you Paul

[@davejohnson8960]

Another excellent and very detailed video from the master

[@noahfremont6310]

Very good video. I'm a new pilot, working on an AP high school project that aims to address the discrepancy between commercial and GA crashes. You mention that the automotive industry has progressed further in safety than GA, and the same has happened in commercial aviation. I was surprised to discover through EASA data that mechanical failure is one of the least important contributing factors in GA accidents and fatalities. It's all about situational awareness, and where the big four in airline manufacturing have spent billions of dollars in R&D, the global GA fleet has yet to adopt the same technology, much of which is designed to reduce pilot workload and increase SA. Thank you for this information, it's another factor I have yet to consider in crash survivability.

[@Rolo_McFlurry]

$3000 helmet works even better with the chin strap enabled.

[@kr6dr]

Great helmet video. Looking forward to the seatbelt video.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Love the deadpan delivery!

[@SithLord2066]

I always wear a helmet when I'm flying my F-23.

[@LowWingFlyer]

Funny and informative. Great video as always!

[@MissMarinaCapri]

Interestingly comprehensive thanks for sharing

[@clarkgriswold-zr5sb]

Very nice video, as usual Mr. Bertorelli! Looking at the stats, the helmet is a no brainer (flying the sport planes). But, there's the part about being "that guy"... Face and forehead protection are my area of concern as there aren't many side load issues while flying. Birds through the windscreen/canopy are a concern too.

[@cellokid5104]

Paul really is a national icon. Keep it up

[@speedboard.]

Great info! A helmet with flip-down chin guard could work well. Keep it up all the time until you find yourself in a bad situation, then flip it down in an instant to protect your face.

[@glennwatson]

I know here in Australia our accident investigation organisation ATSB has recommended helmets for at risk pilots, like agricultural or aerobatics etc after a study of accidents.

[@CCitis]

Holy Moly... Paul, I liked you before... but seeing you geared up with a 1290 Super Duke, and talking about that Heritage not being your ride...you have a fan for life. Much respect. And good choice of motorcycle.

[@GeneCash]

OK, at the next Lakeland Sun'n'Fun, Paul has to do his interviews in the skull helmet!

[@kaigongfu]

very interesting, so many aircraft have a poor crash safety, and many deaths from no shoulder harness and face/skull injury. this makes me consider the Cessna 400 cockpit design, it has no yoke or stick directly in front of you to impale your face and chest. Helicopter pilots often wear helmets, it thought it was mostly for a comfortable way to mount noise cancelling headphones, but now consider as important crash safety.

[@DefiantSix]

Good video, Paul. Thanks, as usual for the deep intellectual dive into something we should all give some serious thought to. In that vein, I'd like to offer just one countervailing point to include in anyone's calculus on whether a helmet is a good choice for them. That point is that the weight of a helmet must be carefully considered against the proposed protection to your skull and face. Yeah, it may keep your face from getting marked up by sudden contact with the panel, but if you've splurged for the model with all the bells and whistles, it doesn't take that much to turn a contusion from face planting into the panel to a snapped neck because of all that weight at the end of an unrestrained lever arm that continues forward while the rest of the body remains in place. Not advocating against helmets by any means, but definitely consider all angles of the equation before you buy, or worse, attempt to use a helmet intended for a different set of circumstances in a situation where it could do more harm than good.

[@tsumacity]

Agree. Dale Ernheart gave the racing world a reason to adopt HANS. (Head And Neck restraint System)

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Thanks for an excellent video. Carry On Sir!

[@acomingextinction]

That great Bill Veeck quote is one reason I'll miss Paul's vids. Happy retirement to him.

[@jeffgerndt2813]

Spot on practicality.

[@michaelberry950]

"Get your own fantasy" SHUCKS

[@andrewh8504]

The first thing I thought of when you said Bonehead was skydiving. Was many moons ago but I remember the brand.

[@matercheff]

Paul gives off the impression that he is very boring but has made me laugh with the most random jokes, pretty much every video!

[@gerglmuff]

We run Snell SA2010+ in race cars, gotta be similar usage case in light aircraft. SA means they are fire resistant compared to the M standard, which is not. i am not a pilot, but it seems wild to me to not put a helmet on when flying. its wild to get into any performance vehicle without a helmet.

[@nicholasmartin7585]

The best presenter I have come across: sage and amusing.

[@GUTTERbOY001]

Very timely video. I've got an opportunity to fly a Helio Courier, but between my height and the nature of the spar carrythrough structure, when sitting in the airplane I have a nice chunk of metal about 2" from my forehead. I think wearing a helmet while flying it is going to be a prudent choice. So far the Bonehead Composites Pilot-X is looking attractive to me.

[@dpbusby]

I know nothing about general aviation, but I do like your air of absolute common sense, and would watch your videos for that alone.

[@onthemoney7237]

I converted a motorcycle helmet for around 70.00 plus the headset I already had . I Use it for my altralight and plan on using it for my light sport plane as well . I’ve hit windshields and handle bars before it wasn’t fun but it would have been a lot worst without a helmet 👍

[@metamurph]

In the bicycle world there is a "light debate" here at times too. IE in Holland, around town you probably wouldn't wear a helmet but you have protected bike lanes, etc. and on the other side is if you get whacked by a car doing 50...the helmet is maybe just going to enable you to still have an open casket. A vendor just needs a way for the helmet to be cool...heads up display on the face shield :-) after all they have it in ski goggles and helmets now.

[@Tencargo]

As a retired USAF pilot, I wore a helmet in every aircraft I flew, I highly recommend them. The sound reduction in itself cuts down on the fatigue factor.

[@ozjohnno]

Hey Paul, great video (I have only just found your channel). If you have a skydiving helmet you must be a skydiver..... How many jumps you got? Where do you jump?

[@Joey4420]

As always, excellent video. I am currently building my next airplane and I purchased a helmet for at least the first phase of flying. I do like the idea of a helmet, but when carrying a passenger, it would be hard to have a once size fits all option.

[@Lt_Tragg]

Paul never disappoints. I agree with all his points. I fly a vintage 85HP bird w/4 pt harness and in/out of unimproved strips,a lot. I’d prefer to wear my SPH mil spec helmet but given the headset within is not noise cancellation like my D Clark’s, I don’t - dang its loud. I should look into some noise canceling conversion if there’s such.

[@canoe365]

Decades ago I was stationed near Mission Aviation Fellowship in California. They routinely fly into dangerous places and studied safety extensively. They found the most bang for the buck in four-point restraint harnesses and helmets.

[@grejen711]

Interesting stuff. I fly a paramotor and always wear a helmet but it's a cheap bicycle type modified for my Dave Clarks and will not protect me from much. Zip all to flail against in a PPG harness but I s'pose the motor frame might whack the back of my noggin on a face planted landing. Most PPG pilots wear helmets but for many it's just a place to mount a GoPro. The real concern seems to be getting dragged on the ground when really f'in up a launch or landing in very windy conditions. Oh.. The statistics for PPG accidents are really minimal but the biggest killer seems to be drowning and the largest cause of injury is propeller strikes causes by starting the motor when it's standing free on the ground, instead of on your back or tied down securely, aka 'ground starting'.

[@GaryBickford]

Formula 1 and Indycar racing leagues have developed their "driver cell" systems, which are very lightweight extremely strong frameworks to protect the drivers. These have been shown to keep drivers alive and often only "shaken up" after hitting a wall at 200 mph. Designing a light sport airplane around such a survival cell would be reasonably straightforward, and probably even cost effective. Those race cars are essentially a collection of parts loosely attached to the driver cell that provides the only unbreakable part of the car, and an airplane would be a natural extrapolation of that principle. Each part that breaks off carries with it some of the momentum and reduces forces on the driver.