Tough Pilot Decision to SCRUB + Why Fly with a Helmet?

[@williamdegnan4718]

So you scrubbed. You won't be remembered as that guy who crashed and burned an historic warbird. You make important go/no go decisions less difficult by having established your personal minimums in advance. Even when in parameters, you can still scrub if it's not feeling right. It's why you make the big bucks. 🤣 Your helmet looks great! So many aircraft for you to wear it in. Don't be shy about it. Set the example. 👩🏼‍🚀

[@bbf7b2]

Steve, one recommendation from a few years of military flying (which is all in helmets), put a piece of kitchen plastic wrap between the earcups and the inside of the helmet and then slide it on (it will be a little awkward but ultimately worth it). Once you have it on, the plastic wrap will keep the velcro from sticking, and you can freely move the ear cups around. It's worth it to sit and do some other task with the helmet on to get a feel for wearing it a little longer. Once you feel good about the cup placement, reach in the side and pull the plastic wrap out (it should slide right out). This will leave the velcro exposed, and a push on the side of the helmet will fix the ear cup in place.

[@FlightChops]

Excellent insights here! Thanks for that - because yeah, I couldn’t make it work to put the helmet on and then adjust the ear-cups. So I set them up with the helmet off, and then used trial and error to get them positioned between putting it on and taking it off - but your tip sounds like the solution to adjusting the ear cups while wearing the helmet!

[@aramelmi1020]

Very smart

[@quinnjim]

Scrubbing a flight is one of the best videos you could make. You don't want to end up like Draco. Lots of people are looking up to you now. Setting a good example is really important.

[@davidnoseworthy4540]

I'd rather be on the ground, wishing I was flying; then flying wishing I was on the ground! By the way, this video made me think seriously about acquiring a helmet. Thanks!

[@karlsandin4515]

David Noseworthy absolutely

[@thomastucker5686]

The fact you have the chops to fly that old bird is admirable. Thank you for the videos. I miss flying.

[@cadams6702]

Tip from fellow helmet wearer - put soft Velcro tape on the mohawk/sides/parts of the helmet that bump the canopy. It will soften the bumps but also protect the canopy Perspex.

[@edge540steve]

Two huge things here: 1 big respect for scrub, wasn’t an easy decision but it was the rite decision. 2 wearing a helmet. Bonus points for looking like a bad ass In your new helmet!

[@devingraves8044]

There is no channel that I look forward to new uploads from more than this one

[@TheInsaiyan]

Let's pretend people see no need for a helmet at all. I mean, at least consider the aesthetics, especially when flying warbirds. Pretty awesome wearing a helmet. Especially a custom paint design. U look good and u're safer. Easy win win

[@SHUKANGKLIVE]

I am also the one who thinks aviation helmets are "Pretty". Rather than calling it safety equipment, it might be better to call it a hat that makes your flight look ”Pretty😁

[@MikeyMcBryan]

Wicked Helmet! We had to buy a bunch because they are mandatory for the 802 Fireboss.

[@MikeyMcBryan]

Mindy Janis thank you!!

[@gtrider82]

Huge props to you for this video Steve, safety in GA is withing everyone's reach. Thanks for bringing it to everyones attention. Kudos to Jeremy for his story as well, and for him to not just push his own product saying that there are plenty of great products, and that we just need to wear one for our own safety.

[@Blakhawk1703]

most people should just wear a helmet in everyday life.

[@mcotherman5957]

and a mask that says, "Mo' fear!"

[@MmeHyraelle]

I'm kinda wanting safety glasses most of the times, i feel like my eyes are important lol.

[@LIamaLlama554]

I mean it would save a lot of lives, especially in cars.

[@johnschmidt5330]

Big shout out to Jeremy at TacAero. I spent 20 years in the Army riding motorcycles. Wearing a helmet was never cool but I always promoted the safety factor and caught much grief for it. Jeremy, you and I are both proof that he lets save lives. I’ll be looking for a helmet now for my ultralight flying. Thanks for the reminder.

[@chrisschreiber5000]

Kudos to you for scrubbing. Hard to overcome the urge to launch especially in that phase of the process. Good on ya!

[@FlightChops]

Thanks!

[@Kaccvelle]

I scrubbed my private and instrument check rides due to winds. Went back the next day and passed both. Good job staying safe

[@FlightChops]

Wait... what? You did both rides in one day? That’s bonkers!

[@avdes_llc]

really liking the suggestion to all pilots for helmets. I fly weekly in a pretty turbulent area (Mohave) and there has been more than one time where I have come out of my seat and gotten a good bonk from the door frame. ill be investing in a helmet very soon! Good to hear Jeremy made it home safe after that little unexpected sky ride he took. Good piloting skills!

[@1shARyn3]

BTDT. Have had multiple instances of hitting the canopy and people have tried convincing me to get a helmet. But, Frankly (or Shirley), after 11,000 hours of military time wearing helmets, I'm over them, and don't know that I can be convinced to return to them (but I DO miss the sun-shade visors). Major problems are with fit --- especially the headsets (but, to be fair, they were pre-David Clark GI headsets, so ....)

[@therealxunil2]

Pilots unwilling to make the hard calls may not last long. Good call, brother. Plus, wearing a helmet while flying a warbird makes you look badass.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks, and... I’ll take it :)

[@southjerseysound7340]

My old boss used to make us wear helmets flying banners and it saved my life. He was a old-school crop duster and had wadded up a few planes in his day. But he was a stickler for wearing a helmet because he lost his best friend to an accident that was completely survivable. But he was killed by a head injury where his head hit the tube in a Cub.

[@GolfFoxtrot22]

Thanks for that video. Making 'that' decision is always hard. Balancing passion and want with reality. Good call. I always fly with a helmet but I fly the light end of the spectrum with a lot of structure that can cause me injury.

[@Chuck_Carolina]

I would say your Chops where sharpe that day - stay safe, fly safe!

[@marsgal42]

My hardest - but completely correct - scrub was when the plane failed run up on my flight test...

[@macblastoff7700]

Another reason I fly gliders. 👍 Good call.

[@pinkdispatcher]

@@macblastoff7700 I've only been around a few times when gliders were prepared and checked before launch (I exclusively fly powered airplanes, but my club is mostly a gliding club), and I had no idea there were so many nuts and bolts (sometimes literally) that need to be checked. But since the wings and tail surfaces are removable on almost all gliders, it makes sense to also check correct and secured wing attachment.

[@flyingark173]

I personally really appreciate you sharing this abort. That has got to be soooo disappointing, but seeing a role model do it really help us students understand the reality of safety over balls. Thanks for a great video!

[@chrisbjohannsen]

Flew for the first time with my helmet today and it was a non event., so I'll be wearing it regularly from now on.

[@keithcarlton2054]

Just had to cancel a flight today too. It was a great day to go up and do ifr approaches before our annual is due but the ceilings were just 100 feet above mins and I am still a fairly mint ifr pilot. Oh well another day better to get to have fun tomorrow instead of having all of my fun today.

[@FlightChops]

Good call! I’m the same with my IFR personal mins

[@DAllan-lz3lg]

About the 5’40” mark he says “dealing with DA”... what’s that ? Excellent decision making. “There are old pilots and bold pilots....but there are no old and bold pilots”. Also, “if there’s a doubt, there’s no doubt” is another I like. The helmet is the business !

[@OlyArmsAR15]

Density altitude... the air gets thinner as you get hotter and higher.

[@hempelcx]

Mickey got it. Summertime mountain flying in Northern California, DA is a significant concern.

[@DAllan-lz3lg]

Mickey Colgan of course, brain fart. thanks.

[@DAllan-lz3lg]

i.b. hemp thanks

[@PilotPlater]

Great video Steve. I have had flights I cancelled due to changing weather while sitting on the runway visualizing the next minute worth of climbout. It's a difficult decision to make even without the 60 day currency, annual inspection, possible inability for dual checkout, and other factors weighing on your mind. Would have been easy for you to continue anyway and edit out the atis for the video, probably nothing would have happened, too, but not worth the risk. Easy to look at what I just said as an armchair pilot, and think your weather call was obvious; not so when you're in the seat under the weight of human factors. Good job Steve.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks Andy - you’ve laid it out exactly as I faced it. Thanks for the support and understanding.

[@stevenmurray5860]

Awesome! The video that would normally be deemed a waste.... you were dealt lemons... so you made lemonade! Excellent content! Thank you!

[@FlightChops]

Yeah, that was what I realised soon after getting over the disappointment of scrubbing - Glad you thought so too.

[@birds_eye_view]

Good decision on NoGo that day. Live to fly another day. 👍 And man do I hate those variable winds!

[@karlsandin4515]

Had to scrub my checkride flight portion today, right as we reached the run up area it started pouring with lightning . Obviously disappointed, but it’s all about the big picture !

[@zaldronthesage]

I wear a helmet while riding motorcycles, should be a no brainer when flying too! Great video.

[@gravelbar]

My wife worked in neuro ICU for many years, she treated lots of people who didn't think helmets were necessary, most of whom were seriously messed up for the rest of their lives.

[@hempelcx]

Really depends on the type of flying. I think it makes good sense for warbirds, aerobatics, and bush flying, less so in an airborne SUV.

[@zaldronthesage]

@@hempelcx Why take a chance on your brain bucket?

[@mattbasford6299]

I didn't takeoff in these conditions, but on our club's 172, I landed at my home airport with 220° 19K Gusting 39K. My 2 runway choices were 18 or 26, both of which would have the exact same crosswind component. I thought of every airport in the area and couldn't come up with a better option. Our airport was an Army Air Corp training base back in WW2 and Korea days and there is tons of ramp space everywhere. I considered declaring an emergency and landing on the ramp at an angle into the wind (probably what I should have done). I know the 172 is tricycle gear, which is completely different, but that landing tested every bit of skill I had.

[@clintonbutton712]

We’ve had a fair share of bad conditions down under this year causing lack of flying. I ended up with an instructor after scaring myself from lack of currency and an unfamiliar rough strip. Feeling a lot better now when approaching. Great videos as always.

[@jonathanhall7903]

Good call. Damn good call.

[@FlightChops]

Appreciated

[@gordonfeliciano4315]

Great decision making... here in Colorado, the surface winds can be 6 to 10 knots, but just 1000' higher, they can gust to 15 to 20 knots and, if coming from the west, we can get some nasty rotors off the Rockies. My son and I have had to scrub many flights due to high winds. Oh, and being in the Navy flying in P-3's, wearing a helmet was required equipment.. no exceptions. Flying low and at relatively high speeds and maneuvering close to the water looking for subs, you'd get bounced around in the tube quite a lot. We didn't take any chances.

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for sharing - these are the sorts of insights I really enjoy seeing come up in the comments.

[@brianpetrow7218]

Can't wait to get a helmet from them...Thanks Steve! Also had a Harvard land while in runup yesterday...

[@Newnamd]

Nooo that doesn't suck you made the right decision kudos to you!

[@MRmagicmuffins]

what a great philosophy for helmets if they are comfortable people will wear them cant tell you how man safety equipment i have disregarded because it impeded my my ability to see or move

[@bensluman1263]

Is it really a beautiful sunny days with winds like that! Good call 👍 A+ decision making

[@vinnyberna1298]

That all black Carbon Cub looks soo good.

[@scottgermain3326]

Not to be contrary, but my Campbell Aero helmet is *the* most comfortable helmet out of three I own and use. Great video!

[@FlightChops]

Cool yeah - it is not contrary to add insights about other options for safety.

[@scottgermain3326]

...it’s also the most expensive. 🤦🏻‍♂️ But I like it since it’s overall size is smaller than the HGU-55 and -33 helmets I also have. Great for the T-6. If you’re ever in PHX, hit me up for a tour of CAF Airbase Arizona. We’ll go fly our SNJ for some good-natured US/Canadian cross-pollination. Fly safe, my friend!

[@pinkdispatcher]

Good decision. I never had to scrub for weather that late, usually I knew it was above limits before I even started the engine. The hardest was when our club did passenger flights all day for two days during the airfield festival at Whitsun last year. It was clearly above my personal crosswind limits, but more experienced pilots still did flights the whole time, and for them it was perfectly fine. I just wasn't comfortable with the conditions, especially with passengers, and stuck with it, but it wasn't easy watching others fly. Also Interesting about the helmet setup. The only helmet I wear regularly is my bike helmet, and that doesn't have that many changeable pads. But the infant bike helmet we had for our kids for riding in the bike trailer and on the training bike had lots of pads in three different thicknesses we needed to adjust to create a snug yet comfortable fit.

[@Cassiusisback]

i bailed twice in my 70hours total (flaps inop and engine out at idle check as reasons). i always felt proud of how reasonable i am :) i feel the same when doing go arounds. my ppl instructor talked me into doing traffic patterns with him at 15g25 right from the side. i greased them all and happily decided to set my personal maximums to 7g12 crosswind component and 10g15 total wind. maybe being a save pilot is more important than being a skilled pilot, which then again might include wearing a helmet.

[@billnicholson2470]

Great call to scrub. You're still alive to fly another day! Nice frikin helmet!

[@muffysvlogs6045]

Damn that yellow brings me back to when I was a wee lad. My dad workin at Fleet Industries..

[@Halfaneuron]

Call yourself a pilot? No, you are not a pilot, you are clearly an aviator, good for you. The fear of looking stupid or inadequate has broken more aircraft and killed more people than turning back in a flight, a precautionary forced landing or simply doing just as you did, staying on the ground. Well done FC, respect.

[@FlightChops]

Really appreciate this feedback - thanks Leo

[@benderaviation]

That carbon cub...holy crap is it beautiful. It's always a hard decision to scrub a flight when you've already done the run up. I've scrubbed on the taxi there because of a death wobble/shimmy but not after that, and it was a tough one. Since then I always make it my goal to find a reason to cancel a flight, and to find it as soon as early as possible. Start from home with WX, then on the way to the airport with how am I feeling, at the airport with what are the clouds above the field doing etc etc. If you're deciding at or after the run-up to cancel it's nearly too late. But also, never regret or blame yourself for canceling, you can always fly again!

[@yjwrangler7819]

I love seeing Windsor in your videos

[@Copilotdave]

I’m at student pilot and Iv been wearing a flight helmet for a year now, it’s just safer! :)

[@badnade4886]

You pull off the whole “Wolverine” helmet hair.

[@fgbhrl4907]

Good job scrubbing. I'm betting the first time deciding to scrub is the hardest. After that, the idea that you *can* scrub comes up in the mind a lot easier the next time conditions are marginal.

[@SuperAero]

New goal - have access to a plane that requires a helmet.

[@akromafia]

Live to fly another day. Good call. And can’t agree more about the helmet. I always fly with mine, as most of my time is solo, tail dragging and aerobatics. I want every chance possible if I screw up a figure and take a hard knock to my noggin. Great video 👍🏼🤙🏼👨‍🚀

[@mikepenhall315]

Wish I could afford an awesome helmet like that. I have scrubbed a lot of flights after the run up. Definitely good to set your limits and make sure you stick to them.

[@mempo77]

Good decision(s), helmet looks great and congrats! (disclaimer: I don't even fly for real... I just enjoy your content and look at brain diseases/injuries as my job)

[@robertlafnear4865]

I pulled a passenger from a low altitude stall/crash at my airport back in 1980....... the plexiglass front window shattered into a hundred pieces when the wing hit and spun the nose into the ground..... and guess what his head looked like......... he might have walked away with just a sore back IF we were wearing these way back then..... I stopped flying in 2018 but I might have to put one of these on my Man Cave office wall , they look so cool ! BIG Thank You for the video, hope you are well and those around you too.

[@FlightChops]

Sorry to hear about your experience, but thanks for sharing it.

[@dickmoore7341]

I can sorta relate to the problems you have with wind calls, I'm retired from running cranes with 150 foot of boom for many years and the wind can change the call and change the game if you make a bad call. As far as the helmet you are going to really hate the hot days the most. Hard hats on job sites sure gave me a sample of that.....lol Thanks for the insight Steve!!!

[@AN2Felllla]

Tax Aero also takes some awesome aviation photography on social media. They’re definitely worth a follow!

[@flyingdutchman700]

Only self disciplined well awere responsable pilots are able to make a "no go decision" with such conviction. Excellent decision Chops

[@nk6197]

03:00 I really do see the importance of wearing a helmet and I definitely don’t want brain damage but whenever I wear a helmet or other head gear I get a headache called a compression headache and so far the only cure I’ve found is to remove the head gear compressing the head. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to wear head gear without headaches?

[@whoever6458]

So I crashed a motorcycle going about 35 mph and before I could even hit the ground, one of my first thoughts was how glad I was that I was wearing a helmet (not that it's optional here). Knowing you have it on makes you feel like maybe the crash is at least survivable. As it turned out, I bounced off the ground in a way that let me get on my feet and run just enough to the side so as to avoid some crashed cars. I never hit my head but I was still glad I had my helmet on. It was hot as hell that day or I would have had more padding so I got a bunch of road rash but few things are more important than protecting one's brain. I ride a bicycle now and I wear a bicycle helmet every time even though my greatest danger when it comes to crashing is stalling. What is a bicycle stall? Well, it's when you ride so slow that you can't remain on two wheels without tipping to one side or the other. So far, those are the only crashes I've had if you include accidentally kicking the back of my bike rack trying to get off of the bike, thus propelling myself to the ground and my bike on top of me. One tip about helmets: it's a good idea to wear a bandana or a do rag under them because they tend to get stinky pretty fast and there are usually at least a few parts of the helmet that you can't wash well enough to get the stink out. If you wear some kind of cloth between you and the inside of the helmet, you simply throw the cloth in the wash and your helmet doesn't get as stinky. Even if you don't think you're sweating in the helmet, you usually are and having a stinky helmet makes it harder to decide to wear it.

[@SHUKANGKLIVE]

Almost all of the motorsports helmets I auctioned off for cosplay purposes didn't smell that sweaty. I also get a face mask so I don't get smelly from my own sweat, and it fits smoothly even though it's a small size😁

[@francisconti9085]

Great vid, I fly RC airplanes, scale acro and scale STOL bush primarily, very good call on the winds bro. When I have a 3 pound/1.4 kilo 1.5 meter wingspan high wing of high aspect ratio with leading edge slats on a taildragger that looks like a Cessna 180, things get serious quickly. With it's very low stall speed the winds wreak havoc on controlability. As taildraggers are always @ a positive angle of attack, any winds below or above the stall speed can upset the plane in taxi or worse flip it over as it is parked. Variable winds are a nightmare as the plane has to slow down from a wheel landing & present that wing to a positive angle of attack where gusts will make the wing "fly" while the rest of the plane is below MCA. Nothing worse than NOT HAVING ENOUGH CONTROL taxiing or watching sideload put a parked model into a true spin ..FROM THE GROUND. My acrobatic plane is similar to the planform of a Spitfire crossed with the spirit of an "RV-8 w/a 300hp boxster engine" cute low wing w/slight dihederal, only slightly heavier, with a 1.4 meter wingspan, but what a completely different set of handling characteristics-35% faster and can handle up to 4 times the wind of the Bush plane model the air & 2.5 times the wind on the ground. Full scale or model, every plane is different ..& both the aircraft & pilot limitations have very immediate consequences if exceeded. (Which is why I didn't fly in today's gusting winds, I mowed the field instead!) Your videos have brought up great points for consideration, land, float, ski, short & soft field, techniques and processes presented have helped me be a better RC pilot. Thanks for your love of aviation & all you do for both our communities! You and your's be safe and be well!😎👍

[@conakrylad771]

Great call on the srub, respect

[@kimscheie]

love the color

[@phoneticau]

I use open face motorbike helmet with pop down visor modified with comms headset

[@JustPlaneSilly]

I did not even know this was a real thing. But I had always secretly wondered if it might not be a bad idea to keep some football helmets or some other sort of helmets in the plane just in case

[@wgmskiing]

The aerial applicators have been wearing them for decades.

[@kevinbatz9048]

The Cirrus autopilot is so good that pilots and passengers can play in-cockpit baseball on their long XC flights. Helmets obviously required as the pitcher takes a pen and throws it to the knee board-wielding batter. First one to hit a pen out of the window wins!

[@Wolficorntv]

You totally wouldn't get laughed at getting into your traveller with that helmet. C'mon....do it.

[@JustPlaneSilly]

@@Wolficorntv oh shit... I have to now. I will do a video on all the different types of helmets based on the type of accident you were expecting to have.

[@Ty05031]

That helmet looks so bare! You need some stickers my friend!

[@SolarWebsite]

Please be careful with sticking stickers to helmets; kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6vZn2ythamolcU

[@hempelcx]

@@SolarWebsite The subset of helmets that have their adhesive directly exposed to the outside is minuscule. Certainly doesn't apply to this FlightChops helmet which has clearly been painted. No issue with stickers.

[@tf51d]

When I flew with Lee Lauderback at Stallion 51 on Crazy Horse (TF51D) back in 96 he didn't supply a helmet, though he used one himself. Later on though I believe he does when you fly with him.

[@CrzyMFT]

Good call

[@gabrielvazquez1691]

This was a very cool video. That helmet looks even cooler than the first time you showed it off on social media, this really makes me wants to have my own helmet someday. Also, thank you for addressing the matter of deciding to cancel a flight right after run-up. While I was going through PPL training, I once had that same feeling where I did not want to cancel but I'm glad my instructor was there to point out why we had to. If I was soloing that day, it might have been bad. But I'm thankful now cause it showed me that I have to play it by the numbers and I can't put the airplane in a position beyond what it can do anymore than I shouldn't put myself in a position beyond my capabilities. Yes, it's annoying at times but being safe is always worth it.

[@FlightChops]

Glad the decision making aspect of this one resonated with you.

[@erikjohnson4181]

You are going to need to get a skull cap for summer sweat. Makes helmet wear that much better.

[@ShuRugal]

Ive had two "at the airport, with pax, ready to go" mission scrubs recently. first was due to a popup thundercell. sky was clear when we went in the hangar for preflight. came out and there is a bigass wall of anvil clouds from horizon to horizon 20 miles of the departure end of the fair wind runway. 20 minutes after that, they had all blown away on a tangent, but there was a fresh wall directly upwind. second time, went to pick up a friend, and driving to the airport we got a shitload of heat lightning. pull up FF for a fresh brief, and the strike finder feature shows a hotspot of lightning marching towards us about 20 minutes out. both cases were hard as hell to call, because i had people with me I didn't want to let down. Both times though, the pax were supportive of the decision, which makes it a lot less painful.

[@michaelrice500]

I've been wearing an SPH-5 helmet to fly for about 25 years. I don't care how stupid it looks, or if it's heavy, or hard to get on (it is). It has ANR and built-in sunglasses that I don't need a prescription for because my regular glasses fit inside. I won't ride a bicycle without one, or ski without one, why would I fly a PA-12 back country without one? Simple; I wouldn't. I have about 1.6 in my logbook in a T-6, and oddly, the guy who owned it would not allow me to wear my helmet. We had parachutes though.

[@Talasas]

Good on you for scrubbing that flight, it takes a lot of self discipline to make that call.

[@stevejohnson4626]

If I flew warbirds I'd get a Campbell Aero Classics helmet from New Zealand. Modern protection but with the look from the era. Like everything warbird related they aren't cheap.

[@antr7493]

TacAero has Batman's bush plane

[@FlightChops]

Haha - Right?!

[@redeyeracing2]

I have had to scrub. No harm in that. I have toyed with helmet for cessna. I was in a cross country turbulence so bad hit my head on roof. I was sintched in tight

[@donjohnston3776]

Might be interesting to do a feature on ORNGE pilots. The chopper crews all wear helmets. The Pilatus?

[@ravusursi893]

Great video, great choices and great helmet Steve. Plus, that beard is rockin’ man!

[@MikeKobb]

Perfect call on the scrub. That took discipline. Question about the helmet -- I think you mentioned elsewhere that it has Bose ANR built in? I guess you were able to get a solid fit and so the ANR is working well?

[@FlightChops]

Yes - the cut outs in those adapter pad things shaped like horse shoes leave the open space where the ANR mic is on the outside of the ear cup, inside the helmet. It actually works better then when exposed to the full noise (and wind if open cockpit) in that aircraft.

[@MrJamespcastle]

Flying with a helmet; a "No Brainer" literally. I'm an Alaskan bush pilot. I fly with a helmet, and so do my passengers, every flight. Dont like it? Dont fly with me. Looking at crash injury stats, head injury and chest injury is the leading cause of death in all GA crashes.

[@treasurediver93]

I’ve seen so much dissent over safety devices like helmets and parachutes. I honestly don’t understand it, especially the shaming part of it. If you never have to use something like that, great! If you do, everyone who’s close to you will be grateful you thought ahead and prepared. A few inconveniences is still infinitesimally less valuable than a human life.

[@mikercflyer7383]

The helmet looks really cool but the safety is really important. And yes get some special decals on it. Covid 19 2020

[@tizwicky]

The helmet when flying a warbird is a great idea and a helmet and a parachute when flying a warbird should be mandatory ! Another thought a non blacked out Canadian flag would look even better!

[@scotabot7826]

Great videos Steve!!! Been watching for years and years, and you just get better and better! I'm curious though, how long does it take you to decide what to have for dinner? Thanks.

[@Mrsournotes]

Tough decision, but the right decision in my mind. Been there. 👍🏽

[@gene450000]

You should Fly an Ercoupe it has about 30 as a limit with no rudder pedals.

[@cgtspl]

I think the Helmet looks cool. Especially with the visor down, you look like Tom Cruise with a beard :)

[@FlightChops]

Haha - I’ll take it

[@martymcgill1312]

Hope things ease up for you guys. I live in Georgia, USA and we've been opened for six weeks and no virus problems. Our local airport is having a fly-in for Memorial day. It's good to see the planes buzzing around. Take care and cheers.

[@dpurplefox]

Whatever happened to wanting to fly a spitfire in honor of your grandfather? I haven,t heard you mention it in years

[@FlightChops]

Talk is cheap - I'm building my time in the Harvard so that I am ready to go for a proper check out when I face the Spitfire :). It would have likely been 2020... but then 2020 became "the year that wasn't..." for everything.

[@goatflieg]

You discussed several topics in this one that are important to me. I've been weighing the helmet option for myself in the RV-8 and was leaning toward a helmet; now I'm sold. I've often considered the comparison of riding a motorcycle without a helmet; "awesome and scary" indeed. Seat belts and helmets: when you get used to using them every time, you won't be comfortable without them, and that's a good thing. Interesting that Jeremy was flying around Mt. Shasta; RDD is where I got my Super Cub time. I'm also pondering what we CH2A pilots will be facing this year. If demonstration flights will be scrubbed, what about training? Also wondering about account status, of course. Looking forward to more news as it comes.

[@FlightChops]

Glad to hear this one resonated with you buddy - and yeah, we’re having a CH2A board meeting on June 1st - hoping for some good news to come out of that.

[@DarkFoxDK]

Looking swanky AF with that helmet! Very cool! :)

[@MichaelLloyd]

Wow... that was some ripping winds. I like to fly with my instructor when the winds are gusty and cross wind but that's in a C172B and we wouldn't fly in the winds you were dealing with.

[@JeremyWallaceSnackums]

In any significant environmental situation it's always a benefit to push your boundaries within the known limits. I've personally shot a M-240 machine gun at 2800 feet distance from position to point of impact over a mountain at 3600m elevation to a 100m elevation impact point at a singular point with full cyclical rate of fire consistently on a 5 meter wide target with Infantry 10 meters away from the impact zone of the rounds on a target from the entry zone from a building I couldn't see but a fire control officer could. If I could trua F.C.O. to direct my blind firing from a mile away, then you could obviously fly in a lesser condition, especially if you can see but yet to have learned to plan a mission essential to success around your environmental effects. I love this channel bit this video thoroughly disappointed me as a simple ground/air assault infantryman lettalone an inspiring aviator. Please, oh please, continue to progress. It means more than you'll ever realize.

[@carlwilliams8354]

I think helmets are good for RV’s too. It gives you better protection in case of bird strikes and off airport forced landings.

[@EdUcation-og2is]

would be cool if you could have a HUD in the visor

[@brandonfasan]

Hey Flight Chops! Could you please maybe do a "what helmet should I buy video" I'm in the dilemma right now of meeting at least one or two helmets, with comms, and ideally something lightweight and comfy, (and not 3500$). Been browsing aircraft spruce and other websites, but really dislike the idea of buying something based on a tiny thumbnail on a website. I think a lot of pilots could benefit from having somewhere they could go and try helmets on... Or at least the video that showcases a few of the better options.. thanks, and keep up the good videos

[@ericgirardet1848]

I fly my Texan with my Campbell, Pacific model and never without my Hawaiian shirt! 😊

[@Ravenscaller]

Looks like the Blue Angels helmet.

[@jorgekb9313]

Don't find where to custom fit the helmet. great videos , Congrats !!

[@FlightChops]

I’m not sure what you mean? This video is essentially showing how I am adjusting the “one size fits all” helmet to my custom size needs