MikeNowak

It’s not hard to wire a 3.5mm jack to the speakers in your helmet. I did it up to my CEPs (super easy) many moons ago and it sounded great. Just play around with which wire goes where and baada boom. I believe there are in-line 3.5mm jacks that plug between your helmet/headset and the aircraft to do the same, though the ones I’ve seen were all for GA dual plugs. I still use a BluLink, even have the newest generation one, it still sucks. Really wish they would improve on the product. Mike

I prefer the Lightspeeds simply because they work much better if their batteries die. The PNR of the Boses is non existent. With that, the Lightspeeds don’t handle doors off well at all, haven’t done any doors off with Boses. My helmet still runs CEPs with custom molds for all of my slingin’ flying. Mike

I've installed CEPs on a few helmets and always ended up with a clean install without much effort... Any of the ugliness of the drilling site is pretty well hidden by the collars that go around the plug when you install it. Threw down some masking tape, drilled the proper size right off (no stepping up bit sizes), and if you do it without removing all of the helmet innards, be careful what is inside the shell when the bit goes through. Clean up the fibers around the hole with scissors or a razor, screw the jack in, and you're done. Mike

There's no real purpose in doing a low level run through the canyons, but then again, is there any real purpose in looping an airplane? None at all, but there are people out there with RV-6s going out on a Sunday and pulling loops, rolls, emmelmens, all that crap. No reason, it's just fun... and if I've not forgotten, flying is supposed to be fun. Both the canyon run and the loop can be totally safe if you take the proper precautions... which who knows if this guy did or did not. As the military always used to say... there will always be risks, mitigate what you can, weigh what you can't, and use your good judgment to decide if it's worth it in the end... What they need to add is "but never put the results on youtube"... Mike

Am I the only one that seems to believe that if the aircraft was designed to take hard turns, heavy loads, and general abuse for tens of thousands of hours in the air, removing one of the many structural members while not doing anything near the stress of an average flight (let alone in turbulence or during some crazy manuvers) will not cause the thing to break in half? Not much 206 experience here, just an outside perspective. Mike

I don't work on 206s, but **** if I wouldn't say those new fangled ratcheting box end wrench sets aren't the cat's arse for just about anything. Granted they can't torque, but when it's the field, isn't the gauge of a good mechanic how quickly he can remove the part to show the customers what broke and what they'll be eagerly waiting on for the next while? Of course maybe I'm in the stone age and everyone else in the "normal world" is already using them

I prefer the "shove em in and off we go" approach. Plenty of room and loads of fresh air for the poor laddy.

Am I the only one that thinks Bell is pretty stupid for not making a short body 407 to replace the jet box? Everyone loves the 407 and the 406 is already designed and flying for the military. Mike

You're definately the great humbler, HeliMechanic! It takes a lot of effort to try and keep doing something you love after something so life changing, I have mucho respect for you man! I'd imagine some kind of prosthetic that had a clip in for a bracket attached to the cyclic would work, such as the way a bicycle shoe connects to the pedals on a mountain bike... maybe something with a lock that you'd have to manipulate with your left hand to get unattached. The cyclic buttons would be no problem I'd think IF you could make a full on modification to the helicopter -- just add them to the collective, but as for flying more than just a one-of custom chopper, it might be tough to make a quick mount/dismount tranfer system from cyclic to collective. Also, wasn't Transport Canada working on a one-stick flight control system? One stick that does cyclic, pedals, and collective... then a standard prosthetic on your right hand to manipulate gauges and dials... of course learning all of that with your left hand would be no simple feat! I wish you the best of luck, you have a huge will to overcome challenges and I greatly envy you for that! Mike

The installation isn't too hard, but it looks nice and pretty when someone does it, and no worries about shorting something out or having a less than perfect soldering job (definately my situation). As for helmets... I've used a Gentex HGU-56 for a couple of years, and am growing to not like it at all. My head fits between two sizes, so mine is big and very liquid on my head, even with all of the straps tightened down (which in turn gives me headaches). The earphones don't do crap for blocking noise unless you shim them ultra tight, yank all the straps tight (uncomfortable), or get a hush kit ($$$!). Plus, with NVGs, a weight bag on the back is absolutley required or the goggles will end up around your chin in no time. Also, the visors stick when they get dusty, I've seen more shells crack than not, the styrofoam base gets very dirty and nasty in short order, and let one drop of sweat into the microphone and it's toast. Mic booms break, chin strap itches, plug cord chafes on the back of the shell easily... I'm really not impressed. The Gallett I saw was absolutley fantastic. Haven't flown with it so I can't say much, but the overall design is much more low profile and fits on the head much more securely and comfortably. The visor system is awesome, though I've never tried the NVGs on it. Every problem on the Gentex seems to have been thought out on the Gallett. Far superior product. These guys have the Galletts and do CEPs too. Talk to Sonny, very knowledgable and helpful guy. My friend got his helmet, custom setup with CEPs installed and all, plus a headset with CEPs for me, in under a week - shipped overseas at that! http://www.tigerperformance.com/ Super D -- my hearing got better when I started using CEPs after years working around helicopters without em. They work very well. I talked to an audiologist who said they were the best thing for helicopter guys (he deals with a bunch of us), but to also wear a helmet as much as possible... apparently lots of noises can get in through your skull and do damage just like noise in your ear canals. Plus they guard your noggin, and look cool as ****! Another friend had the same problem with deaf comrades and got the in-line volume thing for his helmet... that way if it breaks, the helmet still works. Said it works great unless the other guy has sonic ears and wants it turned down even lower. Then its a fight! Mike

Big +1 for CEPs too. I've got the kit in the Gentex helmet at work, and can't fly without em anymore. They not only kill off so much of the noise, the sound from the ICS is far easier to hear (more bass, not sure if anyone else has noticed how bad headsets and helmets are at being understandable). I also use a set in my headset, which works great, although the speakers of the AvComm set I've got are a bit close to the ears and push the CEPs in a bit. Gonna have to try the navy version... but I still won't fly without em anymore. My buddy uses them with his Gallett helmet, said its the best thing he's ever put on his head. Mike

It seems this chopper has had it's panel set up by a good managerial type from the Helicopter Industry. What would he think is more important for the pilot to be aware of -- knowing if he's moving up or not at work, or knowing if he's making efficient and productive use of each expensive moment that the bus is in the air? The beatings will continue until morale improves!

The guys at Blackhawk Helicopters out of El Cajon, California do it, with a pickup truck no less! http://www.blackhawkhelicopters.com/ -Mike

67N - Kansas or Nebraska guard I think. Should be the cleanest, newest looking A model out there. Coincidentally, when we got out here with the replacement helicopter, one of our contract maintenance guys recognized the tail number right off, from his army days back in the early 90s. Said it was one **** of a bitchy helicopter, and showed us the nicely hidden name he painted on when he left the unit, "christine". People sure love these hunks of metal.

I had quite a relationship with my first assigned helicopter in the Army. Her name was "Nurse Betty". It was a real tear jerker when she got sent in to rework and reassigned to a different unit. She was a great helicopter, and one **** of a woman.