gyro helmet

[Rando]

Anyone know a good source (price) for a gyro helmet? Comtronics? I need to get one that I can use a radio with. Your suggestions are welcome!

Randy Olson

[Chuck Irby]

Hello Randy, there are several on the market, but Comtronics is, IMO, about as good as you can get for the money. Be sure and get the patch cord for your radio. You can even get them to make a special patch cord for your PTT, if you want to use a special PTT in lieu of the one they normally supply with the cord. It has a velcro strap that will allow you to put it on anything of about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

If you want the special cord without their PTT, it should be a little less expensive since you are furnishing the switch. To order it, I would call Bruce Tess @ 715-366-7095. He can also take your order for the helmet.

[Curran3]

There is a guy selling helmets on Ebay with a built in headset for $185 plus shipping. I just bought one. The helmet quality appears good but the sound performance is no good. There is no seal over the speakers so air/engine noise gets through and overpowers the audio output. I wrote him an email yesterday advising him of the problem. He hasn't responded as of yet. To soon to tell if he will respond and fix the design problem or simply disappear. The fix may be as simple as gluing a set of headset gel pieces around the speakers. I'll keep you posted. As of now, I'd hold off on buying from him until we learn more about his character and business practices.
Curran in Jacksonville, FL

[Ralph]

There are a number of good to excellent options other than Comtronics.

RAD Electronics (www.radelectronics.com) makes a helmet which I think is superior to Comtronics and also cheaper. The also manufacture audio intercoms and accessories, including radio patch cables. I had the pleasure of using one of these for my trike training and liked it enough to by one for the new Gyrobee.

If you are willing to spend more, Lynx (from the U.K.) makes two different systems (Mico and Relai) that are superb. Rollison Arplane Co. in Indiana is one of their US distributors (www.airplanegear.com). Another British system that gets rave reviews is Flycom (www.flycom.co.uk).

The helmet is a big factor in how much you will enjoy extended flying jaunts so shop around for reviews and opinions here on the Web. Comtronics is marginally adequate, but you can do better.

Ralph

[Curran3]

Anybody know of a source for ear buds that would work with an aircraft radio? I'm thinking of something like the disposable earplugs many of us wear inside our helmets to block out even more noise. If they had an earphone in them they would be just about ideal.
Curran in Jacksonville, FL

[gyroman]

Curran,

See my website, John Landry has modified a motorcycle helmet by using some earbud speakers. Its under "Important Tips"...

[gyropilot]

You might want to check out this forum thread also:

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=932

Regards,

John L.