I have a wire guard in my ASW 24 (USA) and like it. The chances of my
rolling through a wire fence are very small but it was cheap insurance
when I ordered the glider (IIRC ~$300) and I've kept it in for 15
years despite the compromises (see below). I know of at least one
other pilot here in the US who bought one after seeing mine. It's also
a nice place to hang a rearview mirror, which is useful at times.

I also use a 6-point safety harness so that IF I crash in an otherwise
survivable manner, I won't submarine and end up with the lap belt
around my chest as I've seen happen. FWIW, I'm not sure whether a
helmet would have saved Robbie Robertson or my father, Joe Bearden.
Serious trauma to the back of the head was a factor in both of their
fatal glider crashes (a lead shot bag and gel-cel battery,
respectively) but there were other injuries, too (a crushed chest in
one case caused by the lap belt).

I've also had an ELT in the cockpit for 15 years not because I think
I'll crash but just in case. Same comment about cheap insurance.

I'd consider wearing a helmet if it were small and light enough and
didn't interfere with vision more than, say, the hat I already wear.
I'm actually more vulnerable than most of you to head injuries,
ironically because of the wire guard. In the 24 it comprises two bars
that pass on either side of my head before meeting a loop over the
instrument panel. When I wrote Scheicher years ago, they were very
forthcoming with information. Yes, it interferes with visibilty (but
no worse than in gliders with two-piece canopies). No, it probably
won't stop an electrical wire (but might deflect it up and over my
head enough to save me). Yes, I could hit my head in a crash (but it
would be a glancing blow). No, it doesn't reduce headroom (I'm
6.3"--190 cm)...but it might prevent me from wearing a helmet!

Nothing in life is certain. I do many things in gliding to improve my
survival odds just in case I make a mistake or something terrible
happens. I've seen one glider pilot wearing a helmet but it was many
years ago and way too big for most of us. I'd buy and wear one if it
represented a reasonable compromise of added safety, visibility,
comfort (including cooling in Uvalde), cost, etc. Without seeing data
on the incidence of head injuries in gliders and the impact on
survivability and medical costs and our insurance rates, I'd certain
oppose mandatory helmets at this point in time, but I don't think
that's what Tim was suggesting.

I think this is an interesting and useful discussion and the type of
the thing that makes plowing through RAS worthwhile. I would
welcome comments from ex-military and other pilots who've worn helmets
for extended periods of time.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA