"Steve" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 05 Apr 2005 14:14:08 -0400, Ragnar wrote:


Top speed of a P-51 is over 400 mph. Exactly which helmet is going to
help him in a crash?

Sounds like a job for a BC-1. ;-)

Know of several guys in the RAF who've had their faces/eyes saved from
bird
strikes. One guy had a bird come right through the window in front of him
in
an Albert. Bird hit him in the face. Window obviously slowed the bird down
alot, and the visor undoubtedly saved his eyes from flying glass/bird
parts.
He now wears a helmet even in light (civvie) aircraft.


--
Steve.

After the carrier fires in the sixties, especially the Forrestal fire, most
people were convinced of the wisdom or wearing helmet and gloves from the
moment you manned your aircraft, no matter how uncomfortable it was.

A number of guys on the Forrestal and the Enterprise have made comments
about gloves and helmet saving them from serious burns, while they were
setting in their aircraft. One of the better know (to the public) people to
make this comment was McCain.

Red