Russian versus US Flighthelmets and masks

[Frank]

Hello everybody,
my name is frank from germany and collect flighthelmets since 10 years. I own russian ZSh-7AP, ZSh-5, ZSh-3M
with KM34/35 Hybrid Serie2, KM34-D, KM-32, KM-16 mask and US-Navy HGU33 (Ghostrider taped) with
green MBU-12/ P mask and USAF HGU-2/P with MBU 5/P mask and a US Navy Helicopterhelmet SPH-3B
( Warlords-taped) and a Army Helicopterhelmet SPH-4.
I want to start a discussion of the fragileness of US-helmets and masks against the strengthness of russian
Helmets and masks.
I was surprised how easily break a MBU-5 Hardshell
and how expensive this part is !
All in all I think russians equipmet are much stabile
than the US equipment and are made for a longer
time than the US equipment. Especially the used
material are better (leather, acryll screws instead of
clue)So it is surprising the high price for US-equipmet
against russian equipment!

Frank

[Red Pilot]

Frank,

While I do not collect Western gear and this can't comment on how fragile it is, I have to say that looking at a price tag is not the right approach here.

The reason is rather simple - demand and supply drives the price up. Not so long ago Russian gear was hard to find and prices were just as high as for Western gear. Now all too many new Russian sellers willing to sell gear for 'pennies' and they brought the price down. Supply of the Western gear has always been steady and there are many more people who collect it - hence higher prices at the moment.

Cheers,

Alexei

[PPDS]

I think that Frank is quite right about the superiority of Russian helmets over the US. I think of three things:

Quality - Frank says that Russian helmets are better in quality. He is right and I think there is a reason to that: most of the pieces are riveted or glued instead of being screwed or velcroed. Parts are tightly fixed together, they don’t move, but there is a drawback: helmets are almost impossible to restore. Have you ever tried to take a ZSh-3 or -5 visor off a shell? Screws are soldered to the nuts! And what about taking earphones out of their cups? Forget it! Of course Russian helmets are high quality articles! How do you expect them to come apart?

Technology – Russian helmets are real cutting-edge technology articles: 1960’s ZSh-3s were the first helmets to generalize the use of an occipital bladder, and 1970’s ZSh-5s inaugurated the automatic ejection visor lowering system. US helmets copied the bladder 30 years latter and aren't still issued with an automatic visor...

Looks – I know it is stupid but ZSh’s and GSh’s helmets are real good lookers... Look at the HGU-55 and -68: motorcycle helmets! Only the HGU-33/34 is worth the comparison.

PPDS

[Red Pilot]

PPDS,

In regards of restoration - I don't think neither Russian, nor Western helmets were meant to be restored. If shell develops cracks or any other kind of defects, it is probably not safe to use and needs to be replaced. Visor screws - according to manual, they should be tightly screwed in, their end cut off and split to prevent them from accidental loosening. This is why it is so hard to get them out, especally without proper equipment.

Occipital bladders - in Russian helmets, these are used to tighten mask on pilot's face at high altitudes. CE, sa far as I know, helps pilots at high G manuevering (though I might be wrong here).

Cheers,

Alexei