APH-6 US Navy 1970's Flight helmet restoration

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Member for

15 years 6 months

Posts: 164

Hi all,

Spent an evening this week on the first part of refurbishing this US Navy APH-6 flight helmet... Typically Phantom Pilot in the 60's / 70's.

This work involved cleaning up the old goo residue from tired old foam rubber liners.

Please see link to my blog below, with lots of photos:

http://flightgear.posterous.com/

Cheers, Scott.

Original post

Member for

17 years 8 months

Posts: 147

Looks like a very clean example.
I bought a stripped down one a few years back and it took some time to get the correct chin and nape straps. Looks a lot more healthy now.

I've an HGU 2AP with the dual Ramshorn visor and after 3 years I've yet to find a replacement visor!

Member for

15 years 6 months

Posts: 164

Hi Airfix-Twin, (Funnily enough I've just been listening to some Aphex-Twin!)

I think this SPH-6 has never been used, I picked it up from Shoreham years ago for a bargain £50!

I have a spare set of dual visors, but I'm told they are for an SPH-3 ramshorn, not sure if they would suit your HGU-2A, depends on which style of housing is fitted... is yours the one-piece or 3-piece ramshorn housing?

I have a really old and manky single visor HGU-2A awaiting restoration, I'm going to be making a replica of the (Lightning) Dave Stewards Firebirds red / white chequered helmet. This was a 2A he picked up on American exchange, and had converted to British comms / oxygen. See:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=105189

If you're interested in flight gear, and helmets in particular, I am part of the Flyingclothing Yahoo Group, with members worldwide. It's a great resource for finding parts, and advice on restorations etc... It's a great little community, if you fancy joining I can put you in touch with the moderator. The website is here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flyingclothing/

Cheers, Scott.

Member for

17 years 8 months

Posts: 147

Yeah it's the 3 piece ramshorn.

The Lightning helmet looks really interesting.

I've applied for the group , so hopefully talk again soon.

Regards
AFX