Warbird Information Exchange

I need a little advice. Talked to the people at the flight school in Winchester, VA today and am going to start next week. I’m going to fly at least 3 times a week and maybe more depending on what youse troops recommend “What, me nervous?” NAHHH
Anyway, the instructor said I could use one of their headsets but would be out of luck if they were being used when I wanted to fly and that sooner or later I’d have to buy a headset. Would you pilots give me an idea of what you use? (Budget is not a big factor, but….) I’ve looked at almost every headset out there.
(Talk about sticker shock)
Also…what do you think about flying 4 or even 5 days a week. Being retired, that’s not a problem. Like I said, I want to do, at least 3 times a week. Do you think more than that will lead to “overload”?
Let me know what you think, please.
And any other suggestions you might have.

Mudge the fledgling

My medical is 2/9...prayer might help

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Land of the free because of the brave

Mudge;
Congratulations!

Since I'm not a "professional" pilot, I just fly for fun, I'd be in heaven if I could fly 3 times a week!
I think you'll retain more and learn faster if you can fly as often as you can afford. Most of the headsets out there are decent for light aircraft. I have two David Clark's, a Telex and a Sigtronics. I like the Clark's the best, but none of them are fancy noise cancelling or anything like that.

Go Forth and Fly Often!!!!!!

Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Would your local weather support training 4 or 5 days a week?

As for headsets, I would try to borrow some different ones and see which ones most readily conform to your particular cranial shape. A poor fitting headset can cause a headache. It would be a shame to spend hundreds on something you can't use. Maybe you can borrow a headset and go for a drive in the country for a few hours. I drove from San Diego to Los Angeles once to check the fit of my helmet. After a few Tylenol, I drove right back to get the fitting redone. A very little pressure in the wrong place can lead to a major pain!

Great news Mudge! I would start 3 times a week.You will have a lot to absorb and you need to do the prep before each lesson. David Clark is the long time standard for headsets. Use the schools for the first lesson. There a cheaper brands, Flightcom, Sigtronics that also should be fine and a little lighter. You won't be in warbird noise. Relax, have fun, it is not hard.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

THat is awsome. It is a very rewarding adventure. First off plan for 4 or 5 days so that when one gets cncelled here or there for weather or what ever you are not out of luck on your three a week. Headsets, just so you like them and are comfortable. I have David Clarks and love them.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I use a Flightcom most of the time, and I have used it in Warbirds with no trouble as far as being able to hear and transmit. There is 1 problem I have run into, at times I found David Clarks and other headset don't play well together.

Oh and Mudge, when you do your preflight, if you find a puddle of oil under the engine, it is not like a Harley, it should not be there, you need to find out the problem.

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Mudge,

Congratulations! That's excellent that you're going to fly, how fun! I think 4 or 5 times a week, weather permitting, would be incredible. (It makes me envious!) I think once you start flying you're going to want to be up all the time. I know I learned the most when I was flying 3 or 4 times a week. It made it so I didn't forget things in between lessons, etc. I just felt like I retained more that way. So flying as much as you can would be my recommendation. I don't think you'll be overwhelmed, you'll be having too much fun! Good luck on the medical, hope all goes well, my fingers will be crossed for you!

Steph

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

Oh, also - I have an Echelon Telex headset that I like an awful lot. It's comfortable and does a good job at noise reduction. Pretty reasonably priced too.

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

Mudge, you Rock!

Having a headset is way good. I wore the instructors once, then I got this, thought, about, bacteria, and ears, and kinda weirded about it, so I dumped the 350 on the David Clarks. ( I don't know what kinda freaky sh1t you other cats do with your ears, and hands, annnddddd.... I just know I don't want it in my ears....)

The only advice I have for you on headsets is,

Get a headest that works real good in the kind of plane you are training in. I know that sounds stupid, but, the ole David Clarks work like cr@p in half of the the warbirds I fly in. They work great in the 172's I fly in. Annnd, most of my time is in newer 172's. Me be a traineee too. So thats what I would buy. Whatever works in the plane you have to train in. Look at the instructors headset, or the ones he loans you the first couple of times out.

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DEEP THOUGHTS BY KIDS:
"If we could just get everyone to close their eyes and visualize world peace for an hour, imagine how serene and quiet it would be until the looting started. Age 15 "


Deep Thoughts,
Jack Handy

I worked at David Clark in Worcester Ma for over 7 years and own two myself. Their good people and their headsets are tough making them good for training useage. I'd go with the H10-13.4 to start off with and later you can move up to something pricer and give the 13.4 to your co-pilot
Good luck,Phil

Great stuff Mudge!!!! Keep us up-to-date.

Mike

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Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

I nabbed a NEW Telex headset off ebay for $24! I like it, even in the Noisy Duck it is comfortable to wear.

Hey Mudge, how about daily or semi-daily updates as your flying progresses, even if it is in the "Off Topic" area? I could be wrong here, but I would think that the WIXers might like a thread that has frequent updates of the ups and downs (no pun intended) on a project like that.

Gary

I use a Bose headset when I'm not wearing my helmet, it's rather comfy and very nice on the ears.

Well worth the admission price.

Go for it Mudge boy!

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

Headsets are freqently discounted, see adds in Trade A Plane, etc or try ebay or pilots bulletin board at FBO. The Ferrari or Porsche is Bose, great at only 3 times the price of ordinary. David Clark is durable, well made, their warranty service is legendary. See ads in Sporty's. If you are going top dollar, I prefer the electrolet mike over dynamic, especially if you are ever going to take it in a MustangB-25, or something real noisy. The cheaper, lighter brands are fine in a Cessna, and the trainers have mikes and cabin speakers also.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK