horridohutch Posted August 26, 2017 Share #1 Posted August 26, 2017 Just picked this up today and it is an early APH-6, I believe. What I do know is that it is from a RA-5 Vigilante squadron, RVAH-1. The Smoking Tigers or just "Heavy 1". Overall the helmet for sure has seen some use, but is in fairly good condition. It is painted grey with the graphics applied over that. The earcups I think are the only thing I would replace, if that. Overall a great addition to my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted August 26, 2017 some more views to follow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted August 26, 2017 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted August 26, 2017 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted August 26, 2017 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted August 26, 2017 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted August 26, 2017 Share #7 Posted August 26, 2017 Very nice addition to the collection. I love the squadron marked helmets!! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted August 27, 2017 Share #8 Posted August 27, 2017 Very nice, great find. Now you need to find a mask Thanks for posting! -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted August 27, 2017 Very nice, great find. Now you need to find a mask Thanks for posting! -Derek Which regulator was used in the RA-5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted August 27, 2017 I am looking for a photo of the man whos name is Rand, I found some of RVAH-1 in action in the meantime.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultra Hog Posted August 27, 2017 Share #11 Posted August 27, 2017 Hi ! I recently sniped a flight suit from the same unit on eBay, named. Is it from the same grouping ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted August 27, 2017 Hi ! I recently sniped a flight suit from the same unit on eBay, named. Is it from the same grouping ? No I think your suit came out of Florida, the helmet was found on the West Coast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted August 27, 2017 Well now I know that the name the seller gave me was the first name of the individual. Hopefully I can come up with the previous owners history etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted August 28, 2017 Share #14 Posted August 28, 2017 I don't know what regulator used on the RA-5C, but I won, on eBay, a REDAR hose from a former Skipper of RVAH-1. The interesting thing is that the RA-5C hose is identical to a REDAR hose, but is actually made by Oxytronics Inc. in Buffalo, and not by REDAR (R. E. Darling Co.). Manufactured 3rd quarter 1970. Here is a picture of the Oxytronics hose. Anyone seen this manufacturer before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted August 28, 2017 I don't know what regulator used on the RA-5C, but I won, on eBay, a REDAR hose from a former Skipper of RVAH-1. The interesting thing is that the RA-5C hose is identical to a REDAR hose, but is actually made by Oxytronics Inc. in Buffalo, and not by REDAR (R. E. Darling Co.). Manufactured 3rd quarter 1970. Here is a picture of the Oxytronics hose. Anyone seen this manufacturer before? image.jpeg Nope not me, well it looks like the Vigilante had a high pressure system so a mini-reg will be what I need when the time comes. So this was a hose he acquired from the PRs at the squadron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted August 28, 2017 Share #16 Posted August 28, 2017 Nope not me, well it looks like the Vigilante had a high pressure system so a mini-reg will be what I need when the time comes. So this was a hose he acquired from the PRs at the squadron?The mini regulator would attach to the blue section on this hose along with the communications cord. The silver end of the hose would attach to the upper seat block that was part of the ejection seat. The hose would be assigned to each pilot as part of their individual flight gear. Diagram; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted August 28, 2017 Share #17 Posted August 28, 2017 Picture of Mask, hose, regulator, and REDAR hose. This is the combination of equipment the Aviator would have worn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted August 28, 2017 Picture of Mask, hose, regulator, and REDAR hose. This is the combination of equipment the Aviator would have worn. image.jpeg Yes, absolutely correct. An early minireg and as long as the aircraft used a high pressure system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxerdogi Posted August 30, 2017 Share #19 Posted August 30, 2017 Oxytronics was another manufacturer of the High pressure hose. Not as common as the Redar, but they were used frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted August 30, 2017 Share #20 Posted August 30, 2017 Oxytronics was another manufacturer of the High pressure hose. Not as common as the Redar, but they were used frequently. Thank you Boxerdogi, and my apologies to Horridodutch for hijacking his thread. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted August 30, 2017 Author Share #21 Posted August 30, 2017 Thank you Boxerdogi, and my apologies to Horridodutch for hijacking his thread. Chris No worries... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted September 3, 2017 Author Share #22 Posted September 3, 2017 The one thing that was falling apart in this helmet was the ear cups and I decided to replace them with NOS and do it exactly as the old ones came out. The PRs back then used little strips of Velcro to hold the rubber to the plastic cups which I re-used. I also discovered that this helmet was modified with newer plastic backing versus the old styro. I also wiped the inside with a damp cloth and got the old crumbly rubber out. I am generally satisfied with the change. The old rubber would have just created a mess not only of the helmet but of the shelf it sat on, so I opted with replacing the old with new old stock ones. The helmet now sits and displays nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted September 3, 2017 Author Share #23 Posted September 3, 2017 the old and the new..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horridohutch Posted September 3, 2017 Author Share #24 Posted September 3, 2017 and the finished installation.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted September 4, 2017 Share #25 Posted September 4, 2017 Great job on the ear cups. -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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