Flightpath Posted May 12, 2020 Share #1 Posted May 12, 2020 Hi, I posted this in the Latest finds section but thought it would be better here: Last week a friend at work said that he had a helmet and oxygen mask that his brother gave him about 15 years ago, "you can have it if you want" He brought it in on Monday and to my surprise it was a really nice helmet. It turned out to be a 1998 Gentex US Navy HGU-68/P in great condition with an unused MBU-5/P oxygen mask. All I know about it is that my friend´s brother was working with the NoAF (Norwegian Air Force) and brought it home one day, I have no idea why it is in Norway. There is a harness mounted adaptor on the end of the oxygen hose from 3 pin Gentex fitting to a 2 pin friction type. So it´s only an adaptor with no ejection seat oxygen connector, this might give a clue to it´s intended use....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted May 12, 2020 A couple more photos..... It looks like the helmet was not used much, I might try to get an oxygen mask that suits it better like an MBU-12/P or MBU-14/P as the MBU-5/P is not really the correct era mask for the helmet, I have only seen a couple of photos of them in use together, both were in use by NASA T-38 pilots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted May 12, 2020 Share #3 Posted May 12, 2020 Id just be guessing but Id think it might have been used in one of their C-130s or P-3 aircraft. Its a fixed wing helmet obviously, but also has a boom mic mount on the side. Those aircraft alot of times will use the quick disconnect fitting to plug right into a walk around bottle or if in the cockpit as well vs using the 3 pin with a CRU-60 adapter that would be worn with a chute harness. MBU-5, especially for a late 90s era helmet isn't too far fetched. The USAF def used em up to around 2008 for those who couldn't size a MBU-12 correctly. Once the MBU-20 series started drying up the 12P inventory more they were used since they had better sizing than the 12 for some as well. Europe especially used 5Ps a while as well. Seeing the older style cloth covered CX-4707 cable on the mask sorta points Europe to me as well even though thats a 80s or later Scott made mask. Very nice helmet set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted May 12, 2020 Thanks a lot for the info and rundown on dates of use etc. mowhawk, it´s great to find someone with some info on later flight helmets as I have mostly WW2 items, I love this helmet though! I´ll check for photos and info on NoAF Hercs and Orion flight gear and helmets! So you think I should get a boom mike for it? If so, what type would suit it best? cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted May 12, 2020 Share #5 Posted May 12, 2020 46 minutes ago, Flightpath said: Thanks a lot for the info and rundown on dates of use etc. mowhawk, it´s great to find someone with some info on later flight helmets as I have mostly WW2 items, I love this helmet though! I´ll check for photos and info on NoAF Hercs and Orion flight gear and helmets! So you think I should get a boom mike for it? If so, what type would suit it best? cheers, John Id say just leave it as is. It does have the round mount for a boom mic, but seeing no boom is present and the mask appears to have the only ICS cord, it probably never had a boom installed. If it was setup for a boom, it would probably be the standard wire boom with a M-87 mic. If one was installed the helmet would have had its own ICS cord to plug in without having the mask around or would have a cord that allowed the boom mic or mask mic to be switched easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted May 12, 2020 Ok, I will leave it as is, the boom mount is unmarked and looks unused so you might be right about it never having a mic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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