Please Help Me Identify Alpha Flying Helmet AL3G/4/A/5/X/6/XX

I have just listed this helmet on e Bay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alpha-Flying-Helmet-Custom-RAF-Mk10-Mk4-Mix-Test-Pilot-Training-1990-/221417689800?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item338d85d2c8

Item number 221417689800

Thanks
Anna

More pictures of Rogue Alpha!

Here are the last 9 pictures.

All the pictures are in Dropbox too. at:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l3obkhnhqdos0au/ZN1irYl9GR

Many thanks again

More pictures of Rogue Helmet!

Hi Matt,

It is interesting.. the comms plug is a UK NATO plug, the only other country to use the same plug is Frabce, but tge French Air Force tend to use French manufactured helmets (as we use UK manufactured), so I can’t see it being from France. This is why i’m interested to see a photo of the adaptor that it’s plugged into..

I might guess at it being from a private UK company who works with military aircraft, such as BAE systems… I used to know Keith Hartley when he worked for British Aerospace, he had an Alpha (not Mk10) quite similar to this for flying the Eurofighter prototypes.

But, as stated, the mask and hooks are a bit “kitchen tabley”, and it has a boom mic mount and only one visor which would indicate helicopter use, hence no need for a mask.

Cheers, Scott

Dear Scott,
Here are more pictures. I hope they are what you need. There will be more in the next post.
I have some ore info about the helmet. It was used in a test pilot training school – does that help?

We are thinking of putting it on e Bay before the Easter weekend starts if possible. It helps to be able to put a handle on things. I will re-post here when we do.

Again many thanks to you all, for all your help.

Many thanks to Scott, Lester and Matt for all the info. I only just spotted the replies. Very helpful, albeit quite confusing for us! I will do additional photos in the next couple of days and will look forward to seeing any further answers.

Best wishes

It looks like a mix of a MK4b4l and a Mk10.
I’ve repaired and repainted a few of these.
I would hazard a guess and say that this may be a foreign airforce helmet. And not of RAF/Army/Navy origin.

Hi Matt,

It is interesting.. the comms plug is a UK NATO plug, the only other country to use the same plug is Frabce, but tge French Air Force tend to use French manufactured helmets (as we use UK manufactured), so I can’t see it being from France. This is why i’m interested to see a photo of the adaptor that it’s plugged into..

I might guess at it being from a private UK company who works with military aircraft, such as BAE systems… I used to know Keith Hartley when he worked for British Aerospace, he had an Alpha (not Mk10) quite similar to this for flying the Eurofighter prototypes.

But, as stated, the mask and hooks are a bit “kitchen tabley”, and it has a boom mic mount and only one visor which would indicate helicopter use, hence no need for a mask.

Cheers, Scott

It looks like a mix of a MK4b4l and a Mk10.
I’ve repaired and repainted a few of these.
I would hazard a guess and say that this may be a foreign airforce helmet. And not of RAF/Army/Navy origin.

Hi, thanks

I’m interested in it… I’ll PM you a list of manuals I have scanned to see if you’d like any.

Some of mine are large too.

I’ve used “WeTransfer” before to move large files, works very well.

Cheers, Scott

The manual is TM HW036-23, its a 24MB scan.

Hi LesterPK,

I’d be interested to know which AP that extract is from.. I’ve been trying to collect flight gear related scanned-in AP’s, can do some swaps if you have any scanned…?

Cheers, Scott

The codes you’ve supplied are the ones used by the manufacturer to configure the helmet.
AL3 means Med/Long size, the next letter refers to the colour, the other letters refer to comms type, visor, comms, impedance, downlead style etc. As an example here is one from work around the same time (1986 version of the manual).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]227197[/ATTACH]

Hi again,

The only other clue I can see from your photos is that the Mk7 bayonet connector on the end of the oxygen mask hose is held in place with a “common or garden” cable tie, not the ones approved for use by the military (as is fitted to the mask end).

I’d suggest if this setup has flown as it is, it wasn’t RAF, but maybe in civilian hands.

Note the heavy adaptor on the end of the hose to convert the Mk7 bayonet connector to an Mc3a connector. I’ve seen these in Hercules aircraft for emergency oxygen.

Can you also provide a couple more photos of the mask? Front and inside, we can try to ID the mask particular type too. It is of the P/Q family of masks, but the specific type is in the details.

Cheers, Scott

Hi Anna,

I’m the guy who Twin Otter mentioned..

It looks like a bit of a mis match of parts..

The main helmet strikes me as a civilian Alpha (Civvy version of the Mk10), it’s grey, not green, also has no Nato stock no or crows foot on the label.

The single visor and mount for the boom mic indicate helicopter use.

I think someone has added the mask hooks and mask. The hooks are typical of a Mk4, the modern ones typically seen on Mk10’s are a quck release type of affair.

I’m curious to see the whole of the headset cable, it may shed some more light on it. I can see a NATO plug on the helmet lead, but it’s connected to an adaptor… What plug is on the end of the adaptor?

Also it’s in an American padded helmet bag, not Brutish.

It’s either had an interesting life, or is a “kitchen table job”.

Thanks, Scott

I am still looking for an answer to this if anyone can help at all.

Many thanks

Many thanks – I am still having no luck with this. If anyone knows of any other forum which may help, please tell me. I have tried PPRuNe with no success as yet.

Sorry but I cannot be of any further assistance on the identification side; there’s a guy featured in the Cockpit-Fest 2013 – More album in here who sometimes posts on this forum that might be able to assist, but he may only visit infrequently! :apologetic:

Many thanks – I will look into those options.
You don’t happen to know what it is do you?

Welcome Anna, as an alternative to E**Y you could try a stall here in June.

Also the accompanying event is called Cockpit-Fest 2014 and some of the visiting displays may feature similar items of aircrew equipment!

If I posted this in the wrong forum, please would someone tell me – thanks!