The SAAF Forum

How does one even pronounce that name? "Goo-no"?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

It is pronounced "Gee-no"

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Given you'd have rubbed shoulders with several people who'd have used these helmets - what's been the feedback from the users? Were they well liked?

Which designs spawned local developments and - does South Africa still design and manufacture helmets such as the Z-150 or the variants?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Ha, now you want me to give away the text of my proposed book!

Generally, the 316/317 series helmet was very reliable, required hardly any workshop maintenance and was well liked by the crew.

The Kentron Helmet Mounted Display helmet was based on the 316.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Just arrived today!

Alpha 708 helmet in excellent condition, complete with bag. This helmet was used on the C-130 Hercules.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

whoww!
Exalente!!

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Da-di-da-da-da

Hi Dean, I note you say "was used", has it been replaced? That's a fantastic looking piece - where are they manufactured?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

As far as I know, the Alpha 708 helmets were withdrawn in the last five years or so.

I'm super excited to get my hands on this one, as I purchased an example over a year ago and then onsold it shortly thereafter to a friend who put in civvie avionics, a sale I regretted three days later! This example came with a Leep oxygen mask, a g-suit and a SAPS Air Wing flight suit thrown in.

Made by Helmets Ltd of the UK, same as the current Alpha 220 and previous Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 helmets. The company was taken over by the US Gentex Corporation in 2014.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Geno 316 helmet with MS22001 mask, complete with Chilean air force stickers.





Suspect that it was a helmet that may have been used by one of the Chilean pilots that flew here in South Africa at 89 Combat Flying School, undergoing conversion training for the Pantera (similar to the Cheetah).

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Crikey, how many helmets are you up to now?

41 helmets, plus a few shells and spare parts

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

haha nice! That's enough to start a museum.

A recent post-lockdown arrival: MBU-4/P mask with head harness, as used by loadmasters aboard C-130B Hercules and C-160 Transall transports.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

It keeps getting better! So when did you say your museum is opening?

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There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

Parcel of goodies arrived today! 

Mk1A(M) helmet in excellent condition (with bag), Type G inner with avionics, a brand new Type G inner, two new Type H masks (complete with microphone, dated 1984), two spare Elno mikes and some spare straps and clips.

As these were used on the Harvard, no oxygen hose was required.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?