Cool! That will probably just barely get you into the BT Elite club

Wow! Nice find.

Another option is Flight Helmet. Good folks:

https://www.flighthelmet.com/product/PR55-HGU55KL.html

Robert

Wow! Nice find.

Another option is Flight Helmet. Good folks:

https://www.flighthelmet.com/product/PR55-HGU55KL.html

Robert

I used to build Helmets for this group after I sold my helmet business to them. They do a good job. https://www.flighthelmet.com/

And one more thing - if it's got the old brakes get rid of them !!!! My first one had the original brakes. I kept after them and never had a problem. This one also had the old brakes . It now has Redlines.

I hate to even tell you this because you paid the full price but I found a used Campbell Aeroclassic helmet on Craigslist a few years ago for $165.00, yes that's right, $165.00. The guy was very specific about that price. I wasn't going to argue. For passengers, I've got a few cloth and leather helmets with DC headsets.
http://www.campbellaeroclassics.com/id2.html

For a chute, I bought a fanny pack one a few years ago. I can't remember the brand.

Not my favorite airplane. They are big, oily and slow IMO. Sluggish controls. I suggest the 300HP version. 220 is not enough and the 450 burns a lot of fuel and is heavy.

Look at Bucker Jungmanns. Solid 30-40kts faster, better controls, much smaller and more nimble. Not as much oil and mess to clean up after flying either.

Here’s my current open cockpit toy. I get 90% the feeling for 10% the money and 25% the hangar space.

Precisely, and even at $165 my helmet is still worth more than my head

Already has the Redlines.

I would highly recommend that you become familiar with the realm of emergency exits and parachute deployment.

It is not simply a matter of exit and pull the ripcord, this needs to be managed.

I am an expert parachutist with decades of experience and I would recommend starting with a tandem jump to be familiar with what you are going to experience leaving an aircraft and deploying a parachute.

Then, one needs to put an exact plan together to manage an emergency exit. Releasing the seat belt harness, chucking the headset, clearing the aircraft, body position prior to deployment, actual deployment.

Understand what you will be exposed to under canopy. What kind of canopy control will you have (steerability). How to avoid obstacles, preparing for landing, etc. Parachute landing fall (PLF) techniques, etc.

You do not want to be subjected to mysteries even though you have just saved your life by executing a safe emergency exit.

I would recommend being very serious about this and seek expert assistance in equipment and procedures to make sure you are prepared for the event.

Just my humble opinion.

Dan

Dan's advice is well-taken. I would only add that I prefer using a helicopter-style headphone cord with quick-disconnect. (mine are Dave Clarks with ANR). I feel that saves precious seconds, and allows you to exit the cockpit with the helmet in place, providing protection in case of a head strike with the tail feathers, or a less that ideal landing. The misconception many of us have is that we will land on flat ground, yet the possibility of trees, houses, and other pesky obstructions must be always be considered.

As an avowed Pitts maniac, I am trying hard to resist the purchase of an incredible Stearman with an amazing history. The R-985 does go through fuel at a pretty good clip, but the symphony of 450 unbridled horses more than makes up for the temporary discomfort at the pump.

And you will make friends everywhere you go!

Best,

TN

Yeah, I've given quite a bit of thought to that. You can do the whole parasail thing to practice steering, jump off picnic tables to practice PLFs and practice disengaging from your harness while your buddies are dragging you across the ground. But none of those UPT-style exercises cross the mental barrier of having jumped out of an airplane, and the confidence and familiarity that would breed.

I'm toying with the idea. My problem is I'm quite familiar with what kind of safety culture and aircraft maintenance some civilian jump schools are afflicted with.

It would have to be the right airplane and the right instructor.

get a good look through the paperwork and order an FAA records CD.

There are probably field approvals, STC’s and conversion from duster and back to standard to look over.

for some reason I seem to find Stearmans covered many years ago and the inspection rings are still not cut out on the wings.

Go over hardware looking for corrosion and proper parts. Find someone to check flying wire tensions. Check instrument accuracy if possible and see if the shock mounts for the instrument panel are sagging and making the skid ball off. Wing walk rib damage is often overlooked. Centersection gas leaks soaking the wood. Canvas baggage compartments are often deteriorated. Baggage falling into the aft fuselage would not be fun. Steel tubing paint should be in good shape. I have seen many covered well but poor painting on the tubing over old paint. Once it peels there is no fix.

The 300hp R-680 with constant speed 2B20 is my favorite setup. Still simple and light but much better performance on hot days with two aboard.

John Mohr was absolutely amazing flying airshows with a 220 powered bird so the performance is there somewhere.

I’ve watched John’s show many times. Either he’s the best pilot on the planet or he has discovered an anti-gravity device.

While I am not familiar with the Summit emergency harness container system, I have packed hundreds of the National parachute they use in its manufacturers harness and container system. It has been around for a long time and proved to be a quality item.
The Softy uses a parachute made by the company that developed and makes the Cirrus chute. Free Flite Parachute System in Elsinore, CA. Both are quality parachutes. As a Parachute Rigger I like the Softy for ease of packing and customer support. Actually both systems are very good. However if choosing, I would buy the Softy. I have two, one with a Piglet reserve(round) and one custom with a PD square.