Flying helmet...

[corsair5517]

OK, you have all seen this helmet in a previous post, but can anyone shed any light on it??

It's a Bevege Hi-Speed Helmet, designed and made in NZ, and was my Uncle Pats' at some stage. It has what I suspect are speaking tube attachments instead of earphone cups over the ears, so I have to assume that it was used in Tiger Moths?!?

Flying helmet by


Helmet by


Helmet showing name by

I can't find anything about thisnstyle anywhere on the inter webs and thought one of you knowledgeable bods might know something...

Thanks, chaps!

[davidd]

The NZ-manufactured Bevege "High Speed Helmet" was intended for use in any open-cockpit aircraft, and was originally marketed to the civilian population. Don't know that it was ever considererd by the military, but doubt it was used by them, although I have been known to make false statements from time to time! Possible that it was also marketed in Australia, somebody should check on 1930s and 1950s Australian aviation magazines. Charles Kingsford Smith was used in one of the pre-war marketing campaigns, wonder what they paid him for his (priceless?) endorsement! I think the chrome-plated attachments for the speaking tubes (Gosport tubes) were manufactured by De Havilland in UK, seem to recall that this fact was proudly displayed somewhere on these rather smart and well-made accessories. Bevege helmets were still being marketed in NZ in the 1950s, although I imagine the gradual phasing out of "sporting" open-cockpit aircraft would have seen sales gradually die away too (apart from die-hard Tiger enthusiasts). The RNZAF Museum at Wigram has quite a nice little collection of these helmets, in various sizes and colours, and assorted accessories.

[corsair5517]

Thanks, David!