"railfan" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
I've been in a B-17, a T-6 and a PT-17. The &-6 had an intercom with a helmet. It was the only one of the 3 where I could here anything aside from the engines. The B-17 was incredibly loud. Memphis Belle seems real funny after that ride.
Ha! The first season (on NBC) they advertised the show in TV Guide with an illustration of F-104s! It's not too often that TV Guide causes me to laugh hysterically.......
Bill Banaszak, MFE
So, Bob, how's your hearing?
Bill Banaszak, MFE
Bill:
Whazzat? Speak up, I can't hear you! :)
I actually do have a hearing problem, wear a hearing aid in one ear. When I started noticing the problem I first thought of a work related problem. The first several years in piston engined choppers (Bell
47-J, G), we passengers were not supplied with headsets or other ear protection. I remember often getting out of the chopper after a long ride and would be light headed and slightly woozey from the constant noise. Nothing like a flat six cylinder engine running at full speed a few feet behind your head!Of course when whe changed to JetRangers they came with headsets so we could talk to each other. They were quieter than the piston engined ones anyway. But that's the way the gummint works I guess.
Of course my years as a trackside photographer at local drag races probably didn't help my hearing any either! But my hearing problem was actually an inherited one, my father wore hearing aids too.
As long as I can hear the wife call for supper, I'm OK!
Bob Boudreau
The PT-17 should have been equipped with a "gosport" intercom, a piece of tubing that conducted sound. One had to have a helmet or something that hooked up to it, though. Sort of like the tubing headsets they used in airliners for the entertainment system
These non-electric intercoms worked surprisingly well.
Don Stauffer wrote in news:3s2ge.4$ snipped-for-privacy@news.uswest.net:
Communuication in the PT-17 was a wood stick he poked me in the back with to get my attention so he could see if I was green from hanging upside down.
I am proud to say that even though I was experiencing pucker factor far in excess of anything before or since (I actually think the suction is what held me to the seat) I did not hurl.
Yes, that's one call you don't want to miss. :)
Bill Banaszak, MFE
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.