Message 3067, Jun 21, 2001
Hello All, I have a mystery on my hands. From what I can see by this photo the helmet looks like a Tk-2 but does not have the oxygen mask hooks and it is a dual visor of some type. Can anyone give me a hand with this one?
Darkside

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© Darkside

Message 605:
Hello folks: Here's what I know of the Chinese helmet situation, added as a sort of postscript to Steve Norris'information. The manufacturers of the Chinese Air Force helmets (TK-2 and TK-2A) were motivated to seek alternative markets, given the new governmental impetus to allow exploration of private and commercial sector profitability for Chinese products. When they stopped production of the TK flight helmet series for the PRC Air Force, there were a substantial number of helmet components left over. Subsequently, it developed that there was a collector market in the West for Chinese flight gear and an undisclosed number of TK-2 and TK-2A helmets were assembled from the spares (this supply of spare assemblies was quite substantial, from what I have been told). These have now been recently (for about 2 years, it would seem) finding their way into the US, advertised by the US importers as "genuine Chinese Air Force flight helmets" (these items are the blue shell/single visored TK-2 and the white shell/single visor TK-2A). While they are in a manner of speaking 'authentic', they are again not from original military production, but have been put together for commercial sales (collectors, etc.). The (put-together) helmets have earphone and communications assemblies, but the above caveat still applies. More recently (about a year ago), the company started producing complete new models of these spare helmet assemblies in a motorcycle/motor vehicle version (let's call it the "MCV"). The MCV uses the TK-2A type shell, and has earphone cusions but no communications equipment (no earphones or com cord). The shell of the MCV is painted black with a red star on the visor cover (in the same general style as the flight helmets). There is a small 'hologram type' sticker on the rear of this helmet that upon careful examination reveals the image of a motorcycle, but it isn't easy to make out at first glance (a magnifying glass helps, but the sticker may not be there). The visor actuation bar for the MCV is slightly simplified from the flight helmet version and has no catch mechanism (it is simply free to move up or down with no positive stop detent). Finally, the black shell MCV has no 02 mask fasteners on either side of the from face opening (as do the flight helmet versions. The white twin-voisored helmet shown in Ron's image, that is apparently being introduced in large numbers into European markets, would APPEAR to be a new and slightly changed version of the MCV helmet, with a while painted shell and a new twin visor assembly (I note that it is also a simple slide mechanism on the visor bar attachment points, which would not be suited to actual wind-blast use in ejection situations). The helmet also appears to lack the 02 mask fasteners as well as earphone and com cord (not to mention occipital bladder components, which the flight helmets feature). My final guess is that this is a twin-visor motocycle helmet variant of the black MCV, although the shell is probably taken from the same extensive supply of stores that the put-together flight helmets were assembled from. Given all of the above, as well as Steve's background information, it would appear that this is NOT a flight helmet (or intended for actual flight use). Nonetheless, it is still an interesting specimen that would be worth obtaining as a curiosity, if the cost is proportionate to its purpose and origins (cheaply manufactured in China and therefore fairly inexpensive). Cheers, Chris Carey

Message 603:
Hey Again all, Here's a brief history of what has happened with Chinese Equipment here in the states. Sometime in the late 1980s relations between the US and Red China (as it was known) thawed slightly. A bunch of military dealers went to China to buy militaria. The Chinese government operates (or operated) a surplus disposal site in Bejing which sold just about everything. George PEterson of National Capitol Historical Sales was one of the dealers who went to Chnia and returned with a bunch of equipment and photographs. George bought back a couple of TK-1s which he wanted $1500 a piece for. Before he could sell them, the bottom sorta fell out of the Chinese flight gear market and dealers were selling TK-1s for $400 to $600. Then that nasty business in Tiniman Square occurred and things chilled big time and Chinese equipment prices went way up. I have been told that if you can establish a contact in China, the location in Bajing is still open and the equipment is still available. There are several "dealers" on E-Bay who have been offering Chinese equipment for the last 2 years and I am assured they are getting the equipment directly from a source in China. I have been patiently trying to find an importer that can send this stuff to me from China. So far, no results. Hope this helps, Steve Norris

Message 602:
Hi All, The European market is flooded with a new helmet type which is advertised as being Chinese origin. (See Mart Aviation). As far as i know, these helmets are sold new to Surplus stores and come without earphones but with dual visor. Sold over here very cheap (100 dollars). They have green chin and nape straps. Are these original or are these the TK-2A made for Motor Cyclists? See picture and let me know! As in a previous message on this forum it was stated that original TK2A's were white..... Bye Ron

Message 61:
I have attached a copy of the photo. It is not the best image, unfortunately (It was taken by someone else). I am going to take some other images of it that show more detail and will let you know when they are available. Cheers, Chris Carey

Message 57:
This is an FYI message to inform those who aren't aware that the Chinese People's Republic factory (which was formerly making TK-2 and TK-2A aviator helmets for the Chinese Air Force)is now making a black protective helmet for motorcycle use that looks very much like a flight helmet. As many of you know, the factory that was formerly turning out authentic TK-2 and TK-2A helmets for PRC Air Force, has in the past few years been putting together TK-2 and TK-2A helmets for general purchase from parts left over from the standard Chinese military production runs (these are the 'new' and 'amazingly unused' units that have been finding their way into the US collector market). With Chinese private enterprise growing as it has, these same factories have now discovered that they can put together a non-flight version of the TK-2A and market it for motorcycle-user wear. The standard Chinese military TK-2 helmet has been finished in a gloss sky-blue color scheme, while the TK-2A has been finished in gloss white. The latest motorcycle helmet variation, which is essentially a TK-2A w/o the flight electronics and 02 mask retention bladder assembly, comes in a gloss black overall color (with the standard red star on front of visor cover, per usual); the visor mechanisms are slightly simplified and the interior lining is a nylon quilted affair, but the standard flight helmet earcups and covers are included. An inspection of the rear of the helmet reveals a small color holographic-type sticker that on close scrutiny turns out to be a representation of a motorcycle! The obvious fact that these helmets do not meet any of the US or UK safety standards for two-wheel vehicle use should not be overlooked. As a further sidelight of interest, while living and working in Taiwan in 1986, I was surprised (and amused) to find at least two companies (one located in southern industrial city of Kaoshung) that were manufacturing what were essentially 'carbon-copies' of the standard US HGU-2A/P and HGU-33/P military helmets for motorcycle use. These were close reproductions of the US counterparts all the way down to molding details of visor assemblies, chin straps, etc. Obviously copyright infringements, they were probably never brought into the US for this reason. I brought back several of these to the US for my own collection, however, as I was of course greatly interested in this clever ROC application of the 'flight helmet look' to 2-wheeled motor-vehicle use. It would seem that the People's Republic of China is now following suit somewhat along the same line, with their general consumer market black MC version of the TK-2A flight helmet. If anyone is interested in an image of the black MC version, I would be happy to send you one via email. Cheers, Chris.