The famous green domes of David Clark headsets have been around longer than most of us have been flying, with a legendary reputation for durability. A little known fact is that David Clark started in aerospace by making high altitude spacesuits for the military. Communication became part of the suits, so speakers and microphones were developed. David Clark made their first pilot headset in 1975 and quickly became a mainstay in cockpits around the world.
Many pilots chase the latest technology, from active noise reduction to Bluetooth audio. But while these headsets are impressive, there is another option: in-the-ear. Is this type of headset right for you?
A good headset is essential for safe and comfortable flying, but too often pilots are faced with a tough choice: pay over $1000 for a great headset, or buy a cheap one that is uncomfortable and lacking important features. Faro has solved this problem with their Stealth 2 Headsets. These sleek and stylish headsets have the high-end features you want, like Bluetooth input and active noise reduction, but at a price you can afford. Here's a video review.
Shopping for a headset? The team of pilots at Sporty's have assembled this Headset Buyer's Guide to help you make the right choice. It's packed with charts that allow you to compare headsets side-by-side, plus information about active noise reduction (ANR), in-the-ear headsets, and real world pilot reports on popular headset models.
A headset is one of the most important investments a pilot will ever make, and not simply because of the expense. A quality aviation headset can protect your hearing, reduce fatigue, and even improve flight safety. That's why Sporty's offers a variety of tools and resources to make your next headset purchase fast, easy and affordable. We are proud to be the #1 headset retailer in aviation.
A good aviation headset is an essential part of any pilot’s flight bag. While the most advanced models can cost over $1,000 they also do an incredible job of protecting your hearing and enhancing the clarity of airborne communications. With proper care, headsets can also last for 10+ years, so it’s a smart investment.
Choosing your first aviation headset is a tough decision. Do you choose ANR or passive? Bluetooth or not? In this detailed video, JC Mayerle and Doug Ranly from Sporty’s explain what to look for, then they take four popular models flying to compare them in the cockpit of a Cessna 172. Which one will come out on top?
Performance + Durability = Game Changer
We first arrived in the Iraqi desert early in 2004. The invasion dubbed “shock and awe” happened in 2003, so our battalion was part of the rebuilding phase. This was well before all the fancy armored vehicles appeared in theater. The “armor” on our trucks and humvees consisted of sheet metal we cut via torch and welded together. This armor “worked” for bullets, but not so much for IEDs. We would later learn the hard way that the IEDs were a much larger threat.
Sporty’s Founder shares his regret at not wearing headsets
I’ve been flying for over 50 years, in everything from single engine Pipers to twin engine jets. But for the first 30 years of my flying career, those flights did not involve an aviation headset. Communicating with Air Traffic Control meant listening to a scratchy cabin speaker over the roar of the engines, and then, if I was lucky enough to understand the instructions, replying with a hand-held microphone.
“It’s magic.” At least that is what I thought the first time I turned on an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset. WOW! What kind of wizardry is happening in these ear cups? I was instantly convinced that ANR might be the single greatest innovation in aviation history. The noise environment of a piston airplane makes communications tough, but modern ANR headsets have revolutionized the way pilots communicate.
