MILITARY SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER JOINS OREGON AERO MAJOR MOGA TEACHES RAPTOR NEW TRICKS OREGON AERO’S NEW PRODUCTS Oregon Aero® High G® Seat Provided Comfort, Safety During Grueling Flight OREGON AEROSM SKYDANCER RETURNS TO OSHKOSH OREGON AERO KNOWS WHY AVIATION HEADSETS HURT — AND HOW TO END THE PAIN SHARED CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECT AIRCRAFT AT OSHKOSH: Oregon Aero® Seat Cushion Systems OREGON AERO PARTICIPATES IN BARRINGTON IRVING’S “ WORLD FLIGHT ADVENTURE” OREGON AERO® HEADSET UPGRADE KITS OFFER COMPLETE SOLUTION TO PAIN AND NOISE OREGON AERO® ZETA-C™ UNIVERSAL UPGRADE KIT CREATES PAIN-FREE AND STABLE FIREFIGHTING HELMETS   Press Release Archives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2007

Lee Owen, retired Air Force veteran, drives military sales for Oregon Aero, Inc.

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – Oregon Aero, Inc., the leader in designing and manufacturing Painless, Safer and Quieter™ products and upgrades for the military and other industries, announces the appointment of Lee Owen as the company’s military sales account manager. A retired U.S. Air Force veteran, Owen has been focusing on building relationships with military customers and demonstrating the benefits of Oregon Aero products, including ballistic helmet upgrade systems, aviation headset and helmet upgrade kits, military seat cushion systems, and ShockBlockers® Insole Inserts.

Before joining Oregon Aero, Owen sold military Active Noise Reduction Headsets for Flightcom Corporation of Portland. Prior to working at Flightcom, he led military sales of avionics test equipment and aviation supplies for EDMO Distributors of Spokane.

Owen’s combined military experience and marketing and customer relations expertise will enhance Oregon Aero’s steady growth in the military market.

Those interested in learning more about Oregon Aero® products for military use may reach Owen at 800-888-6910.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Special to EAA AirVenture
July 2007

Raptor demo pilot develops dazzling moves, thanks in part
to his ejection seat cushion by Oregon Aero.

“The ejection seat cushion in the F-22 is the finest I have flown with….the Oregon Aero cushion is so comfortable, I don’t even notice it. I’m not concentrating on saving my back; I’m concentrating on flying the jet.” — Maj. Max Moga, USAF

Oshkosh, Wisc. – Last year at EAA AirVenture, the F-22A Raptor captivated the attention and imagination of all fortunate enough to witness it in flight. Nothing stops a crowd in its tracks like the aerial approach of a Raptor. Airshow grounds fall silent, all eyes track the powerfully graceful moves of the giant stealth fighter, and the air booms with the thunderous roar of the futuristic jet as it swoops overhead, nimble as a feather.

This year at EAA AirVenture, Raptor demonstration team commander and pilot Maj. Paul “Max” Moga will magnify the ‘awe factor’ with a lower-altitude, six-pass profile directly in front of the crowd. Moga will unveil never-before-seen maneuvers that will confound spectators. As he executes this rigorous routine, Moga’s body is subject to incredible G-forces, which can result in an unwelcome ‘ouch factor.’ Consequently, he’s increasingly appreciative of the Raptor’s energy-absorbing ejection seat cushion by Oregon Aero, Inc.

“I’ve been piloting high performance military jet aircraft for the past 11 years,” Moga says. “Whether it was in a T-37, T-38 or F-15C/D, I always accepted the unfortunate truth that flying wasn’t comfortable! After well over 1,000 hours in the cockpit, I was convinced ejection seats must have been made to hurt.

“Then I flew the Raptor. Without a doubt, the ejection seat cushions on the ACES III in the F-22 are the finest I have flown with. Whether it is under 9+ G’s flying a demo or on a five-hour cross-country flight, the Oregon Aero cushion is so comfortable, I don’t even notice it. I’m not concentrating on saving my back; I’m concentrating on flying the jet. It’s that good!”

Moga speaks directly to one of Oregon Aero's taglines, that Forgettable is Good!™ because once discomfort factors are removed, it’s easier to focus fully on the task at hand. This, in turn, makes Moga safer. And when he’s flying the world's most sophisticated, $130 million fighter jet, that’s an enormous comfort to him, the Air Force, spectators and U.S. taxpayers, too.

“If I can make one more person feel patriotic and understand the amazing heritage of our nation’s Air Force, my job is a success,” says Moga, who operates from the First Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Formerly an F-22A FTU instructor pilot from the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall AFB (FL), he is a fighter pilot with more than 1,700 hours in military jet aircraft, including more than 250 combat hours over Southwest Asia and the former Yugoslavia.

As a Raptor pilot, he flies the aircraft up to Mach 2.0 and at altitudes up to 60,000 feet. Oregon Aero’s highly-engineered APECS® I Ejection Seat Cushion System installed on the Raptor’s ACES III ejection seat is designed to provide unsurpassed comfort, impact protection and durability, even under these extreme conditions.

Oregon Aero provides seat cushion systems for several military aircraft, including ejection seat and crew bunk cushion systems for the U.S. B-2 fleet. The company has designed and manufactured some 20 ejection seats and seat cushion systems for various aircraft, including five designs of the APECS® I, customized for aircraft variations. Oregon Aero also manufactures seats and seat cushion systems for production and homebuilt aircraft, land vehicles and marine vessels.

Since designing the ejection seat cushion system for the Air Force’s original YF-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter in 1997, Oregon Aero’s ejection seat cushion system has been tested at seven military and independent testing facilities, including Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Testing, which included drop and sled crash tests, demonstrated that the cushion helps protect occupants from injury.

The cushion system design places the seat occupant’s pelvic angle, lumbar spine and relative positions of vertebrae to an ideal sitting position, eliminating pain, numbness and ‘hot spots’ usually associated with long hours in the seat. For a Raptor pilot, this freedom from distraction brought on by otherwise overwhelming discomfort spells the difference between mission accomplished and potential mishaps. As Oregon Aero founder and CEO Mike Dennis says, “The brain can perform only as long as the butt can endure.”

As the demo pilot for the Air Force’s newest line of defense, Moga’s endurance is being tested as never before. In celebration of the Air Force’s 60th anniversary, Moga is flying a much more aggressive Heritage Flight schedule in 2007 than last year, doubling the Raptor's appearances and working in more passes and maneuvers than before. They include a radical series of aerobatic maneuvers that have only recently been defined and named.

Moga says it’s difficult to describe the unique aerobatic maneuvers the huge frontline fighter is capable of performing. No other combat-capable fighter -- especially not one with the stealth capabilities of the Raptor -- can fly so slowly, or at such extreme angles, without losing control of the aircraft. The Raptor’s unrivaled flight control system, vectored thrust capability and unmatched power will allow it to showcase maneuvers most people have never seen from a fighter aircraft before. Most impressive is the Raptor’s ability to seemingly hang in mid-air, then propel forward with great speed, compliments of the aircraft’s vectored thrust capability.

As he develops a high-speed, low-level, fully aerobatic act to be showcased in 2008, Moga continues to learn just how powerful and versatile the Raptor truly is. “What’s truly incredible is this represents only a fraction of the jet’s combat capability,” Moga adds. “Stealth, Supercruise, complete Battlefield Situational Awareness and … munitions precision just cannot be demonstrated at an airshow.”

A pair of Raptors will perform above Wittman Regional Airport on July 26 and Moga will fly an aerial demonstration each afternoon on Friday through Sunday, July 27-29.* Otherwise, the F-22s will be parked on the AeroShell Square showcase ramp for public display. When you witness the behemoth Raptor’s improbable choreography in the sky and acknowledge Major Max Moga’s superior piloting skills, give due credit to the painless, safer Oregon Aero ejection seat cushions that liberate Moga to do his job so well.

* For updated airshow schedule information, see www.airshowbuzz.com.

OREGON AERO’S NEW PRODUCTS
KEEP WORKERS PAIN-FREE AND SAFER

“While aviation manufacturers and aircraft maintenance technicians definitely can benefit from the new line of OS&H products, workers in any aviation-related or other industry that subjects the body to painful or strenuous activity will profit from these innovative products.”

“Reducing injuries means lower medical and insurance expenses, fewer workers compensation claims, and less lost time on the job.” — Casey Dennis, Oregon Aero OS&H Solutions Analyst

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – Oregon Aero, Inc. — the leader in designing and manufacturing Painless, Safer and Quieter™ aviation products — is introducing new products to the Occupational Safety & Health (OS&H) industry for workers who kneel, sit, stand or wear head protection on the job.

Aviators at EAA AirVenture know that “Oregon Aero” is synonymous with pain-free seats and seat cushion systems, headset and helmet upgrades, and ShockBlockers® Insole Inserts. Oregon Aero’s design and manufacturing specialists are drawing upon many of the same materials and designs of the aviation upgrades and other products to create several new products that extend beyond the cockpit.

While aviation manufacturers and aircraft maintenance technicians definitely can benefit from the new line of OS&H products, workers in any aviation-related or other industry that subjects the body to painful or strenuous activity will profit from these innovative products as well.

Casey Dennis, Solutions Analyst for Oregon Aero’s new OS&H initiative, says that both employees and their companies benefit from the new Oregon Aero products. “Our OS&H upgrades and other products eliminate the pain that workers often experience from the work they do and the physical demands on their bodies that cause injuries. Reducing injuries means lower medical and insurance expenses, fewer workers compensation claims, and less lost time on the job. The Oregon Aero products more than pay for themselves,” said Dennis.

New Products

• Oregon Aero® Universal Folding Kneeling Pad — a combination of pressure- and temperature-sensitive visco-elastic foam is at the core of the Kneeling Pad created specifically for people who spend much of their time working on their knees. The Kneeling Pad spreads the weight load evenly, which eliminates pressure points that cause pain. The industrial-strength colorfast cover is resistant to inclement weather, acid, chemicals, corrosives, soil, stains, mold and mildew. Unlike polyfoam cushions, the water resistant Kneeling Pad will not soak up water or chemicals when used on a wet surface. The Kneeling Pad includes non-skid strips on the bottom that keep it in place when in use and create an easy-to-use carry handle. Pad measures 12" x 24" x 1" unfolded, 12" x 12" x 2" folded. Hand made.

• Oregon Aero® Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit for Hardhats, Welding Hoods, Bump Caps and Other Headgear — this easily installed upgrade creates pain-free, cooler and dramatically more stable headgear. The Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit eliminates painful pressure points and “hot spots” by equalizing the load throughout the existing suspension system. The kit’s three pads are custom-designed from temperature- and pressure-sensitive composite material that molds itself to the head and improves stability. The pads’ self-wicking proprietary fabric promotes evaporation of sweat, creating cooler, drier headgear. The Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit attaches with low-profile, adhesive-backed hook/loop material in a few minutes and without tools. Also used in firefighting helmets, surgeon’s head lights and other similar headgear. Hand made. Patent pending.

In Development
• Oregon Aero™ Knee Pads — are currently in development and testing. The Knee Pads are designed to fit into the pockets of work pants that accommodate knee pad inserts. Carpenters, mechanics, masons, plumbers and utility workers can all benefit from knee pad protection.
• Oregon Aero™ Removable Knee Pad Pockets — also in development, adhere to the interior pant leg of overalls, uniforms, jeans or any pants to hold an Oregon Aero™ Knee Pad. A double-stick fabric adhesive keeps the Removable Knee Pad Pocket firmly in place.

Other Products For OS&H
• Oregon Aero® ShockBlockers® Insole Inserts — these patented insole inserts dramatically reduce shock to feet and joints and are indispensable for workers who spend long hours standing or walking on hard surfaces. The molecular structure of the polymer used in these insole inserts spreads the shock load and converts shock to heat. But what happens to the heat? A proprietary fabric layer captures the heat (and perspiration) and wicks them to the outer edges of the insole insert, where they evaporate. An additional material reduces friction. Feet stay dry and cool. Three designs for various uses.

• Oregon Aero® Portable Universal SoftSeat™ Cushion Systems — these cushion systems improve the comfort of any seat by shifting the occupant’s hips and pelvis into the proper, comfortable sitting position. The cushion design shifts shoulders back, the upper body rises, and a smooth lumbar is created, resulting in pain-free seating. Visco-elastic foam “reads” body temperature and pressure and prevents burning “hot spots.” It’s called the “Universal” SoftSeat™ Cushion because it can be used anywhere, from cars and trucks to boats, aircraft and office chairs. Base and Lumbar are zippered and ordered separately.

Oregon Aero® High G® Seat Provided Comfort, Safety During Grueling Flight

OSHKOSH, Wisc. – Barrington Irving is aviation’s newest history-making hero at Oshkosh and throughout the world. When the 23-year-old University of Miami student landed his single-engine private plane, Inspiration, back in Miami, he became the youngest person ever – and the first of African-American (Jamaican) descent – to fly solo around the globe. As provider of his pilot seat, Oregon Aero, Inc. celebrates with Irving for the successful completion of his Experience Aviation World Flight Adventure. Celebration is also in order for the fact that Irving experienced “no backaches or anything close” throughout his extended periods in the seat.

Oregon Aero® aviation upgrades have assisted pilots with landmark and record-breaking flights for years. Irving is the most recent pilot adventurer to receive support from Oregon Aero. This literal support to Irving’s body provided relief from distracting pain and fatigue usually associated with long hours of flying, freeing Irving to fully engage in the experience of flight and discovery.

Irving touched down in Miami June 27 after embarking on a flight around the world, coming full circle after launching his worldwide adventure on March 23 from Opa Locka Airport. From there, he journeyed to Canada, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, then finally Alaska, before landing in the continental U.S.

By the time Irving completed his ‘round-the-world flight, he spent more concentrated time in his pilot’s seat within a three-month span than many private pilots ever will. That’s why he was very particular in choosing the Oregon Aero® High-G® Seat for his Columbia 400 (available in Columbia 300, 350 and 400 aircraft). Irving values the comfort, safety, durability and attractiveness the seat provides.

While flying back homeward over the North Pacific, Irving commented in an email, “The seat has definitely served me well, and as a matter of fact, I spoke about it in my journal that I will release in my book. The upright posture has helped my back significantly... No backaches, headaches, or anything close.”

Barrington was inspired by his friend – accomplished aviator Erik Lindbergh – to make this voyage around the world. The grandson of Spirit of St .Louis fame Charles Lindbergh, Erik recreated his grandfather’s historic transatlantic flight in 2002, using the Oregon Aero® High-G® Seat in his Lancair Columbia 300 (now the Columbia 300).

Irving followed Lindbergh’s advice while preparing for his flight, including his choice of pilot seat. Oregon Aero is recognized throughout aviation and military sectors for designing and manufacturing painless, safer seat cushion systems for all types of aircraft, for land vehicles and marine applications. Founded in 1989 by Mike Dennis, this company has invested years of research and testing to engineer the best cockpit seating possible.

The fire resistant High-G® Seat meets all FAA requirements, regulations and dynamic tests.* The custom-manufactured seat includes the seat frame, seat pan, seat assembly and operating mechanisms, as well as energy-absorbing cushions. Skilled technicians build each cushion system layer by layer, using several materials, including visco-elastic foam and as many as 20 individually shaped pieces.

Due to its non-stroking design, the seat provides extra headroom. The seat’s temperature- and pressure-sensitive cushions conform to the occupant’s body. They actually shift the pilot’s posture into the proper, erect and effortless sitting position for pain-free sitting — no matter how long the flight.

The seat back position adjusts easily to a wide range of recline angles. The seat slides forward and backward so Irving enjoys a comfortable reach to the rudder pedals and controls, and maximizes his ability to see out of the airplane. It boosts him slightly higher than the average pilot seat, so he enjoys greater visibility. The cushion base is longer for extra thigh support, and lumbar support in the rear cushion slides up or down for a perfect fit.

Since Irving was sitting comfortably on his arduous journey, he didn’t have to strain to do repetitive tasks during his long flight, like reaching for the instrument panel. He wasn’t squirming in his seat to find a more comfortable position, so wasn’t distracted by nagging aches and pains. Irving was free to concentrate on better things… like focusing on the successful completion of an aviation world record!

The High-G® Seat is available in select production and homebuilt aircraft models. But any private pilot can enjoy the benefits of Oregon Aero® seat cushion systems, regardless of the aircraft they fly. Customers can have seat cushions custom-designed to their particular needs, or simply purchase a portable cushion to place over an existing seat.

* Oregon Aero, Inc. conducts dynamic seat testing per the emergency landing conditions promulgated by the FAA in 1988 (Amendment 23-36) to improve the crashworthy performance of aircraft. Compliance with these FAA regulations by Oregon Aero®TM products does not ensure freedom from injury or death in aircraft accidents.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Special to EAA AirVenture
July 2007

Oshkosh, Wisc. - The Oregon Aero^SM SkyDancer will be a must-see feature of the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration, EAA AirVenture 2007. Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver bring their special brand of aerial artistry to Oshkosh once again, delivering crowd-pleasing aerobatics on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday afternoons and skywriting throughout the week as conditions permit.

They will also sign autographs and greet fans at Oregon Aero Booth #3137 in Building C at 10:30 a.m. daily from Tuesday through Sunday.* Year after year, EAA AirVenture attendees ask for more ways to meet their favorite airshow pilots in person. So this year – as in 2006 – Steve and Suzanne will sign autographs at the EAA Member Village, located just off AeroShell Square, sometime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., from Monday to Sunday (check at tent for exact times).

As the world’s only husband-and-wife aerobatic and skywriting duo since 1980, Steve and Suzanne are veterans of the airshow circuit. They earned the Sword of Excellence Award in 1999 from the International Council of Airshows for their outstanding service and personal contributions to the industry. It is widely considered to be the highest honor an airshow professional can receive.

Steve and Suzanne have enjoyed an exciting start to the 2007 airshow season, with a packed performance schedule that has taken them to points all over the U.S. before landing in Oshkosh for this annual mid-season extravaganza. Along their way, Steve and Suzanne have captured the attention of the press, including live television spots on the local news, appearances in World Airshow News, Smithsonian’s Air & Space, and Pilot Journal magazines, among others. They are also featured in the first chapter of renowned photographer Erik Hildebrandt’s Front Row Center 3, a new coffee table book that celebrates today’s greatest airshow performers. Front Row Center 3 is a collector’s dream, highlighting airshow greats like Patty Wagstaff, Michael Goulian and Kirby Chambliss, among others.

Every season, Steve and Suzanne build upon the excitement and ingenuity of previous acts to bring fresh choreography to their SkyDancing. The unmistakable rumble of SkyDancer’s engine and its outpouring of white smoke capture spectators’ attention as Steve presents his classic aerobatic show. Steve flies tightly in front of the crowd, displaying a gracefully powerful aerial ballet of loops, rolls, avalanches, humpty-bumps, octagon eights, point and hesitation rolls, and low inverted passes. The result: a SkyDance set to rock-n-roll favorites interplayed with call-n-response narration for a memorable performance.

Suzanne is the nation’s only active female professional skywriter. Her smoke messages are seen 30 miles in every direction, generating clever promotion for Oregon Aero and EAA. Each letter is one mile high, and a typical seven-letter message stretches 10 miles across the sky. Skywriting fluid vaporizes in SkyDancer’s exhaust system and expands behind it in legible white smoke. Suzanne delivers this nearly lost aviation technique with carefully choreographed flying, featuring precise turns, exact headings and perfect timing. The result is a head-turning phenomenon that takes spectators by pleasant surprise.

Larger than many airshow aircraft, SkyDancer is a warbird that dominates the aerobatic box. The 1956 de Havilland Chipmunk has been specially modified for airshow aerobatics. The aircraft was originally designed as a trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Nearly 3,000 man-hours over a two-year period were spent transforming SkyDancer into the finest example of a Super Chipmunk. It now boasts a cruising speed of 160 mph, a range of more than 500 miles, and a climb rate of 2,500 feet per minute. SkyDancer’s dynamic paint scheme and custom leather interior beautifully reflect its sponsorship by Oregon Aero.

Sought after by aerobatic, military and private pilots worldwide, Oregon Aero offers practical solutions to problems in the cockpit created by pain, discomfort and noise. Oregon Aero solves problems for customers from all walks of life. The company designs and manufactures more than 500 products, engineered solutions that eliminate pain, improve impact protection and reduce noise.

The Olivers have relied on Oregon Aero products over the years to make their SkyDancing Painless, Safer and Quieter™. Steve was the first performer Oregon Aero endorsed with product support. The company now provides product support for more than 70 aerobatic performers of national and international scope. Since the 2006 airshow season, Oregon Aero has been title sponsor of the Oregon AeroSM SkyDancer, building upon the enduring relationship between the Olivers and Oregon Aero founders and co-owners Mike and Jude Dennis.

The core value of the Oregon Aero sponsorship for Steve and Suzanne is personal comfort and peace of mind under grueling conditions. The Olivers maintain a challenging airshow schedule and life on the road that begins in early March with Wings Over Miami and continues through the summer with several shows across the country, culminating with their 16th show for 2007 in late October with the Moody Air Force Base AirFest in Georgia.**

Whether performing for spectators or flying cross-country to their next show, the Olivers say, “The comfort of Oregon Aero seats, headsets and helmets, and the noise reduction of the headset and helmet upgrades are very important to combat the fatigue factor. The less fatigue we feel, the safer we are with the decision-making process. When we’re not in the air, both of us are on our feet all day, so ShockBlockers® Insole Inserts help with foot pain and especially lower back pain from standing.”

Oregon Aero is dedicated to providing that Forgettable is Good® experience to the Olivers so they can forget about cockpit noise and pain, and focus on executing the tightly choreographed aerobatic maneuvers that make their appearances at AirVenture a thrill for all to see.

* Daily appearances of Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver are subject to change, due to schedule conflicts. A sign will be posted at the Oregon Aero booth in Building C every morning, announcing any change from their scheduled 10:30 a.m. appearances.

** For a complete schedule of Oregon Aero^SM SkyDancer’s 2007 airshow season (and much more), check www.OregonAeroSkyDancer.com.

Several factors contribute to headset pain.
Ignoring any one makes the headset as uncomfortable as ever.

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – It is well-documented that Oregon Aero, Inc. — a company that today manufactures hundreds of upgrades for aviation products — began with one basic product designed by Mike Dennis to end his wife’s head pain caused by her aviation headset. After a great deal of research, thinking and experimentation, Mike created the SoftTop® Headset Cushion from leather and sheepskin wool. Jude’s headaches were alleviated, and Mike and Jude began selling the headset upgrade at fly-ins. But the story — and the upgrade — didn’t end there.

What began as a one-pad headset upgrade has evolved into the Oregon Aero® Complete Aviation Headset Upgrade Kit with five components. The components work as one to end headset pain and improve acoustic performance. Why the need for five components? “Human factors,” says Mike. “People are bothered by different things to different degrees. That’s the way the whole upgrade developed.

“After the SoftTop® Headset Cushion had been out for a while, a guy came to me and said, ‘I got your SoftTop®, but do you ever get face pain when you’re wearing it?’ and I said, ‘face pain? What do you mean?’ Then we talked and came to the conclusion that he was experiencing pain from the ear seals. That conversation led to the development of SoftSeal® Ear Cushions.

“Once we eliminated the head and face pain, people began to notice that headset noise is painful. The source of the noise is actually the radio, because they have the volume cranked up to go over the ambient background noise. Each distraction comes creeping in at a different point in time. You just have to wear the headset long enough to realize it,” says Mike. Oregon Aero developed the HushKit® Passive Ear Cup Noise Attenuation Kit and MicMuff® Microphone Cover to address noise and improve acoustic performance.

Mike came to realize that several factors – not just one – cause headset pain. Ignoring any one factor makes the entire headset as uncomfortable as ever. “Installing only one of the upgrade kit’s five components doesn’t end 20% of the old misery,” says Mike. “You still experience 100% of the discomfort. If you upgrade your headset with everything except the SoftSkin® Ear Seal Covers, for instance, on a hot day, perspiration will drive you nuts.”

The Oregon Aero® Complete Aviation Headset Upgrade Kit represents the company’s understanding of all the physiological effects you experience when wearing a headset over time. Oregon Aero addressed every issue and left none unresolved, blocking the emergence of any new source of misery.

The development of the Oregon Aero® Complete Aviation Headset Upgrade Kit exemplifies Oregon Aero’s approach to solving problems. Mike did not set out to develop a five-component headset upgrade. Instead, Mike was guided down the path of discovery by listening to people and endeavoring to solve their problems. “Every Oregon Aero product exists because somebody told us about a problem or need,” Mike says. “We don’t fall in love with our own product ideas and then try to convince people to buy the products. We solve problems. We listen to what people need and then figure out how to give it to them in a top quality product.”

The irony of the Oregon Aero® Complete Aviation Headset Upgrade Kit is that it makes headsets so comfortable, people say they forget they are wearing a headset. Pleased customers made this comment frequently enough that the company coined the phrase, Forgettable Is Good™.

Virtually any headset can benefit from the Oregon Aero® Complete Aviation Headset Upgrade Kit, regardless of its age, make or model. For much less than the cost of a new headset, old headsets can be upgraded to painless, quieter performers. As another Oregon Aero slogan points out, The World’s Greatest Headset Is the One You Already Own™ — with an Oregon Aero® Upgrade Kit!

During AirVenture, stop by Oregon Aero Booth #3137 in Building C for free installation of a customized Complete Aviation Headset Upgrade Kit. Each kit includes all necessary components which perform best when installed together. The kit can also be ordered directly from Oregon Aero by using a convenient single part number assigned to each headset manufacturer.

• SoftTop® Headset Cushion: Eliminates top-of-head pressure. 100% plush sheepskin wool. Keeps head cool or warm. Moisture-proof, self-wicking action. Flexible leather backing.

• SoftSeal® Ear Cushions: Conform to head shape. 200-300% more volume for total comfort. Smooth, soft synthetic leather cover over temperature- and pressure-sensitive visco-elastic foam core. Great with eyewear. Eliminate ear pressure.

• SoftSkin® Ear Seal Covers: Keep ears even drier and cooler and add to product life by slipping over SoftSeal® Ear Cushions. Self-wicking reduces perspiration buildup. Especially helpful in hot, humid climates. Fit loosely, not tightly like a drum (tight cloth covers produce pressure on the ear, causing pain).

• HushKit® Passive Ear Cup Noise Attenuation Kit: Testing shows the HushKit® Passive Ear Cup Noise Attenuation Kit performs better than ANR headsets in the 700-7000Hz mid-range where hearing loss occurs. Dramatically improves noise attenuation and intelligibility. Four die-cut visco-elastic foam layers fill all ear cup voids (used with non-ANR headsets). For more technical data about noise attenuation, click here.

• MicMuff® Microphone Cover: Eliminates ambient cockpit noise and noise from radios and intercom — the noisier the cockpit, the more dramatic the improvement in noise reduction and clarity. Soft leatherette cover over foam sleeve creates chamber around mic. Cockpit noise has limited access to mic cartridges, but voice enters easily through holes in leatherette cover. Elasticized tie ensures it won’t blow away. For more technical information about how the MicMuff® Microphone Cover works, click here.

Customers may call Oregon Aero’s headset upgrade specialist at 800-888-6910 for assistance.

*Oregon Aero, Inc. conducts dynamic seat testing per the emergency landing conditions promulgated by the FAA in 1988 (as
Amendment 23-36) to improve the crashworthy performance of aircraft. Compliance with these FAA regulations by Oregon Aero products does not ensure freedom from injury or death in aircraft accidents.
** (February 2006 issue, page 64)

High G® Seat Provided Comfort, Safety During Grueling Flight

June 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – When 23-year-old Barrington Irving lands his single-engine private plane, Inspiration, back in Miami, he will have met his goal: to be the youngest person ever – and the first of African-American (Jamaican) descent to ever fly solo around the globe. As provider of his pilot seat, Oregon Aero, Inc. celebrates with Irving for his successful near-completion of his Experience Aviation World Flight Adventure. Celebration is also in order for the fact that Irving experienced “no backaches or anything close” throughout his extended periods in the seat.

Oregon Aero® aviation upgrades have assisted pilots with landmark and record-breaking flights for years. Irving is the most recent pilot adventurer to receive support from Oregon Aero. This literal support to Irving’s body provided relief from distracting pain and fatigue usually associated with long hours of flying, freeing Irving to fully engage in the experience of flight and discovery.

Irving touched down in Seattle today, his first stop in the Continental US since launching his worldwide adventure from Miami on March 23. From Miami, he journeyed to Canada, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, then finally Alaska, before landing in Seattle. Irving hopes to visit aircraft sponsor Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation in Bend, OR and then make stops in Denver and Houston before returning to victory celebrations in his home base at Opa Locka Airport in Miami.

By the time Irving completes his ‘round-the-world flight, he will have spent more concentrated time in his pilot’s seat within a three-month span than many private pilots ever will. That’s why he was very particular in choosing the Oregon Aero® High-G® Seat for his Columbia 400 (available in Columbia 300, 350 and 400 aircraft). Irving values the comfort, safety, durability and attractiveness the seat provides.

While flying back homeward over the North Pacific, Irving commented in an email, “The seat has definitely served me well, and as a matter of fact, I spoke about it in my journal that I will release in my book. The upright posture has helped my back significantly... No backaches, headaches, or anything close.”

Barrington was inspired by his friend -- accomplished aviator Erik Lindbergh -- to make this voyage around the world. The grandson of Spirit of St. Louis fame Charles Lindbergh, Erik recreated his grandfather’s historic transatlantic flight in 2002, using the Oregon Aero® High-G® Seat in his Lancair Columbia 300 (now the Columbia 300).

Irving followed Lindbergh’s advice while preparing for his flight, including his choice of pilot seat. Oregon Aero is recognized throughout aviation and military sectors for designing and manufacturing painless, safer seat cushion systems for all types of aircraft, for land vehicles and marine applications. Founded in 1989 by Mike Dennis, this company has invested years of research and testing to engineer the best cockpit seating possible.

The fire resistant High G® Seat meets all FAA requirements, regulations and dynamic tests.* The custom-manufactured seat includes the seat frame, seat pan, seat assembly and operating mechanisms, as well as energy-absorbing cushions. Skilled technicians build each cushion system layer by layer, using several materials, including visco-elastic foam and as many as 20 individually shaped pieces.

Due to its non-stroking design, the seat provides extra headroom. The seat’s temperature- and pressure-sensitive cushions conform to the occupant’s body. They actually shift the pilot’s posture into the proper, erect and effortless sitting position for pain-free sitting — no matter how long the flight.

The seat back position easily adjusts to a wide range of recline angles. The seat slides forward and backward so Irving enjoys a comfortable reach to the rudder pedals and controls, and maximizes his ability to see out of the airplane. It boosts him slightly higher than the average pilot seat, so he enjoys greater visibility. The cushion base is longer for extra thigh support, and lumbar support in the rear cushion slides up or down for a perfect fit.

Since Irving was sitting comfortably on his arduous journey, he didn’t have to strain to do repetitive tasks during his long flight, like reaching for the instrument panel. He wasn’t squirming in his seat to find a more comfortable position, so wasn’t distracted by nagging aches and pains. Irving was free to concentrate on better things… like focusing on successful completion of an aviation world record!

The High-G® Seat is available in select production and homebuilt aircraft models. But any private pilot can enjoy the benefits of Oregon Aero seat systems, regardless of the aircraft they fly. Customers can have seat cushions custom-designed to their particular needs, or simply purchase a portable cushion to place over an existing seat.

* Oregon Aero, Inc. conducts dynamic seat testing per the emergency landing conditions promulgated by the FAA in 1988 (Amendment 23-36) to improve the crashworthy performance of aircraft. Compliance with these FAA regulations by Oregon Aero®™ products does not ensure freedom from injury or death in aircraft accidents.

For Immediate Release
June 2007

Oregon Aero® Headset Upgrade Kits Fight Fatigue and Improve Safety
The World’s Greatest Headset Is the One You Already Own®—
With an Oregon Aero® Upgrade!

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – Oregon Aero, Inc. — the leader in designing and manufacturing Painless, Safer and Quieter™ upgrades for headsets, helmets and other equipment — offers the complete solution to painful, noisy communications and other headsets in convenient upgrade kits. The headset upgrade kits eliminate pain and pressure, improve intelligibility and keep the head and ears cool and dry. Oregon Aero manufactures aviation, ground support, hearing protection and land vehicle headset upgrade kits for more than 150 models, including the ANR and non-ANR headsets most commonly used in law enforcement.

The Oregon Aero® communications headset upgrade kit consists of five interrelated components. That’s because Oregon Aero founder, president and components designer Mike Dennis came to realize that several factors, not just one, cause headset pain. Ignoring any one factor makes the entire headset as painful as it ever was. “Installing only one of the upgrade kit’s five components doesn’t end 20% of the old misery. You still experience 100% of the old misery. Each distraction comes creeping in at a different point in time. You just have to wear the headset long enough to realize it,” says Dennis. The combination of the kit’s five components addresses every issue and leaves none unresolved.

Headsets can be painful to wear whether they are new or old. It isn’t a question of age; it’s a matter of design. Replacing a headset doesn’t guarantee comfort, either. Oregon Aero® communications and other headset upgrade kits provide comfort and enhanced performance — at a fraction of the cost of a new headset.

Oregon Aero® headset upgrade kits are hand made and custom-designed for the most common headsets used in law enforcement. The kit’s five integral components work together to improve headset performance and comfort. Each kit includes all necessary components for each particular headset model and perform best when installed together. Prices vary by headset type. Complete upgrade kits including all five components may range from $100-$129.

Click here for details.

SoftTop® Headset Cushion: Eliminates top-of-head pressure. 100% plush sheepskin wool. Keeps head cool or warm. Moisture-proof, self-wicking action. Flexible leather backing.

SoftSeal® Ear Cushions: Conform to head shape. 200-300% more volume for total comfort. Smooth, soft synthetic leather cover over temperature and pressure sensitive visco-elastic foam core. Great with eyewear. Eliminate ear pressure.

SoftSkin® Ear Seal Covers: Keep ears even drier and cooler and add to product life by slipping SoftSkin® Ear Seal Covers over SoftSeal® Ear Cushions. Self-wicking reduces perspiration buildup. Especially helpful in hot, humid climates. They fit loosely, not tightly like a drum (this is important because tight cloth covers produce pressure on the ear, causing pain).

HushKit® Passive Ear Cup Noise Attenuation Kit: Testing shows the HushKit® Passive Ear Cup Noise Attenuation Kit performs better than ANR headsets in the 700-7000Hz mid-range where hearing loss occurs. Dramatically improves noise attenuation and intelligibility. Four die-cut visco-elastic foam layers fill all ear cup voids (used with non-ANR headsets). For more technical data about noise attenuation, click here.

MicMuff® Microphone Cover: Eliminates ambient cockpit noise and noise from radios and intercom — the noisier the cockpit, the more dramatic the improvement in noise reduction and clarity. Soft leatherette cover over foam sleeve creates chamber around mic. Noise has limited access to mic cartridges, but voice enters easily through holes in leatherette cover. Elasticized tie ensures it won’t blow away. For more technical information about how the MicMuff® Microphone Cover works, click here.

Oregon Aero® headset upgrade kits are so comfortable that users say they forget they are wearing their headset. With pain problems solved and noise reduced, law enforcement personnel are free to engage fully in their mission.

For Immediate Release
June 2007

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. – Oregon Aero, Inc. — the leader in designing and manufacturing Painless, Safer and Quieter™ helmet upgrades for the military, law enforcement and other industries — has introduced the new Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit for firefighting helmets. The innovative upgrade kit includes everything to make firefighting helmets pain-free, dramatically more stable and cooler.

The Oregon Aero® Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit eliminates painful pressure points and “hot spots” by equalizing the load throughout the helmet’s existing suspension system. The kit’s three pads are custom-designed from a temperature and pressure sensitive composite material that molds itself to the head and improves stability. The pads’ self-wicking proprietary fabric promotes evaporation of sweat, creating a cooler, drier helmet.

The Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit attaches to the firefighting helmet’s existing suspension system using low-profile, adhesive-backed hook/loop material. Upgrading requires no helmet modifications or tools and is completed in a few minutes. It is called the “Universal Upgrade Kit” because it can be used to upgrade virtually any type of firefighting helmet.

Once the Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit is installed, firefighters will forget that it’s there, but they will remember the helmet’s dramatically improved comfort and stability. With helmet pain eliminated, firefighters can focus on the task at hand.

The Oregon Aero® Zeta-C™ Universal Upgrade Kit includes two 10" x 1-1/2" pads, one 8-1/2" x 1-1/2" pad, four 6" x 1" lengths of low-profile, adhesive-backed hook/loop material, two alcohol swabs, and installation instructions. The Kit's retail price is $35. Patent pending.

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