Flashlight recommendations?

[Jim Logajan]

I expect I'll be doing night training in the next couple weeks, and while I have a number of traditional flashlights available (a couple small LED ones too) I'm wondering whether it is worthwhile to buy one with red LEDs or combination color deals - such as those sold by Sporty's. Anyone have recommendations or advice? It's not a big loss if I end up choosing wrong, but buying the wrong flashlight means one more piece of clutter I already deal with.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Fast responses - thanks! Is there anymore info (make, model) on that head lamp/light? I found this http://sportys.com/pilotshop/product/11857 and this http://www.pilotmall.com/product/Petzl-Tikka-Plus-LED-Head-Light/flashlights but the second is more like $33.

How comfortable are they when wearing sunglasses and headphones? :wink2:

 

[Jim Logajan]

Try to find one that doesn't cycle through the white light just to get to the red (or to turn it off). I don't know if you'll find one anymore.

I bought a cheap 2-AAA penlight, took the prefocused incandescent bulb out, broke the glass and filament out of the bulb, and soldered in a small amber LED. Got to get the polarity right. Batteries last a long time and it's dim enough to be useful. You could use red, but amber works better for me. Too much stuff on the chart didn't show up under the red light.

Dan

I notice that a multi-color headlamp sold by Sporty's, http://sportys.com/pilotshop/product/11857, has white, red, and green LEDs. According to the description it has dual switches - one for white (for preflighting) and another to switch between red and green. It suggests using green for chart reading, which I hadn't seen suggested before. So for switching colors, it appears to be a good choice. Other than placing some slightly opaque material in front of the lights (or adding some circuitry) there doesn't seem to a way to adjust the brightness.

With respect to red versus green in preserving night vision, according to the two links below, it seems there is no definitive answer other than it is best to use a light that allows one to vary the intensity:

http://stlplaces.com/night_vision_red_myth/
http://www.equipped.com/nitevision.htm

 

[Jim Logajan]

Did my first night XC last night. I got a retractable keyring from the local hardware store and a red led keychain. Worked pretty well, but green would be better for charts. I have the sporty's headlamp on order.

I eventually went with that headlamp - it'll do the trick. My CFI thought it was a good idea, though he hadn't seen anyone else use one before. Once you get it, practice switching it on and off and changing colors and such in a dark room. I didn't do nearly enough practice (seemed easy to use) so was rather fat-fingered with it in the cockpit.

(Also glad I took my cross countries during the winter - one can get back at a reasonable hour.)