Polarized Sun Glasses

[Richard[_9_]]

How many of you use polarized sun glasses? Are they common? Are
they popular? Do they work?

I personally use Sun Tigers.

Richard

[Tony V]

On 5/25/2012 8:22 PM, Richard wrote:
> How many of you use polarized sun glasses? Are they common? Are
> they popular? Do they work?


If my sunglasses were polarized, I'd have to tilt my head one way to
read the radio display, and then 90 degrees to read the Cambridge 302.
When I told my optician that I did not want polarized sunglasses, the
question I got was "are you a pilot?".

Tony

[Tony V]

On 5/25/2012 8:22 PM, Richard wrote:
> How many of you use polarized sun glasses? Are they common? Are
> they popular? Do they work?


If my sunglasses were polarized, I'd have to tilt my head one way to
read the radio display, and then 90 degrees to read the Cambridge 302.
When I told my optician that I did not want polarized sunglasses, the
question I got was "are you a pilot?".

Tony

[Mike C]

On May 25, 6:22*pm, Richard > wrote:
> How many of you use polarized sun glasses? * *Are they common? *Are
> they popular? *Do they work?
>
> I personally use Sun Tigers.
>
> Richard

I often do-Serengetis. Have to do the 45 deg head tilt to see the LCD
info on the Westerboer.

The Streak is fine in portrait mode, which I prefer over landscape.

Mike C

[Mike Mike Ground]

On May 25, 5:22*pm, Richard > wrote:
> How many of you use polarized sun glasses? * *Are they common? *Are
> they popular? *Do they work?
>
> I personally use Sun Tigers.
>
> Richard

I use polarized prescription sun glasses. They help me see features
such as haze domes, darker areas of cloud bases, etc. They also
reduce eye fatigue on long flights. I can clearly see all the
screens my 302, 303, Becker radio and transponder and the Oudie2.
However, I was very disappointed to discover that my new PowerFLARM
screen (portable) is only visible if I tilt my head more than 60
degrees. A few years ago a batch of 302’s had the same problem but I
think Cambridge recalled them and corrected the problem. My 302 must
have been after the problem was corrected...it was fine from day 1. I
hope PowerFLARM addresses this issue. It seems silly to be flying
around with such a good safety device but not being able to see
it.

MM

[[email protected]]

On Friday, May 25, 2012 8:22:56 PM UTC-4, Richard wrote:
> How many of you use polarized sun glasses? Are they common? Are
> they popular? Do they work?

Besides the problems with LCD instrument screens, polarized sun glasses are said to reduce the visibility of other aircraft because they reduce the "glare" off the surface of the other traffic. For that reason, polarized glasses may reduce your situational awareness and increase your possibility of mid-air collision.

If you take off your polarized sunglasses, you will sometimes see a flash of sun bouncing off a banking glider's wings (often in a spot where you did not see the aircraft before the flash).

Polarized glasses make the clouds look "pretty" but I'd rather see the traffic better. Glare is your friend.

Dr. Dan had a Soaring Rx column on sunglasses in Soaring magazine recently that seemed pretty good. It covers some other points not mentioned here. Like 'avoid color shifting lenses.'

[dbrunone]

I have read that while polarized glasses cut down on glare, they also cut down on your ability to see "slightly shiny" features of the ground. This could hinder your ability to determine if a particular site is a safe landing area. Again, I don't have experience with this, but just what I've heard. Also, there are the issues with electronics discussed above.

[Frank Whiteley]

On Friday, May 25, 2012 7:54:06 PM UTC-6, Mike Mike Ground wrote:
> On May 25, 5:22*pm, Richard > wrote:
> > How many of you use polarized sun glasses? * *Are they common? *Are
> > they popular? *Do they work?
> >
> > I personally use Sun Tigers.
> >
> > Richard
>
> I use polarized prescription sun glasses. They help me see features
> such as haze domes, darker areas of cloud bases, etc. They also
> reduce eye fatigue on long flights. I can clearly see all the
> screens my 302, 303, Becker radio and transponder and the Oudie2.
> However, I was very disappointed to discover that my new PowerFLARM
> screen (portable) is only visible if I tilt my head more than 60
> degrees. A few years ago a batch of 302’s had the same problem but I
> think Cambridge recalled them and corrected the problem. My 302 must
> have been after the problem was corrected...it was fine from day 1. I
> hope PowerFLARM addresses this issue. It seems silly to be flying
> around with such a good safety device but not being able to see
> it.
>
> MM

For me, the tint helps with the haze domes and cloud resolution. Brown works best for me. However, I am colorblind. On the other hand, I only need 1..5 diopters for the PC and reading, my distance vision remains very good.

IMVHO, polarized lenses are fine, for fishing and sailing, not for flying.

YMMV,

Frank Whiteley

[Matt Herron Jr.]

On May 26, 5:13*am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
> On Friday, May 25, 2012 7:54:06 PM UTC-6, Mike Mike Ground wrote:
> > On May 25, 5:22*pm, Richard > wrote:
> > > How many of you use polarized sun glasses? * *Are they common? *Are
> > > they popular? *Do they work?
>
> > > I personally use Sun Tigers.
>
> > > Richard
>
> > I use polarized prescription sun glasses. *They help me see features
> > such as haze domes, darker areas of cloud bases, etc. * They also
> > reduce eye fatigue on long flights. * I can clearly see all the
> > screens my 302, 303, Becker radio and transponder and the Oudie2.
> > However, I was very disappointed to discover that my new PowerFLARM
> > screen (portable) is only visible if I tilt my head more than 60
> > degrees. * A few years ago a batch of 302’s had the same problem but I
> > think Cambridge recalled them and corrected the problem. *My 302 must
> > have been after the problem was corrected...it was fine from day 1. *I
> > hope PowerFLARM addresses this issue. * It seems silly to be flying
> > around with such a good safety device but not being able to see
> > it.
>
> > MM
>
> For me, the tint helps with the haze domes and cloud resolution. Brown works best for me. *However, I am colorblind. *On the other hand, I only need 1.5 diopters for the PC and reading, my distance vision remains very good.
>
> IMVHO, polarized lenses are fine, for fishing and sailing, not for flying..
>
> YMMV,
>
> Frank Whiteley

I use polarized lenses 100% of the time when flying. in addition to
eliminating glare, they significantly darken the sky without darkening
my view of gliders. This means I have a higher contrast ratio and can
see traffic more easily. While I may miss the occasional glint of a
wing, I gladly trade that for improved traffic visibility whenever I
am scanning. This reason alone is worth it to me. Try a pair from
the safety of the ground next time you are searching for the sniffer
on the ridge line. In addition, polarized lenses definitely improve
visibility of haze domes and cloud whips (again because the background
sky is darker.) So far I don't have a problem with instruments going
black, although I am disappointed to hear PowerFlarm screwed this up.
There is no debilitating colored light show through the plex canopy
either. While it's true that you can't immediately see sparkles off
the water, I often tilt my head when scanning the ground for signs of
wind, and if present, the sparkles "jump out", making me more aware of
their presence. additionally, I think thin smoke is easier to see on
the ground with polarization.

I need bifocals for flying, and finding good polarized bifocals has
been challenging. Suncloud makes some nice, quality ones for <$100.
You can buy them on Amazon, along with others. Other sources/
suggestions for good polarized bifocals?

Matt

[Mike C]

On May 26, 10:02*am, "Matt Herron Jr." > wrote:
> On May 26, 5:13*am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Friday, May 25, 2012 7:54:06 PM UTC-6, Mike Mike Ground wrote:
> > > On May 25, 5:22*pm, Richard > wrote:
> > > > How many of you use polarized sun glasses? * *Are they common? *Are
> > > > they popular? *Do they work?
>
> > > > I personally use Sun Tigers.
>
> > > > Richard
>
> > > I use polarized prescription sun glasses. *They help me see features
> > > such as haze domes, darker areas of cloud bases, etc. * They also
> > > reduce eye fatigue on long flights. * I can clearly see all the
> > > screens my 302, 303, Becker radio and transponder and the Oudie2.
> > > However, I was very disappointed to discover that my new PowerFLARM
> > > screen (portable) is only visible if I tilt my head more than 60
> > > degrees. * A few years ago a batch of 302’s had the same problem but I
> > > think Cambridge recalled them and corrected the problem. *My 302 must
> > > have been after the problem was corrected...it was fine from day 1. *I
> > > hope PowerFLARM addresses this issue. * It seems silly to be flying
> > > around with such a good safety device but not being able to see
> > > it.
>
> > > MM
>
> > For me, the tint helps with the haze domes and cloud resolution. Brown works best for me. *However, I am colorblind. *On the other hand, I only need 1.5 diopters for the PC and reading, my distance vision remains very good.
>
> > IMVHO, polarized lenses are fine, for fishing and sailing, not for flying.
>
> > YMMV,
>
> > Frank Whiteley
>
> I use polarized lenses 100% of the time when flying. *in addition to
> eliminating glare, they significantly darken the sky without darkening
> my view of gliders. *This means I have a higher contrast ratio and can
> see traffic more easily. *While I may miss the occasional glint of a
> wing, I gladly trade that for improved traffic visibility whenever I
> am scanning. *This reason alone is worth it to me. *Try a pair from
> the safety of the ground next time you are searching for the sniffer
> on the ridge line. *In addition, polarized lenses definitely improve
> visibility of haze domes and cloud whips (again because the background
> sky is darker.) *So far I don't have a problem with instruments going
> black, although I am disappointed to hear PowerFlarm screwed this up.
> There is no debilitating colored light show through the plex canopy
> either. *While it's true that you can't immediately see sparkles off
> the water, I often tilt my head when scanning the ground for signs of
> wind, and if present, the sparkles "jump out", making me more aware of
> their presence. *additionally, I think thin smoke is easier to see on
> the ground with polarization.
>
> I need bifocals for flying, and finding good polarized bifocals has
> been challenging. *Suncloud makes some nice, quality ones for <$100.
> You can buy them on Amazon, along with others. *Other sources/
> suggestions for good polarized bifocals?
>
> Matt

OPTX 20/20 stick on bifocals have worked well for me.

[akiley]

On May 25, 8:22*pm, Richard > wrote:
> How many of you use polarized sun glasses? * *Are they common? *Are
> they popular? *Do they work?
>
> I personally use Sun Tigers.
>
> Richard

If you already wear glasses, I like the nerdie flip up pola sunglasses
sold at Meijer (Michigan discount store chain) for 12 bucks. You can
quickly flip them up under a dark cloud, or when you want a non
polarized look at something. They may reduce glare at some angles but
half of angles are not effected at all by pola sunglasses. To prove
this look at a blue sky 90 degrees to the sun and the sky gets much
darker. But if you look at the sky directly toward the direction of
the sun or directly away from the sun, the pola has no effect. This
holds true with objects that glare and reflect as well. Only some
angles are polarized. As a result, sometimes white gliders really pop
out of a deep blue sky, there will be other times when glare reduction
might make it little harder to see. But glare reduction is less
effected by white. Dark colored gliders would be bad.

I really think one can not say for sure that pola sunglasses are worse
for seeing other gliders overall. I've just spent 35 years as an
automotive photographer. I used pola filters about 90 percent of the
time. They make it easy on your eyes and cut reflections inside the
canopy so you can see out better. So as long as you can read your
displays. Mine all work OK. ..Aaron

[[email protected]]

When my prescription sunglasses (with non polarized Serengeti Driver lenses) broke just before my gliding holidays, I bought polarized clip-ons as a quick fix (no non-polarized clip-ons available!). It worked more or less, but I had problems with Cambridge L-nav and other LCD display instruments. Worse, I noticed dark spots and waves in the perspex of the canopy, reducing visibility. I have the same problem with the rear window of my car: I can see a dark wafer pattern...

So as soon as I came home, I had new prescription sunglasses made, non-polarized again. I now use the polarized clip-ons when not aviating.


On Saturday, May 26, 2012 2:22:56 AM UTC+2, Richard wrote:
> How many of you use polarized sun glasses? Are they common? Are
> they popular? Do they work?
>
> I personally use Sun Tigers.
>
> Richard

[JC]

Some people like polarized, some people don´t..
I have been using polarized Serengeti Drivers for years and I think
they are fantastic for flying and driving.
Regards,
Juan Carlos

[son_of_flubber]

On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:34:36 AM UTC-4, JC wrote:
> Some people like polarized, some people don´t..
> I have been using polarized Serengeti Drivers for years and I think
> they are fantastic for flying and driving.
> Regards,
> Juan Carlos

Right, personal preference rules. If you want reflections on the inside of your canopy to block your view of the sky, use unpolarized. If you want black spots on the inside of your canopy to block your view of the sky, use polarized. In practice, the mind filters out the black spots and the reflections. The gaps in your view of the sky only become obvious in photographs..