Tinted canopies

[Gerry Simpson]

What has been the experience among the readers of this sight with respect to colorless or blue tinted canopies and perception changes. For example, do haze domes look essentially the same? Do crops and ground features appear altered? It was conveyed to me from a reasonably knowledgeable source that Sebastian Kawa will not fly with a tinted canopy for these reasons. Also, how much hazardous UV protection is actually afforded by blue tint?

[Tim Taylor]

It depends on where you fly. In the parts of the world with high UV and strong watts/meter squared flux I would get blue or solar gray. Most of Poland is very far north and not that hot, so a clear canopy is tolerable there.. I have not seen any difference in ability to see weather or ground conditions with different canopy tints. The sunglasses you wear has a much greater impact. In very hot and strong sunlight locations the tint of the canopy makes a huge difference in cockpit temperature and pilot comfort.

[[email protected]]

A good quality clear canopy already filters out a lot of UV and a blue tinted one not much more, in any at all. They are blue to filter out some of the infra-red end of the spectrum.

Several years ago in response to a similar ras thread a friend and I in a Dul compared looking out of a blue canopy versus looking out through the clear view with and without various sunglasses and we found that the tint made no discernible difference to how things looked through the sunglasses. Also, and counter-intuitively, we thought cloud definition was better looking through the canopy than through the clear view panel.

Photographs taken through the canopy had a definite slight bluish tinge.

[[email protected]]

Q13: What is the new SC- (Solar Control) Material?
A: The following is a Technical Bulletin from Polycast:
Enhanced Protection from Ultraviolet "A" radiation
UVA exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer and will damage most organic materials. Standard plastic transparencies block practically all UVB and about 80% of UVA rays. Polycast SC colors block all of the UV and >99% of all UVA rays. The harm caused by UV can be reduced by a factor of 20, when SC products are compared to standard acrylic materials.

UV radiation intensely increases approximately 5% with every 1000 ft of altitude while traditional plastic transparencies provide adequate UV protection at sea level it is insufficient at higher altitudes. Pilots, passengers and interior materials may be exposed to periods of high UVA radiation without the protection offered by Polycast SCTM.
Solar Energy Control
For small and medium-sized aircraft and helicopters, the interior heat build up is a serious problem when not in flight. Polycast SCTM colors block out a significant portion of the Near-Infrared Radiation (NIR); this results in less heat. This benefit is gained without sacrificing Visible Light Transmission (VLT), compared to standard materials. For a given VLT, Polycast SCTM colors reduce the NIR radiation (solar energy heat) that penetrates the aircraft by about 30%.
Benefits are synergistic
Damage to aircraft interiors results from periods of inactivity while parked in the sun. The combination of UV radiation (*even at sea level) and high temperatures accelerate the rate of damage to all nonmetallic materials inside the aircraft. The rate of photochemical degradation of organic materials exposed to UV radiation is approximately doubled with every 18°F temperature increase. Keeping the temperatures lower and the UV out will increase the service life of interior components.

[[email protected]]

The above information was copied from Great Lakes Aero Plastics website. They manufacture replacement glass for many light aircraft and are the OEM supplier for Cirrus Aircraft. A couple of years ago I replaced the green tinted glass in my 172 with Great Lakes Solar Control green tinted glass. Immediately I noticed a difference in cabin temperature when climbing back into the airplane after a meal during our $100 hamburger runs. The airplane didn’t feel like an oven anymore.

I remember seeing ads in Soaring magazine some time ago where some outfit was marketing glider canopies with UV protection. Given the exposure to UV that you would experience sitting under that canopy, I would think that UV protection would be highly desirable if you can get it.

My Dad did a lot more soaring than I ever did. He did a fair amount of high altitude work, wave flights and four to five hour duration flights. While he was never one to go around without a shirt on, he often flew wearing thin shirts during the summer months. I mention this because he contracted Melanoma in the center of his chest and succumbed to it a few years later. He did a lot of powered flight as well, from 1942 to 2015, when he died.

I’ve read somewhere that the incidence of skin cancer among the pilot population is something like 50% greater than the general population. I believe this topic merits consideration.

As for the original question, I don’t believe that the shade of tint makes much difference. You need to get some UV protection in your glass for whatever color tint you select.

[Mike Schumann[_2_]]

My Phoenix Motorglider has a tinted canopy. It lets me fly without sunglasses so I can wear narrow reading glasses so I can read the instruments when I look down.

Another advantage is it makes it much easier to read my iPad, iPhone, and other electronic instruments vs being in direct sunlight.

[Ben Hirashima]

Does anyone wear sunglasses with a tinted canopy? I wear prescription sunglasses while flying, and while the idea of a tinted canopy appeals to me, the thought of having to switch to regular glasses when getting in the cockpit is a bit of a turn-off.

[[email protected]]

I always wear varifocal sunglasses under a tinted canopy. Never crossed my mind not to. The blue canopy tint is not visible when flying and is simply designed to reduce direct heating a little bit not to enhance and protect eyesight like good lenses.

[Mike the Strike]

My last two gliders (Discus 2 and Ventus 2) had tinted canopies. These are pretty much essential for flying in the desert southwest of the USA.

I wear custom bifocal sunglasses that were tinted a little less than normal for use in the glider and when driving. They offer minor correction for my distance vision and are optimized to read the instrument panel.

Mike

[[email protected]]

I had a glider with a tinted canopy and at the time had auto tint glasses. Walk around in the sun with dark tinted glasses close the canopy and the lenses would lighten up. Not a fan of auto tint glasses anymore but it that situation it worked.

[Roy B.]

I've noticed no difference with sunglasses and a tinted canopy.

Here is a video posted on a different subject (incipient spins) on this site. But notice the difference in tint between the canopy and the vent window. It almost seems that the window is tinted and the canopy not.

https://youtu.be/PpJA53LjarM?t=119

ROY

[JS[_5_]]

Using prescription "photobrown" tinted glasses, and the canopy is tinted if I can help it. Alle ist gut.
But flying mostly Southwestern USA or NSW, Australia it seems to me that the heat under a clear canopy is a handicap.
The only time I can remember wishing for a clear canopy was for perhaps 5 minutes when a storm ended a SE ridge flight in Pennsylvania. Wipers would have been more of an improvement.
Jim

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

On Friday, September 14, 2018 at 8:02:29 PM UTC-7, Gerry Simpson wrote:
> What has been the experience among the readers of this sight with respect to colorless or blue tinted canopies and perception changes. For example, do haze domes look essentially the same? Do crops and ground features appear altered? It was conveyed to me from a reasonably knowledgeable source that Sebastian Kawa will not fly with a tinted canopy for these reasons. Also, how much hazardous UV protection is actually afforded by blue tint?

Many manufactures offer clear, blue or green tint. I understand from several manufacturer reps over the decades that they generally suggest clear canopies on east coast and tinted for western pilots. AS I am a western pilot I have ordered green tint several times and was always happy I did. I ordered green as, green is a popular color for aviation sunglasses years ago. I have purchased several gliders from the east coast with clear canopies and always missed the tint.

[James Metcalfe[_2_]]

At 12:54 15 September 2018, wrote:
>Polycast SCTM colors block out a significant portion of the Near-Infrared

Radiation (NIR); this results in less heat.

So where does the extra heat go? Reflected into space (or the eyes of
bystanders)? Or absorbed by the glass/perspex/plexiglas ??

[[email protected]]

is a popular color for aviation sunglasses years ago. I have purchased several gliders from the east coast with clear canopies and always missed the tint.


I am east coast, TN, and had green on my laster glider, clear now. REALLY MISS the green.


Kevin
92

[Tango Eight]

Blue tint is fastest.

T8

[Ben Coleman]

Anyone tried a red tint? Should be fastest of all and would look hot.

Cheers Ben

[JS[_5_]]

On Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 2:30:06 PM UTC-7, James Metcalfe wrote:

> So where does the extra heat go?

To nearby air molecules, lifting the airmass you're in and raising your effective L/D. Not a bad option for 250 or 300 Euros.
Jim

[2G]

On Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 5:54:57 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> Q13: What is the new SC- (Solar Control) Material?
> A: The following is a Technical Bulletin from Polycast:
> Enhanced Protection from Ultraviolet "A" radiation
> UVA exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer and will damage most organic materials. Standard plastic transparencies block practically all UVB and about 80% of UVA rays. Polycast SC colors block all of the UV and >99% of all UVA rays. The harm caused by UV can be reduced by a factor of 20, when SC products are compared to standard acrylic materials.
>
> UV radiation intensely increases approximately 5% with every 1000 ft of altitude while traditional plastic transparencies provide adequate UV protection at sea level it is insufficient at higher altitudes. Pilots, passengers and interior materials may be exposed to periods of high UVA radiation without the protection offered by Polycast SCTM.
> Solar Energy Control
> For small and medium-sized aircraft and helicopters, the interior heat build up is a serious problem when not in flight. Polycast SCTM colors block out a significant portion of the Near-Infrared Radiation (NIR); this results in less heat. This benefit is gained without sacrificing Visible Light Transmission (VLT), compared to standard materials. For a given VLT, Polycast SCTM colors reduce the NIR radiation (solar energy heat) that penetrates the aircraft by about 30%.
> Benefits are synergistic
> Damage to aircraft interiors results from periods of inactivity while parked in the sun. The combination of UV radiation (*even at sea level) and high temperatures accelerate the rate of damage to all nonmetallic materials inside the aircraft. The rate of photochemical degradation of organic materials exposed to UV radiation is approximately doubled with every 18°F temperature increase. Keeping the temperatures lower and the UV out will increase the service life of interior components.

All plexiglas blocks 98+% of UV, which is a good thing when you fly 7+ hours at altitudes over 12,000 ft. If you don't think so, put SPF 60 on one arm and leave the other one w/o prior to a long flight. Afterwards, see if there is any difference between the two.

Tom

[2G]

On Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 7:41:28 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> On Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 5:54:57 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> > Q13: What is the new SC- (Solar Control) Material?
> > A: The following is a Technical Bulletin from Polycast:
> > Enhanced Protection from Ultraviolet "A" radiation
> > UVA exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer and will damage most organic materials. Standard plastic transparencies block practically all UVB and about 80% of UVA rays. Polycast SC colors block all of the UV and >99% of all UVA rays. The harm caused by UV can be reduced by a factor of 20, when SC products are compared to standard acrylic materials.
> >
> > UV radiation intensely increases approximately 5% with every 1000 ft of altitude while traditional plastic transparencies provide adequate UV protection at sea level it is insufficient at higher altitudes. Pilots, passengers and interior materials may be exposed to periods of high UVA radiation without the protection offered by Polycast SCTM.
> > Solar Energy Control
> > For small and medium-sized aircraft and helicopters, the interior heat build up is a serious problem when not in flight. Polycast SCTM colors block out a significant portion of the Near-Infrared Radiation (NIR); this results in less heat. This benefit is gained without sacrificing Visible Light Transmission (VLT), compared to standard materials. For a given VLT, Polycast SCTM colors reduce the NIR radiation (solar energy heat) that penetrates the aircraft by about 30%.
> > Benefits are synergistic
> > Damage to aircraft interiors results from periods of inactivity while parked in the sun. The combination of UV radiation (*even at sea level) and high temperatures accelerate the rate of damage to all nonmetallic materials inside the aircraft. The rate of photochemical degradation of organic materials exposed to UV radiation is approximately doubled with every 18°F temperature increase. Keeping the temperatures lower and the UV out will increase the service life of interior components.
>
> All plexiglas blocks 98+% of UV, which is a good thing when you fly 7+ hours at altitudes over 12,000 ft. If you don't think so, put SPF 60 on one arm and leave the other one w/o prior to a long flight. Afterwards, see if there is any difference between the two.
>
> Tom

DG, which uses Mecaplex canopies, claims they absorb 95% of UV:

https://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/en/library/canopy-dg-glider

Tom

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

Ben Hirashima wrote on 9/15/2018 11:00 PM:
> Does anyone wear sunglasses with a tinted canopy? I wear prescription sunglasses while flying, and while the idea of a tinted canopy appeals to me, the thought of having to switch to regular glasses when getting in the cockpit is a bit of a turn-off.
>
I have a pair of prescription glasses with tinted clip-ons that I leave in the
glider in a safe place that I can reach while flying. Just before getting in, I
put "dedicated" pair on and put the "walk-around" glasses form in that safe place.

My other glider has a tinted canopy, and I find my photochromic glasses are good
match the canopy - dark outside the glider, and enough lighter while inside the
glider.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Dec 2014a" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://soaringsafety.org/prevention/Guide-to-transponders-in-sailplanes-2014A.pdf

[kenward1000]

My LAK-12 has had a tinted canopy for 10 years and I love it. It was
custom blown instead of being factory molded, resulting in excellent
optics. Can fly w/o sunglasses and keeps the cockpit cooler.

Note: when circling in thermal with other pilots, they report that they
can't see into my canopy, to see if I'm looking at them. To them it's like
trying to see inside the windows of a tinted glass automobile. I open the sliding vent and wave.