Into the Sun

We had gone to the NC beach for the weekend, and had to bug out because of
the hurricane threat. I was worried that even if the hurricane didn't head
right for us, that the outlying winds might get strong enough to prevent us
from departing.

Despite the winds Saturday evening (15 G 25), we had a smooth departure and
headed back towards Atlanta, getting a smooth ride and a bit of a tailwind
for most of the flight. The one thing we didn't have in our favor was
visibility. We were literally headed right into the setting sun for 2 hours.
The haze didn't help. I felt a little better about traffic avoidance because
we were using flight following, but I had a truly miserable time looking
into the sun for the whole flight, despite my sunglasses.

By the time we neared home, my pupils had contracted to the point that I was
having real problems getting them to open up enough to see the panel, which
is flat black. On this evening, it was sea of black with a bright orange
ball perched on top, and the instruments barely visible. As soon as we
changed course to enter the pattern at our home field, everything was
better...

Other than picking a course that isn't into the sun, or choosing a better
time to fly, is there any cure for the sun in the eyes problem?

Other than picking a course that isn't into the sun, or choosing a better
time to fly, is there any cure for the sun in the eyes problem?

I carry slap-on vinyl sun shades.
Stick em where you want em.
One lets too much sun through, slap another over top of it.
AOPA gives them out free at the big shows.
Carry them in your flight bag.

"Don't leave home without them!"

john smith wrote:
Other than picking a course that isn't into the sun, or choosing a better
time to fly, is there any cure for the sun in the eyes problem?

I carry slap-on vinyl sun shades.
Stick em where you want em.
One lets too much sun through, slap another over top of it.


Back in the days when I was a courier pilot, I used to fly every afternoon out
of RDU to CLT... directly into the setting sun. I used the stick on vinyl sun
shades as well. They worked great and as he mentioned, you can double up for
extra protection.

IIRC, I got mine from Sporty's. They were about the size of an automobile sun
visor but of course they were nowhere near as thick. Here's a link to something
quite similar:

http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl....=9526&CATID=96



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
john smith wrote:
I carry slap-on vinyl sun shades.
Stick em where you want em.
One lets too much sun through, slap another over top of it.

IIRC, I got mine from Sporty's. They were about the size of an automobile sun
visor but of course they were nowhere near as thick. Here's a link to something
quite similar:

http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl....=9526&CATID=96

Better yet -- stop by your local auto supply store and get a roll
of the stuff for about the same price or less. And you get to cut
to fit whatever you want.

Blanche Cohen wrote:

IIRC, I got mine from Sporty's. They were about the size of an automobile
sun visor but of course they were nowhere near as thick. Here's a link to
something quite similar:

http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl....=9526&CATID=96

Better yet -- stop by your local auto supply store and get a roll
of the stuff for about the same price or less. And you get to cut
to fit whatever you want.


Is it really the same stuff? I'm envisioning the window film that auto stores
sell that normally is applied with soapy water and a squeegee. That's not the
same product. This stuff can be applied and reapplied thousands of times using
just your hand and a kleenex.

OTOH, if they sell the same stuff, I sure as hell wouldn't buy it again from
Sporty's. Everything they (Sporty's) sell is higher than hell, comparatively
speaking. Their only saving grace is excellent service and selection. But
price ain't their long suit....



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
Better yet -- stop by your local auto supply store and get a roll
of the stuff for about the same price or less. And you get to cut
to fit whatever you want.

Is it really the same stuff? I'm envisioning the window film that auto stores
sell that normally is applied with soapy water and a squeegee. That's not the
same product. This stuff can be applied and reapplied thousands of times using
just your hand and a kleenex.

The window film at the auto stores is about 3-5 mil thick. And yes, I
apply it by cleaning the window and slapping it on wherever. It's
probably not as thick as the Sporty's stuff, but I've been using the
same 2-3 pieces for about 4 years now with no problems.

And every once in a while, I even clean the film.

Hi Kyle

I regress to my sailing days - tack left with the visor blocking the
sun/tack right with the visor blocking the sun.
It adds about 15% to the trip - but gets rid of the problem.

HTH

Tony

--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

In article ,
"Kyle Boatright" wrote:

We had gone to the NC beach for the weekend, and had to bug out because of
the hurricane threat. I was worried that even if the hurricane didn't head
right for us, that the outlying winds might get strong enough to prevent us
from departing.

Despite the winds Saturday evening (15 G 25), we had a smooth departure and
headed back towards Atlanta, getting a smooth ride and a bit of a tailwind
for most of the flight. The one thing we didn't have in our favor was
visibility. We were literally headed right into the setting sun for 2 hours.
The haze didn't help. I felt a little better about traffic avoidance because
we were using flight following, but I had a truly miserable time looking
into the sun for the whole flight, despite my sunglasses.

By the time we neared home, my pupils had contracted to the point that I was
having real problems getting them to open up enough to see the panel, which
is flat black. On this evening, it was sea of black with a bright orange
ball perched on top, and the instruments barely visible. As soon as we
changed course to enter the pattern at our home field, everything was
better...

Other than picking a course that isn't into the sun, or choosing a better
time to fly, is there any cure for the sun in the eyes problem?




--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

"tony roberts" wrote in message
news:nospam-946BFE.19081412092005@shawnews...
Hi Kyle

I regress to my sailing days - tack left with the visor blocking the
sun/tack right with the visor blocking the sun.
It adds about 15% to the trip - but gets rid of the problem.

HTH

Tony


Visors? We don't got no steenkin' visors... ;-)

I thought about the tacking thing, but our daylight window was getting tight
and I didn't have the time to spare.

KB

Visors? We don't got no steenkin' visors... ;-)

Hi Kyle

We have a lot of sun here - I honestly couldn't fly without visors.

Tony

--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 02:08:36 GMT, tony roberts wrote:

Hi Kyle

I regress to my sailing days - tack left with the visor blocking the
sun/tack right with the visor blocking the sun.
It adds about 15% to the trip - but gets rid of the problem.

Ah, but landing -- tht is the real test. I'd just love to see you touch
down in that left or right "tack". :-)


HTH

Tony

--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

In article ,
"Kyle Boatright" wrote:

We had gone to the NC beach for the weekend, and had to bug out because of
the hurricane threat. I was worried that even if the hurricane didn't head
right for us, that the outlying winds might get strong enough to prevent us
from departing.

Despite the winds Saturday evening (15 G 25), we had a smooth departure and
headed back towards Atlanta, getting a smooth ride and a bit of a tailwind
for most of the flight. The one thing we didn't have in our favor was
visibility. We were literally headed right into the setting sun for 2 hours.
The haze didn't help. I felt a little better about traffic avoidance because
we were using flight following, but I had a truly miserable time looking
into the sun for the whole flight, despite my sunglasses.

By the time we neared home, my pupils had contracted to the point that I was
having real problems getting them to open up enough to see the panel, which
is flat black. On this evening, it was sea of black with a bright orange
ball perched on top, and the instruments barely visible. As soon as we
changed course to enter the pattern at our home field, everything was
better...

Other than picking a course that isn't into the sun, or choosing a better
time to fly, is there any cure for the sun in the eyes problem?

--
Jay.
(remove dashes for legal email address)