Sunglasses

Klaus Haehlen wrote:
IMHO Skylet sunglasses are the best. Take the 80%-ones
http://www.google.ch/search?hl=de&q=...le-Suche&meta=

Yes, I'd recommend Skylet as well. They are Zeiss lenses, you should be
able to get an optician near to order them for you.

I got Zeiss Skylet 80% and as prescription sunglasses via my optician
here in the UK.
Perfect. They really make clouds more visible, and unlike some other
lenses the grass is still green, not blue, when you take them off.

Claudia

wrote:
Want to purchase suitable sunglasses for the upcoming season. Search
of
old threads turned up info several years old. What are the
requirements
for a good pairr of good pilot's sunglasses.Tx.


Also keep in mind what the AIM reads in section 8-1-6 Vision In Flight;

3. Excessive illumination, especially from light reflected off the
canopy, surfaces inside the aircraft, clouds, water, snow, and desert
terrain, can produce glare, with uncomfortable squinting, watering of
the eyes, and even temporary blindness. Sunglasses for protection from
glare should absorb at least 85 percent of visible light (15 percent
transmittance) and all colors equally (neutral transmittance), with
negligible image distortion from refractive and prismatic errors.

Specifically the part about "all colors equally". This refers to the
"Blueblocker" lenses or other similarly tinted lense. Also
"distortion...refractive...prismatic" I have heard these in arguments
against polarized lenses.

This is in the aim so it is not regulatory, but some like to enforce
anything that the FAA has published, I was asked not to wear my
polarized prescription sunglasses while flying, however I was not
cited.

SEE YA!!!

Matthew.

I bought a pair of prescription Suntigers 4 years ago and about a week
or two past one year the coating started coming off. Suntiger honored
the one year warranty and re-coated them. Two years later the coating
started coming off again. My guess is that sunscreen mixed with sweat
was what caused the detreriation. No more Suntigers for me.

I wear Polar Eyes ($50 from Aircraft Spruce or polareyes.com,
including a hard case and cleaning cloth). I love
them! They are very lightweight and comfortable.
I find the polarized lenses actually accent the contrast
of another plane against the sky. I prefer the copper
colored lenses. They have just a touch of blueblocking,
but won't make daisies look black. I have seen a couple
of canopies that produced some very mild color banding,
but most don't. Also, the rotation of thermals tends
to create a 'polarized' effect when they pick up dust,
pollen, grass, etc. You can see thermals for miles
with Polar Eyes. You can also see details in clouds
that aren't visible with non-polarized lenses, and
they cut through haze very well.

As for the post about the FAA 'asking' someone not
to wear polarized lenses, I'd 'ask' them take a hike!

I have a pair of Ray-Bans with the B-15 brown colored mirrored lenses
which are great for enhancing contrast and eliminating scattered blue
light of which there is plenty at altitude. The brown lens barely
distorts color, and really helps in finding the wispies or darkest part
of the cloud. Optics are excellent with no distortion. I bought a new
pair on Ebay for $30.00. They can't be beat IMO.

I have a pair of Ray-Bans with the B-15 brown colored mirrored lenses
which are great for enhancing contrast and eliminating scattered blue
light of which there is plenty at altitude. The brown lens barely
distorts color, and really helps in finding the wispies or darkest part
of the cloud. Optics are excellent with no distortion. I bought a new
pair on Ebay for $30.00. They can't be beat IMO.

J.A.M. wrote:
mmm... IMHO you shouldn't buy the cheapest. You are improving your
vision,
and protecting your eyes. If you buy cheap sunglasses you won't see
very
well and your cornea will burn to death...
I use now Oakley, as a lot of pilots I know. Looks aside, they have
great
optics.
The Randolph Engineering sunglasses are also great, classic looks and
very
good optics. Not very expensive as well.
Ray Ban are also a good bet, in my experience.
Look for good UV filtering, good contrast, no color alteration, and
feel
comfortable with them (good brightness filtering)

Jose M. Alvarez,
ASW-24 'BR'


A survey done a couple of years ago in South Africa found the cheap
sunglasses bought from road side vendors offered superior UV protection
than Ray Bans and a few other top end brands. Still love my Ray Bans
for their nuetral colour tones. Just hate putting them down in the
cockpit when working around the glider because I know I will sit on
them sometime.

Clinton
LAK 12

"T o d d P a t t i s t" wrote in message
...
"mattdahoov" wrote:

Also keep in mind what the AIM reads in section 8-1-6 Vision In Flight;

3. Sunglasses ... all colors equally (neutral transmittance)
Specifically the part about "all colors equally". This refers to the
"Blueblocker" lenses or other similarly tinted lense. Also
"distortion...refractive...prismatic" I have heard these in arguments
against polarized lenses.

Polarized lenses transmit all "colors equally" It's the
tinting not the polarization that affects colors.

This is in the aim so it is not regulatory, but some like to enforce
anything that the FAA has published, I was asked not to wear my
polarized prescription sunglasses while flying, however I was not
cited.

Who asked you not to wear them? Did an FAA official imply
he had the power to cite you for wearing them?

I've been wearing CODE wrap bronze 64 13 125's for a year. These wrap
around my face fitting close to the eye preventing light from getting to the
back side of the lens. They produce better contrast than any aviator style
sunglasses I have ever worn. They also serve a safety glasses protecting my
eyes from sand blasted by tow plane props. The only downside is that the
close fit traps moisture so that they fog more easily.

A big upside is that several students have asked me for the brand and style
because they think they look cool. Any 64 year old can use all the "cool"
he can get.

Bill Daniels

wrote:

I tried a half dozen pilot-recommended brands and the winner was
Serengeti. Wonderful optics, doesn't scratch easily, great
protection,
light and comfortable.

2NO

Ditto on the Serengeti recommendation. I find them particularly useful
late in the day when going "up sun" and for picking out the best
looking clouds through the haze. I've worn these for about 10 years
now; they replaced a pair of Ray Bans. I go with the Aviator Style -
geeky looking as all hell but wide enough to eliminate all but a small
amount of light infiltration from the sides. Those of you worried
about style can find Serengetis in other more fashionable
configurations.

P3

I like both the Serengeti's and the SunTigers.

I use a combination of Serengeti "Driver tent" Aviator style on bright
days and SunTigers on days that are overcast or very hazy. The
SunTigers cut the haze better than anything else I have used. I often
carry both pairs and switch based on light and haze condtions.

TT