Canopy tinting service

wrote:
The 2 seat Lark that I did cross-country instruction in last year had a
brown/gold tinted canopy. It was fantastic. It was not quite as dark
as my brown/rose sunglasses. It significantly enhanced vis in all sky
conditions (never flew at night however). It probably lowered cockpit
temps but I don't know.

The first time I flew it I thought the altimeter was malfunctioning
because the ground looked so much closer than what I was accustomed to.
Other pilots noticed the same illusion. Perhaps it's a "blue blocker"
effect.

It's important to understand that the brown, rose, and gold tints
produce a very different result than gray. I would never want a gray
canopy unless it could be varied as needed. That's a ways off
technolgically I imagine, and brown would still be better.

Everyone who flew that Lark loved that canopy. I have no idea how to
tint an existing canopy but I'd sure like to know!

Was it better than wearing sunglasses tinted the same way? Or simply
more convenient than having that type of sunglasses?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
* "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

Was it better than wearing sunglasses tinted the same way? Or simply
more convenient than having that type of sunglasses?

Well my sunglasses are prescription so I'd wear them anyway. With or
without it improved vis, reduced fatigue, just made the world easier on
the eyes. I think the optics of the plastic were really good too and
it was not very scratched so detail in the distance and contrast seemed
remarkable. My front seaters always enjoyed it regardless of whether
they had sunglasses on or not. After you closed the canopy you'd
forget it was tinted in about half a minute. Only when you looked out
the slider vent windows on the side did you realize the difference.
The world looked like it was being projected on 2 really crappy 6 inch
black and white tv monitors. It always made people laugh when I'd
point that out because it was so true. With that kind of immediate
comparison it made you wonder why anyone would ever want a clear
canopy.

MM

wrote:

Well my sunglasses are prescription so I'd wear them anyway. With or
without it improved vis, reduced fatigue, just made the world easier on
the eyes. I think the optics of the plastic were really good too and
it was not very scratched so detail in the distance and contrast seemed
remarkable. My front seaters always enjoyed it regardless of whether
they had sunglasses on or not. After you closed the canopy you'd
forget it was tinted in about half a minute. Only when you looked out
the slider vent windows on the side did you realize the difference.
The world looked like it was being projected on 2 really crappy 6 inch
black and white tv monitors. It always made people laugh when I'd
point that out because it was so true. With that kind of immediate
comparison it made you wonder why anyone would ever want a clear
canopy.

Perhaps because hardly anyone gets to fly a glider with such a canopy?

I do wear brown tinted sunglasses, and I like them, but that doesn't
help me understand how having the whole canopy tinted like my sunglasses
is better than the sunglasses and a clear canopy.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
* "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

My Saab 900 Turbo had factory gold tinting on all of its windows. I
always felt alert in that car, loved driving it long distances (12-14
hours behind the wheel), and I never felt tired at the end of such a
drive. By contrast, my BMW 530 with factory grey tinting on all windows
isn't quite in the same league as far as alertness and fatigue at the
end of a long drive goes. Both cars were driven with clear glasses as
well as neutral gray sunglasses.

I can't really insist that the difference is all due to tinting color,
but I think it's a factor.

-John


Eric Greenwell wrote:

Perhaps because hardly anyone gets to fly a glider with such a canopy?

I do wear brown tinted sunglasses, and I like them, but that doesn't
help me understand how having the whole canopy tinted like my sunglasses
is better than the sunglasses and a clear canopy.

Eric Greenwell wrote:

I do wear brown tinted sunglasses, and I like them, but that doesn't
help me understand how having the whole canopy tinted like my sunglasses
is better than the sunglasses and a clear canopy.

Well, perhaps cutting down and filtering ALL the light coming into the
cockpit not only reduces heating and UV but also internal reflections
and light sneaking in around the edges of ones glasses. It's another
layer of protection. Plus, some people don't wear glasses. I'm not
claiming it's better but the vis was great in all conditions and it
sure felt good!

MM