Headlight for night flying

In a previous article, David Gunter said:
I am starting night flight training in a couple of weeks and will
evaluate this, but wanted to point it out in case anyone else is using
this or is looking for something similar. The cost was $12 and included
the 3 batteries.

I use a Penguin LED light that attaches to the ear cup of my headset. For
night IFR, it's good for lighting up the panel, since the built in lights
on the panel suck rocks. It was considerably more expensive than that,
though, but at least I don't have a strap around my head to interfere with
the headset, foggles, or hat.


--
Paul Tomblin , not speaking for anybody
Can I LART an aol'r for attempting to subscribe to a majordomo list
with their street address, or should I wait for a second offence?
-- Allan Stojanovic

I use a Ray-o-vac head light for my night flying. It has become my primary
light despite some gooseneck lamps (red & white) that I have mounted.

The Rayvac has an elastic strap around the head and across the top. Seems
like it might be obtrusive. Just the opposite - I can slip my headset or
hat or whatever over it as needed. It has double red LEDs, a single 'warm
white' LED with a good size reflector, and a single "blue-white" LED that is
very bright to the eye. I find myself setting the switch between the red
and the warm white. It's gotten to the point where I don't trust my vision
with reds and I rely on the warm white for map work. The bright one is
great for walk arounds.

Only problem is making sure I take it off after landing. I look like a
Trekkie with one of those things on.

One secret to successful night lighting is to have backup lights and backups
for your backups. And batteries for all. No bulbs though. I keep a
selection of batteries (ANR, flashlights, Palmtop) in a hard glass case. .
Easy to find by feel, secure closure, etc.

"David Gunter" wrote in message
...
I was at Target the other day and spotted a nifty new head-mounted
flashlight that seems like it'll be perfect for night flights. It has
two very bright white LEDs and one sort-of-bright red LED. The switch
allows for toggling between the two. It's powered by 3 AAA batteries
with a claim of 50 hours total time. The casing will tilt up to 90
degrees for better aiming.

I am starting night flight training in a couple of weeks and will
evaluate this, but wanted to point it out in case anyone else is using
this or is looking for something similar. The cost was $12 and included
the 3 batteries.

Energizer "LED Essentials" is the name, and I've found a pretty thorough
review of it he
http://flashlightreviews1.home.att.n...essentials.htm


Cheers,
david
SAF
--
Replace spam with david in the email address if you want to send email
to me personally.

In a previous article, (Paul Tomblin) said:
I use a Penguin LED light that attaches to the ear cup of my headset. For
^^^^^^^
Pelican, of course. Sorry.


--
Paul Tomblin , not speaking for anybody
If you drink Real beer, you become horizontal... so, if you
drink Imaginary beer, you become vertical...
-- Thorfinn

David Gunter wrote
I was at Target the other day and spotted a nifty new head-mounted
flashlight that seems like it'll be perfect for night flights.

Around here, we call them 'dorklights.' Just put one on, look in the
mirror, and you'll see why. I own one, and use it for night flying
all the time.

Michael

In a previous article, said:
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 17:39:10 +0000 (UTC), (Paul
Tomblin) wrote:
In a previous article, (Paul Tomblin) said:
I use a Penguin LED light that attaches to the ear cup of my headset. For
^^^^^^^
Pelican, of course. Sorry.

The Penguin attaches to the cummerbund of your tuxedo.

Or to the "Linux Inside" sticker on my computers.


--
Paul Tomblin , not speaking for anybody
We're the technical experts. We were hired so that management could
ignore our recommendations and tell us how to do our jobs.
-- Mike Andrews

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 17:39:10 +0000 (UTC), (Paul
Tomblin) wrote:

In a previous article, (Paul Tomblin) said:
I use a Penguin LED light that attaches to the ear cup of my headset. For
^^^^^^^
Pelican, of course. Sorry.

The Penguin attaches to the cummerbund of your tuxedo.

Don

David Gunter wrote:

I was at Target the other day and spotted a nifty new head-mounted
flashlight that seems like it'll be perfect for night flights. It has
two very bright white LEDs and one sort-of-bright red LED.

Well, try the red one, but I think you'll find that you really want dim
lighting for night flying.

George Patterson
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something that cannot
be learned any other way. Samuel Clemens

David Gunter wrote:

For those who attach a light to the side of your headsets: Do you feel
it pulls one side off the ear or feels off balanced?

Mine doesn't. I also have the Blackhawk.

George Patterson
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something that cannot
be learned any other way. Samuel Clemens

Only problem is making sure I take it off after landing. I look like a
Trekkie with one of those things on.

Tell people you got used to night-vision goggles in Iraq

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

David,

Do you feel
it pulls one side off the ear or feels off balanced?


Not at all. Oh, FWIW, the Blackhawk makes green light, nicer than red,
IMHO. It's a tad too bright with fresh batteries, but good for panel
flood lighting in rentals, where lights normally don't work.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)