Flashlights...red or green?

jason

jason

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Jason W (FlyNE)
We've been doing a lot of night flights lately, and Jesse is going to start charging me for using his headlamp. It's been nice using a headlamp. Jesse's has a red lens. I've been looking at purchasing my own (now that he's going to charge me) but I'm trying to decide between a red or green lens.

Does anybody have experience with both? Which do you prefer?

Here are my current candidates...

http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-E49P-TacTikka-4-LED-Headlamp/dp/B0007Q3R3E/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_a

http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-E49-PNG...7358/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1303498729&sr=8-4
 
I found my eyes adjusted back quickly enough with normal white light. I had a flashlight with the red, blue, green, and amber lenses. I just flip on the dome light to read anything I need to, and shut it back off. Plus the flashlight with the lenses broke.
 
i really like red light. have the tactikka with red lens.
 
FlyNE said:
We've been doing a lot of night flights lately, and Jesse is going to start charging me for using his headlamp. It's been nice using a headlamp. Jesse's has a red lens. I've been looking at purchasing my own (now that he's going to charge me) but I'm trying to decide between a red or green lens.

Does anybody have experience with both? Which do you prefer?

Here are my current candidates...

http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-E49P-TacTikka-4-LED-Headlamp/dp/B0007Q3R3E/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_a

http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-E49-PNG...7358/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1303498729&sr=8-4
Click to expand...
I prefer green or blue.

BTW check out this thread.
http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40959&highlight=flashlights

I have not yet tried the one Tim is talking about but I mention the one I use. I have tried a headlamp and I prefer the headset mounting as it lets me move the beam where I want independent of where I have to turn my head. If I just move my eyes to see something that is lite up that is a real advantage and helps to minimize vertigo from head movements.
 
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EdFred said:
I just flip on the dome light to read anything I need to, and shut it back off. Plus the flashlight with the lenses broke.
Click to expand...
Or you could go really hi tech and just memorize everything. And I thought I was a neandertal pilot.
 
I bought a headlamp for $12 at Home Depot. It has white and red LEDs.

If I were really really concerned about not seeing white light, I'd have to close my eyes momentarily while I pressed the button on top of it twice.

The 182 has red filters on the overhead flood lights, and then has white bulbs on the individual instrument post lights. You have to select "flood" or "post" via a panel switch.

Certain instruments also have their own internal lighting in our aircraft.

Rheostats available for all to set brightness.

There's also a white light in the bottom of the glare shield with it's own switch, and a map light under the yoke with its own rheostat.

Making sure they're all OFF after a night flight is important for bulb longevity.

And theres a red/white maglight, a regular maglight, and a bright white LED flashlight in the flight bag, and two 6V camp lanterns in the hangar for pre-flight. ;)
 
Oh, I forgot. The iPad makes a pretty good reading light too, especially clamped to the pax side yoke with a RAM mount. ;)
 
ScottM said:
I prefer green or blue.

BTW check out this thread. I have not yet tried the one Tim is talking about but I mention the one I use. I have tried a headlamp and I prefer the headset mounting as it lets me move the beam where I want independent of where I have to turn my head. If I just move my eyes to see something that is lite up that is a real advantage and helps to minimize vertigo from head movements.
Click to expand...

Which thread would that be? :dunno:
 
FWIW, the red lens was adopted by the US Army for permitting retention of night vision and reading military maps.

Green, blue -- doesn't really matter. You just don't need to shine a big bright light anywhere when you have already adapted -- somewhat.
 
dmccormack said:
FWIW, the red lens was adopted by the US Army for permitting retention of night vision and reading military maps.
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Then they developed night vision goggles and went to green lights (red is one of the harshest lights to use around night vision equipment).

Unless you are doing work with night vision devices, red, blue or green is more a matter of personal preference. As a ship driver, I always used red flashlights until I started working around the flight deck - then I started using green lights out of necessity and found that I generally prefer them over red. I don't use a headlight, but instead keep a small green micro light on a lanyard around my neck when flying at night.
 
Jason. skip those lights go to Lowes home centers and purchase a headlite with both white and red lights ( you can switch between the two) and it won't cost you more than $14.00
 
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Submariners also use red lights.
Green is the most recognizable... i.e. images through nightvision are transmitted to your eye in a green image, shades of green. In my experiance, while green illumination does give better clarity, my eyes take longer to readjust to the dark than when using red. Similarly I prefer a single nightvision monocular that only is viewed by one eye, rather than one that covers both for the same reason (natural nightvision retention).
Also, military maps are printed with inks that are designed to work with blue or red illumination; im not sure about aviation charts, but it may be wise to make sure to look at them with only the color lamp you intend to use before you get into the air.
 
Fearless Tower said:
Aviation charts are printed with similar inks - for example they use magenta instead of red.
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I thought so, just wasnt positive. Are they also red and blue adaptable? Even though personally I prefer redlight, blue is another option...and green is near it on the color spectrum...:dunno:
 
If you can't avoid white light and want to retain as much night vision as possible - shut one eye before flipping on the white light. When you turn it off again, the shut eye pupil will still be dilated.
 
gkainz said:
If you can't avoid white light and want to retain as much night vision as possible - shut one eye before flipping on the white light. When you turn it off again, the shut eye pupil will still be dilated.
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That technique actually works very well - I learned it many moons ago from a crusty old instructor when I was a cadet at the maritime academy.
 
airbornejohnny said:
I thought so, just wasnt positive. Are they also red and blue adaptable? Even though personally I prefer redlight, blue is another option...and green is near it on the color spectrum...:dunno:
Click to expand...
I know they work with green light - haven't tried it with blue
 
Just wear an eye patch


<---------------
And flip it up when you need your low-light adapted eye.:idea:
gkainz said:
If you can't avoid white light and want to retain as much night vision as possible - shut one eye before flipping on the white light. When you turn it off again, the shut eye pupil will still be dilated.
Click to expand...

Fearless Tower said:
That technique actually works very well - I learned it many moons ago from a crusty old instructor when I was a cadet at the maritime academy.
Click to expand...
 
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