Aircrew Torch

[Wader2]

Cornish-Stormrider Great, so another issued tool about as much use as tits on a fish (and for once I am not abusive to tbe boat driving service.......

How about the aircrew torch saga?

Big green, right angled jobber - too big in a small cockpit and too heavy under G?

Replaced by long thin black one with ridged grip and red and magifying lenses?

Too long and too big to go in a sleeve pocket. Batteries wouldn't last 5 hours and that when it was switched off. It was at least waterproof.

Lightning mate takes off with new torch. Does normal cruise climb to height, couple of minutes, bang, torch explodes.

F4 asked if they can do an external check of our aircraft at night ease in to about 8 feet and try and illuminate dark grey beast on a witches tit night.

Is the latest torch any good? Or do you buy your own magnalite?

[barnstormer1968]

Anyone looking for a powerful but mini maglite sized torch could check out Fenix torches (not phoenix).
I use a Fenix L2D, which runs on two AA sized batteries, and has multiple light outputs, including combat strobe and programmed SOS signal. The lowest setting is 9 lumens (from memory), while the highest is 180 lumens.

Fenix torches are totally waterproof, and as far as I remember, gas proof too.

There are more powerful Fenix models than mine, and also ones which are smaller, but I wanted something with cheap and easily sourced batteries, so chose the L2D.

[chumzpilla]

I use a Fenix L2D, which runs on two AA sized batteries, and has multiple light outputs, including combat strobe and programmed SOS signal. The lowest setting is 9 lumens (from memory), while the highest is 180 lumens.

Is your life that dull (see what I did there?) that you have been reduced to discussing the brightness of your torch on an internet forum? Then again I have just wasted 30 seconds of mine reading it as well:\.
Did you know that a lumen is equal to one foot-candle falling on one square foot of area and if you divide the number of lumens you have produced, or are capable of producing, by 12.57 and you get the candlepower equivalent of that light source.:8

Now can you see how bad things have got?

[diginagain]

Now can you see how bad things have got?

Surely, you mean ......how bad things have become?

[Lightning Mate]

..."Now can you see how bad things have got?"

No.
I think he just missed typing ten after got.

[chumzpilla]

Surely, you mean

Not round theses parts...................;)

[BEagle]

Ah - it seems the aircrew torch saga is never-ending....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/nw969/Internet/zxzxz.jpg
During JP training at Crannners, 'They' were quite happy to lend us a Jet Provost for an hour or so to play with, but an aircrew torch? For students?? Forget it!

So we were told to make our own arrangments. I bought something from Boots which was an arse-lootical disaster waiting to happen. Even when secured to my flying suit with velcro and a bit of cord. Another chap tied his to his flying suit, but dropped it, then hauled on the cord until it became snagged and he heard a mechanical noise, so let go of it... It had got caught in the lower bang seat handle which had then moved slightly. So he pushed it back and inserted the bottom pin..:eek:

But the 14GE piece-de-resistance was fabricated by the late Don Turbitt, who many will fondly remember. In one pocket he had a lantern battery, wire was looped through the inside of his flying suit to the other lower leg pocket, in which was one of those lamps which farmers use for looking for lost sheep half a mile away, plus a large croc clip. When he was given the 'simulated total electrics failure' by his QFI, he fumbled in his pocket, produced the device, clipped it to the glareshield and switched on with a satisfying KERLUNK.

His QFI said later that it was like a small nuclear device going off. A blinding white light, both of them with no night vision for several moments and the interior of the aircraft could probably be seen half-way across England (we did our night flying during the 1974 3-day week and it was black as hell at night).

After he regained the ability to speak, his QFI ordered Don to "Turn the bl**dy thing OFF - are you taking the p*ss??!!". Once they regained some semblence of night vision, they landed with both of them still giggling like idiots.

Fortunately, after such incidents, 'They' decided that perhaps students should be allowed the use of the black ribbed torch with those silly sliding bits on it!

[Wader2]

Now that was a coffee/keyboard moment.:ok:

[green granite]

Did you know that a lumen is equal to one foot-candle falling on one square foot of area

What a nit. :}

[Brain Potter]

Very funny BEags. :ok:

Poor old Don, good job he didn't have a short circuit about half-way round :ooh:

There was one guy on my IOT flight who didn't quite understand why he had been told to bring a torch with a red filter. On the first night exercise he produced what he thought was the perfect solution to this requirement and duly switched-on the back light from his push-bike. It illuminated the map beautifully, but wasn't 'tactical' enough for the special forces Eduction Officer in charge of the flight.

Yes you guessed. it was me. :O

[Wader2]

Of course the other half of the red torch saga was in the back of the Vs. Thye used to come out of the factory with amber filters on the angle poise lamps. First sortie, out came the screwdrivers and the filters went in to the desk.

Then the aircraft would go back to the company and they would fit new filters not figuring out where the old ones went.

Next sortie . . .

Eventually we met a guy who asked. we told him we did it cause we couldn't see in the amber light.

[barnstormer1968]

Thank you for your reply, although I am not sure of it's purpose.
I guess that when things are all rosy, the power or features of a torch is not the most exciting feature to some.
BUT on the other hand, when the s**t hits the proverbial fan, then it can come somewhat to to front of ones mind. This is why I mentioned the torch has various brightness levels, i.e. tactical, through to the strobe which can leave an attacker feeling sick, on through to the super bright "here I am" come and get me setting.
If I had wanted to really get up your nose, then I could always have mentioned that the torch has it's output regulated so does not dim as the batteries drain.
I hope you enjoyed reading my reply to you:}.

Brain Potter.
Red for night vision is so "last years" fashion:E
Green is the new red for covert night vision. In modern times with a plethora of low light or NVG gear around, red is the last colour folks want to be shining about.

[chumzpilla]

What a nit.What a pity that went right over most peoples head on this thread. To those that didn't realise the hilarity involved in the above statement let me explain.

The candela per square metre (cd/m²) is the SI unit of luminance; nit is a non-SI name also used for this unit. Interestingly enough computer displays typically have luminance's of 50 to 300 nits; the sRGB spec for monitors targets 80 nits. Modern flat-panel (LCD and plasma) displays often exceed 300 cd/m² or 300 nits.HDTVs range from 450 nits to about 1000 nits. A luminance of at least 800 nits is required for a screen to be viewable under direct sunlight.
So it makes one wonder how many nits are here at the moment.
Barnstormer, you really should get out more. The lowest setting is 9 lumens (from memory) Why would you remember that? :sad:

[barnstormer1968]

I can clear up two things at once here luckily.

I would hope to remember the light output, as as part of my life I teach survival skills (this includes demonstrating and recommending kit, including torches), which I guess actually gets me "out" quite enough thanks:ok:.

You now have me pondering why you did not find it odd that I could remember the highest setting...I hope you are not prejudice against light levels!:}:E

[chumzpilla]

You now have me pondering why you did not find it odd that I could remember the highest setting...I hope you are not prejudice against light levels!

Not at all. In fact I find that knowing the lumen levels of the survival torch that I carry a fascinating subject. I constantly test our SERE Officer on his levels of lumen knowledge. I guess it is important that we know that ****.

I was worried because you only said The lowest setting is 9 lumens (from memory),

From memory comma. But in the next part of your sentence you said; while the highest is 180 lumens. no mention of this being from memory, so I assumed that you had to look that one up. Please feel free to come to one of our SERE sessions and tell us all about your torch. I am sure it will be very illuminating (see what I did there again). In fact if my memory serves me well it will be as illuminating as, ooooh lets say 1 lumen?;)

[Pontius Navigator]

Actually I found the info about Fenix most illuminating :)

It is a bit pricey for my circumstances but I know someone who may well find it most useful.

[bast0n]

chumpzilla

Somehow your arrival and flurry of posts reminds me of the old statement,

You're not funny, you're not clever, and nobody liked you at school.....!:ok:

Keep going - you may crack one out of the two possible to alter - in time:)

[Jumping_Jack]

...or even 'you're not funny'.....'you're not clever' etc :8

[bast0n]

Jumping-jack

Thank you! Be gentle - my spilling and grammer have never been a string point. :sad:

In passing the Police LED Lenser torch is a super bit of kit - similar to the Fenix in cost and quality. Very bright and focusable.:)

[Pontius Navigator]

BEagle, it took some time but I just remembered a similar story from nav training in the Varisty. Same supply issue - get a torch, no we don't issue torches.

Friend of mine, thinking laterally, as a navigator would, thought a handsfree torch would be ideal. So, off to Halfords and he bought this hansome, 2-cell, red filtered torch.

Come the sortie out came the torch and he placed it carefully on the nav panel in front of him and let go. Snag - the magnetic torch would not stick on the aluminium nav panel :}

[noprobs]

I think that I have found where one of those long-ago suppliers was keeping his stache of aircrew torches. During a recent clear out at work, we came across a box full of the old black ribbed torches, and someone was about to bin them, since no-one had them on any inventory. But I hate to see even kit of such questionable utility trashed, so they've gone into that drawer full of things that just might one day come in handy.

And before you mock, that's the same drawer from which I was able to produce the pilots' notes for a long out of service aircraft type that someone needed to refer to this week! :hmm:

[barnstormer1968]

Hi.
You are correct, the police LED lenser is indeed a well made torch, and is very suited to close up ground work. I only suggested the Fenix, as the original question was for an aircrew torch, and the Fenix is literally three times brighter than the lenser, and thus would be able to conduct the "look over" one of the other posters mentioned. Secondly, the Fenix L2D runs on AA batteries, which should be easy (depending on the storesperson/stacker) to source at no cost to the individual.

[barnstormer1968]

I am trying to understand the motivation of your posts.
To me, the reference to AA batteries is very clear, and has an obvious reason in reference to military users (who might just happen to be several thousands of miles from their local corner shop!).

My posts are all in good nature, and I am trying to be of use to members of my countries armed forces, just in case, and god forbid they may need to use the products I have mentioned in circumstances where every bit of extra or better kit may help them succeed, or return to home base safely.

So, I am trying to provide info to users who may find it helpful.
During my military career I appreciated advice and guidance from those with more time to research, or specialisation in any given subject.

So, as you seem to not have anything useful to contribute the the matter so far, and have not offered any useful advice, what exactly is your purpose for posting?:confused:

[bast0n]

Barnstormer - I think he is still trying to crack one of the two possibilities below - and failing dismally! I fear that he will keep trying and failing.:)


Somehow your arrival and flurry of posts reminds me of the old statement,

You're not funny, you're not clever, and nobody liked you at school.....!

Keep going - you may crack one out of the two possible to alter - in time

[taxydual]

Chumpzilla, you're not related to AIDU by any chance?