Originally Posted by
TurboJ
Personally not something I would do - night flying in a single engine is dodgy enough without adding to the list of things to potentially go wrong. The alternator is probably working its hardest keeping the battery charged with all the lights and equipment that are operating. The same effect can be illustrated by switching off the panel lights which is on the UK night syllabus.
As a student I have to agree with Gargleblaster. Switching the internal lights off does not have the same effect - after all, thats why you carry a small torch for use in the cockpit. It's one thing for the internal lights to go dark but still be able to see the instruments using the torch, hear the comms, see the lights outside flashing reassuringly. It's quite another for it to go very dark, very quiet, and the (electrical) instruments dead when the torch is on them. The only way to hear the person next to you is to take the headphones off at which point it gets *very* noisy. Turning suddenly becomes a whole lot more difficult as you have no AI, no DI, no navaids. You're trying to shine the torch on the compass (which may involve turning your head away from the direction of the turn), and you may no longer have a good horizon for outside reference. It takes a lot of concentration and you will get tired quickly (unless you have recent IMC experience). Now throw in the diversion back to your home field (if doing this on the nav-ex).
It's very stressful and tiring, but at the same time one of the most satisfying flights I have made (after my first solo and solo land-away).