NVG and glass cockpits

[Saintsman]

Does anyone know what the displays look like for use with Night Vision Goggles?

I realise that this is not the sort of thing you find in your average airliner but I am trying to find out what they would look like. I know that things like warning lights have to be a certain colour or have a filter that stops them from appearing so bright through the NVGs but how would a multi coloured screen appear? If it was all one colour (green?) how easy would it be to read?

If glass cockpits are suitable, do they have a switch to change from day to night or is it just one choice?

Thanks,

Saintsman

[US Herk]

Generally speaking, you do not look at your instruments through the NVGs, rather, you look 'under' them un-aided.

Properly adjusted for normal flight, they are focused to infinity & instruments would be but a blur anyway. And, yes, it would all be shades of green.

[SilsoeSid]

Focused close in, it would look like this;

http://www.verticalreference.com/IndustryNews/images/nvgCA.jpg

And, yes, it would all be shades of green.Apart from the amber/red bits on the CWP/MWP (http://www.rebtechnologies.net/AS350B2.JPG) (looking under the goggs!)

[The Rocket]

The NVG/Nightbird compatible Tornados all have green warning/operation lights for the majority of direct vision components, low intensity Centralised Warning Panels and black painted canopy rails to reduce glare when using goggles. As the last two posters have said, it is all shades of green.

The Displays and TV Tabs have settings of Night, Day and Auto, which does exactly as it says on the tin. These only control brightness settings however, and are not NVG specific.

S'cuse me if I'm being Captain Obvious :O

[Pass-A-Frozo]

C130J has a single switch that puts all lighting on NVG compatible. As stated, all the lights are green.

Only problem is the microwave won't work. Only because the microwave light isn't NVG settings (dim's them all etc and changes the cargo compartment lights onto NVG lighting [green not white]). You'd think they could have put in an NVG light in the microwave :)

[Maddog Red]

NVG Goggles are for use outside of the aircraft and not for use inside the cockpit. That is why it is called NVG Compatible which means stopping the glare off the instruments when looking around outside.

[Gainesy]

[QUOTE]Only problem is the microwave won't work

Should think making a sarnie while wearing gogs would be a tad tricky too?

[Guy Willesley]

C130J has a single switch that puts all lighting on NVG compatible. As stated, all the lights are green. Errmmm. No.

There is a switch that puts all lighting to NVG mode, but this simply reduces the intensity of all cockpit lighting (and inhibits the microwave oven :( ) The red gear handle remains red, the green or orange CNI-MU screens remain green or orange depending which one is fitted and the multi-colour displays remain multi-colour. It's all NVG compatible in that none of it affects the goggs - which are focused at infinity and are being used to look outside the flight deck, via the large HUD. The HUD IS green and as it's also focused at infinity it appears as a sharp clear picture giving the usual flight data through the NVGs whilst the wearer looks outside. Displays inside are NOT viewed through NVGs as the focus on the goggles is incorrect for this. The displays remain bright enough to view with the naked eye and a look is taken above/below the goggs or the goggs are lifted out of the way. A separate switch can select outside lighting to different modes if required.

None of this is secret, it's all on the Lockheed sales bumph. Quite HOW the multi-colour displays avoid 'blooming' in the goggs I'm pretty sure IS an industry sensitive topic. (Saintsman, you don't happen to be working on the A400 project do you?)

(Edited fur speling)

[P-T-Gamekeeper]

As previously stated, all cockpit instrumentation is NVG compatible all of the time, whether in Normal or NVIS mode. The only problems are the landing gear warning light and the galley time display.

Operating with the cockpit lighting in NVIS mode can cause the HUD brightness to be too low with cultural lighting (every frame has a different base level). As a get-around, we cover the landing gear with a glove, and bodge tape over the galley clock. The bonus of this is a hot bacon sarnie whilst on gogs. All internal/external lights can still be operated in a tactical mode in this configuraton.

Once again, the kit procured doesn't work as advertised, but the professionalism/ingenuity of the crews gets the job done.

P.S. The HUD with gogs is superb, and makes life a piece of p**s compared to cyalumes & bodge tape. Read this thread in conjunction with the J SF(or whatever it is being called) one and it all makes sense.

[Saintsman]

I did know that NVGs are for looking outside, but thought that it would be awkward to have to lift them up every time you scanned the instruments, especially if you didn't have HUD.

Some good answers, thanks guys.

[Guy Willesley]

The trick isn't to lift them out of the way! The NVGs stay in position and you look over or under them, tilting your head if necessary for instrument scans / emergency drills / (bacon buttie making...)

Which is relevant to your original question. Everything through NVGs is green, but the glass cockpit (which of course has to be one which is NVG compatible) isn't viewed through them so remains full colour and is as easy to read as it normaly is!

Apologies if I'm being over-simplistic.