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Good sunnies to wear for flying?

Old 12th Jan 2007, 03:13
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Good sunnies to wear for flying?

any recommendations? I'm thinking of getting light weight RayBans. are there any sunnies which are specifically for flying? don't really care about the "look good" factor. just need something to protect my eyes from uv and the like.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 03:19
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Talking

well any sunnies that block the sun from your eyes and your comfortable wearing should cover it. Some of those great big dame Edna ones with the glistening stonewear around the edges will definitely give you a recognized at 100 feet look though.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 03:50
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Julie: Ray Bans are good, if a little cliche'd they used to be suppliers to the US military I think -a role taken over by Randolph of late. I use Serengeti's. They're brilliant lenses, but the frames tend to be a little weak -you have to look after them: in a case when not wearing them, rather than a shirt pocket! The lenses are photocromatic also. They're expensive, but IMO the most bang for the buck.
Best to stay away from polarised lenses. They create optical illusions in-flight, especially as you pull your aircraft into the flare! Disconcerting!
Comfort is the biggie though -they tend to be worn for extended periods! Have a look at the temples too, make sure they're not too fat as they can destroy the passive noise retention of your headset.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 04:13
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I had a similar thought a few weeks back and searched the forums for "sunglasses". A very good thread which covered everything to do with avaiation glassess popped out (fit with headset, polarised lenses, weight, coverage etc etc) - well worth the time to do a similar search
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 04:15
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Cheap ones!! I keep coming up with new ways to break them. Make sure they're uv filtering too, gotta look after those eyes.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 04:17
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I alternate between Oakleys GASCAN and Raybans PREDATOR.. Both good protection, and wrap around. Also if you are wearing a headset the Rayban fit under nicely without giving you a headache! The best part about Raybans, you break a lense they will replace it dirt cheap. Just bought two new lenses from Rayban, $25.00, free shipping! I live in the US though

Dont cheat your eyes, I know of number of old pilots including my old man who have had Cataracts due to long periods of exposure to the sun at altitude..
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 04:35
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Definately recommend Serengeti's. Remarkable lense but they do come at a price. You will have to search around for a good pair...not many outlets stock them unfortunately. Haven't experienced any visual illusions with the polarised lense since i've had them, and i flown in some extreme weather! The main problem arises when flying in glass cockpits where, at certain angles, the PFD's appear to black out. But if you aren't flying in glass cockpits, then there's no problem.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 05:39
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Just bought another pare of Serengeti's the other day as I broke my others. Excellent lense and are available with NON polarised lenses as I fly glass cockpit aircraft and polarised lense aren't compatable with efis and most windows that are heated.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 07:09
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Yeah, steer clear of polarised lenses. I second (third?) Serengetis. They are great and come in lots of fashionable as well as practical styles.
Try on the glasses you like outside too. You can't get a good idea of what they are like from a quick try-on in a shop or mall, and if you are going to spend several hundred bucks, you want to be sure.
A worthwhile shop will let you trial a pair, or exchange if they turn out to be unsuitable.
I like wrap-around ones that prevent reflections coming in from the side.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 08:06
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Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm also in the market for new sunnies. Does anyone know where you could try on these Serengeti's in the Brisbane area?
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 09:51
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A fourth recommendation for Serengeti's...
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 10:02
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definately try and find ones that protect your eyes from sunlight coming from the sides and below the frames. a lot of aviation-oriented sunnies (ie raybans) are designed like this. really good feature when flying above a layer of cloud in daytime.

i found it hard getting my latest pair of sunnies (even though it was 2 for $35, but all sunnies sold in Aus meet certain minimum 'safe' requirements) to sufficiently cover my eyes from the annoying light from below/side of the frame.
really the only ones that weren't aimed at aviation that stopped all the light coming from around the outside of the frames was those stupid bloody blowfly type ones you see all the uni fellas wearing trying to be in the lastest fasions and that look like EXACTLY the same ones as the women wear....

i had a really good pair that fitted me brilliantly for years. had them since before i began flying but unfortunately they broke. i then came to realise after having another pair (one of the 2 for $35's) broken in flight that whatever you buy, be prepared for them to break and you having to fork out for another pair, no matter how careful you are.

in short, buy what blocks light from the outside of the frames from creeping in, that fits you comfortably under a headset and which you can afford to replace easily!

as for which brand to reccommend, i cannot help sorry... shop around!
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 10:20
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I am another Serengetti convert. After 20+ years of Raybans, I now swear by the 'S'. The photochromatic lenses are brilliant between cloud layers, and the titanium frames (velocity model) strong, light and look good too. They are available with brown or neutral-grey lenses. Cost over AU$300 but worth every cent. Sunglass Huts stock them in Aust/NZ. Only problem I have with them is, after a few months, I regularly have to retighten the frame screws to prevent lens fall. Found that out the hard/expensive way!
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 10:30
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yep...serengettis for me...though i have been known to buy things at flea markets in florida that will work ( seeing through haze or mist )..

i would have to admit that i would worry about the benefit of otherwise to the eyes of cheap glasses.

they all do the job especially if the are orange or similar and this seems to me the best if trying to see through haze...but the serengettis will do this and i would think , protect the eyes too. they are glass remember and so need cleaning and careful looking after ( not the kind of thing i'm good at )

so try around. its often a matter of what you.....sorry lost you in the sun there for a moment...!!. .feel comfortable wearing and ( most important for VFR flying...) work in haze.

the dean.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 10:33
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http://www.zurichsunglasses.com/
Can get one to fit over presciption glasses - fit the sportstrap so it doesn't interfere with the headset. I've had one pair for 10 years now. A couple of years ago one of the lugs at the temple broke and they sent me a replacement for cost of postage - about $3.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 10:41
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I reckon rockin up to work in a pair of these would go down a treat!

No it's not a bra.

I think.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 14:47
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Originally Posted by Going Nowhere
Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm also in the market for new sunnies. Does anyone know where you could try on these Serengeti's in the Brisbane area?
Got a pair of Serengeti's from the Sunglass Clearance Warehouse last weekend. ( 275 Logan Road, Stones Corner)
Your best bet would be to surf the net and find a style that you want then give them a ring and see if they have them.


Regards.
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 15:17
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ok, to hijack the thread again, this time in a diffrent direction


what would people recommend for those of us who vision is ... not quite so perfect ?

My presciption glasses do not cover full field, just most of it, so there is a carona of uncorrected around them visable. would "clip-ons" be able to correct for that, or is it a case of get another frame for flying?
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 15:26
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Have to be "Serengeti"...
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Old 12th Jan 2007, 17:24
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PRADA - Have used them for years, no problems, Used Ray Ban Serengetti etc and they are good but these work well in Low level light [gloom] and Bright sunny days.
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