I have just ordered a pair of sunglasses from Grett Optik and spoke to John who confirmed they are closing.
However they have some stock left so if anyone wishes to purchase I suggest you order soon.

Am I alone in having pretty much stopped wearing sunglasses because I struggle then to clearly see all of analogue gauges, outside, and screens and the same time - and instead have gone for the "baseball cap option" ?

G

Genghis - you're not the only one. I had to give up looking cool when I relied on readers to see what the instruments were saying... Baseball cap for me

I bought a pair from Grett Optic last week and they are brilliant! Going to order a spare pair before they close.

Whilst I would agree with all of you Grett Optic fans that their product is very good (I have several of their sun readers) I have to say that I no longer wear them when flying.

The reason is that I have come to rely very much on my Airspace Aware unit - and the screen is just not bright enough to read with sunspecs.

Genghis is quite right about the baseball cap option. Works a treat! And less easy to lose too!

Andy

Plus still works after you've sat on it!

G

I realise that wearing sunglasses is a very personal thing. In 46 years of professional flying including years of flying and living in the desert (Libya, Aden, Bahrain and Oman) I have never, ever worn sun glasses.

I have always relied on the baseball cap and/or the sunvisor in the aeroplane if needed.

I can remember doing my first medical in Aden with our MO (where are you Russ Martin) and he asked to see my sunglasses. "Haven't got any" said I. "That's good" said he. "They lull your eyes into a false sense of security and mostly don't stop the damaging UV light". I still have 20/20 eyesight at the age of 71.

In my spare time I used to spend all day out in the sun at the gliding club at Sheik Othman without a problem. In fact, not many of us wore sunglasses. Obviously some people absolutely have to wear sunglasses and I fully accept that the sun at White Waltham is much stronger than it is in the Middle East but I can only speak from my half a century of experience.

But then the duty "non pilot wannabee" reviews in Pilot and Flyer would basically be limited to wristwatches and briefcases.

G

I have heard a theory....

That by wearing sun glasses it lowers the amount of stimulus the pituatry (sp?) gets from the eyes and makes you get more sunburnt and stops you getting a tan.

Oh come on it is entirely a personal preference thing and has nothing to do with flying competence or tanning. If you don't want to wear them then don't. I like to as it stops me squinting and I firmly believe they stop UV damage to the eyes.

"In 46 years of professional flying including years of flying and living in the desert (Libya, Aden, Bahrain and Oman) I have never, ever worn sun glasses."

Then you obviously never experienced a Ghibli in Libya. Sunglasses (or goggles) were an absolute necessity then.

Baseball cap wearers....

Do you wear the cap under your headset, or perch the cap on the top of them?
I find if I wear it under the headset it causes seal issues with my Lightspeed Zulu's, in addition the button in the middle of the cap presses hard on the top of once's bonce!
Perched on the top it doesn't feel quite secure enough and is prone to falling off!

Anyone found the answer or can recommend a particular type/brand of cap?

No problems with Bose, but I always used to remove the button when using other headsets

G,

Theory works for me perfectly - if you carry a spare, it's also useful for carrying keys, tools and snacks!

I have lost or destroyed £££ worth of sunglasses - and will invest no further.


B

Boots the Chemist
 

Cheap as chips, but all :)have the correct UV protection etc.