Sunglasses
The Cooler King
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Sunglasses
Hi
Am starting my training this month and, living in Lyon, am swamped with designer sunglasses shops, but when I ask my "What's good to fly with?" question, I get the famous French shrug of the shoulders.....
....what do you guys use? I had a pair of Serengheti Drivers for years and they were great, but I'm not sure about what is good on the flightdeck - my last pair of glasses made the screens disappear when I went to visit a glass cockpit!
Thanks
Wayne
Am starting my training this month and, living in Lyon, am swamped with designer sunglasses shops, but when I ask my "What's good to fly with?" question, I get the famous French shrug of the shoulders.....
....what do you guys use? I had a pair of Serengheti Drivers for years and they were great, but I'm not sure about what is good on the flightdeck - my last pair of glasses made the screens disappear when I went to visit a glass cockpit!
Thanks
Wayne
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Ray Bans are the way to go!
Avoid the Polarized gasses, these are the ones that make the screens disappear and the windshields dark.
You wanna know why? The glass over the monitors are also Polarized!
What to know more? Read a book!
OH! T'n'O you are such a bad boy!!!
Avoid the Polarized gasses, these are the ones that make the screens disappear and the windshields dark.
You wanna know why? The glass over the monitors are also Polarized!
What to know more? Read a book!
OH! T'n'O you are such a bad boy!!!
The Cooler King
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That's great. I had heard that Ray Ban's were a tad on the heavy side after a while.
Hopefully they have a good light model, with brown lenses and then I'll be sorted!
Thanks for your help!
Hopefully they have a good light model, with brown lenses and then I'll be sorted!
Thanks for your help!
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I recieved a pair of Ray Bans for my birthday recently and there are excellent. Naturally they are the Aviator type...
Everyone who has tried them on can't believe how clear and sharp they are. They even put my prescription in to them.
Screwballs
Everyone who has tried them on can't believe how clear and sharp they are. They even put my prescription in to them.
Screwballs
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Brown isn't the best colour for aviation sunnies. Grey is the best colour. You want a neutral density colour. There has been many many posts on this topic over the years. 
Raybans are good but since they are made from glass (Zeiss lens) they will be heavier than ones made from polycarbonate.
Find a pair that is comfy and doesn't distort your vision. Note, the Bolle/Oakley styles can distort because they wrap around your head. Try them all and see how you go.
Raybans are good but since they are made from glass (Zeiss lens) they will be heavier than ones made from polycarbonate.
Find a pair that is comfy and doesn't distort your vision. Note, the Bolle/Oakley styles can distort because they wrap around your head. Try them all and see how you go.
TightYorksherMan
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Redsnail,
Is it you remember the posts or you remember the HPL questions
Jinkster
Grey is the best colour. You want a neutral density colour. There has been many many posts on this topic over the years.
Jinkster
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Bit of both
Since I have worked in a rather bright glary country and need to wear specs I have had a bit of an interest in it.
Since I have worked in a rather bright glary country and need to wear specs I have had a bit of an interest in it.
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Serengetti's are the way to go, I have used them now for the last four years and find them to be excellent. They are designed for drivers/pilots and in my experience make everything crisp and bright. They are nice and light and have dozens of different styles.
Use to have the ray bans but found them a little on the dark side making life a little harder on the flight deck. (just my opionion)
A.H.
Use to have the ray bans but found them a little on the dark side making life a little harder on the flight deck. (just my opionion)
A.H.
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Just while this thread is on the topic of sunglasses, how easy or difficuly is it to get your own prescription put into them? Can you say buy an ordinary pair of glasses and get an optician to put prescription lenses into them. I need sunglasses for flying but i also need a pair for just day to day. I want something that looks good also. I know ray bans are really great but they look a right state on me. i wanted a pair of oakleys or wrap around glasses but should i defo stay away from them? and could i get my prescription put into them? All answers appreciated. Thanks.
Stephen
Stephen
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Not hard at all.
Firstly, stipulate the colour lens you want. (as stated, go for a neutral density colour, grey is a good one).
Then you have to pick your sunnies carefully. If they are too wrap around then the lens cutter/grinder can't do it's thing properly.
I picked an Adidas pair of mild wrap arounds. I had a prescription lens fitted. Laughing.
Also, if you prescription is a complicated one it may be a tad difficult in the more fashionable wrap frames.
So, it can be done.
Now, find some cash and head off to your optician. If your one can't do it, find another. I was lucky, I found a very good one who did a fantastic job. Downside, she's in Australia.
Firstly, stipulate the colour lens you want. (as stated, go for a neutral density colour, grey is a good one).
Then you have to pick your sunnies carefully. If they are too wrap around then the lens cutter/grinder can't do it's thing properly.
I picked an Adidas pair of mild wrap arounds. I had a prescription lens fitted. Laughing.
Also, if you prescription is a complicated one it may be a tad difficult in the more fashionable wrap frames.
So, it can be done.
Now, find some cash and head off to your optician. If your one can't do it, find another. I was lucky, I found a very good one who did a fantastic job. Downside, she's in Australia.
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A few years ago I had a letter of the month published in Flyer magazine.
Anyway the letter of the month back then won Randolph Aviator Sunglasses which, although I've only ever tried these, are an excellent choice for use whilst flying.
I would say they would be excellent choice for everything else, eg driving etc... but they aren't as you need a headset on to stop them from falling off. The arms on them don't have ear hooks so easily fall off if not held on by a headset, but I believe they are designed like that so they are comfortable to wear whilst flying... which, of course, they are.
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
Anyway the letter of the month back then won Randolph Aviator Sunglasses which, although I've only ever tried these, are an excellent choice for use whilst flying.
I would say they would be excellent choice for everything else, eg driving etc... but they aren't as you need a headset on to stop them from falling off. The arms on them don't have ear hooks so easily fall off if not held on by a headset, but I believe they are designed like that so they are comfortable to wear whilst flying... which, of course, they are.
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
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Hey there,
Has to me my Oakleys, A Wire 2.0 Spring Hinge. They give no distortion, extremely light, have straight thin arms for wearing under your headset 8hrs a day.
There was an article in Private Pilot Magazine last year, and the Oakleys wiped the floor with the competition.
I have owned a few pairs, different types and never suffered from distortion of the object viewed or alteration of colour. I am thinking that if you have then you got sold a fake pair.
Most people I know out here wear them and if they dont, once they try them alot of them change.
Things to look for in my opinion when buying:
UV protection.
Comfort.
Weight.
Fit on face.
No colour distortion.
Lack of polarisation.
No object distortion.
Remeber you only have one pair of eyes and if they get screwed no more medical.
But then again it is a personnal choice, and I like that I can wear mine out of work and not look like a pilot.
The data from the article is here:
http://www.avshop.com/productimages/...estresults.pdf
Have a good one and safe flying
-273
Oh Almost forgot they also do them with prescription lenses.
Has to me my Oakleys, A Wire 2.0 Spring Hinge. They give no distortion, extremely light, have straight thin arms for wearing under your headset 8hrs a day.
There was an article in Private Pilot Magazine last year, and the Oakleys wiped the floor with the competition.
I have owned a few pairs, different types and never suffered from distortion of the object viewed or alteration of colour. I am thinking that if you have then you got sold a fake pair.
Most people I know out here wear them and if they dont, once they try them alot of them change.
Things to look for in my opinion when buying:
UV protection.
Comfort.
Weight.
Fit on face.
No colour distortion.
Lack of polarisation.
No object distortion.
Remeber you only have one pair of eyes and if they get screwed no more medical.
But then again it is a personnal choice, and I like that I can wear mine out of work and not look like a pilot.
The data from the article is here:
http://www.avshop.com/productimages/...estresults.pdf
Have a good one and safe flying
-273
Oh Almost forgot they also do them with prescription lenses.
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Whatever make u decide to go for, make sure the arms aren't too thick. Nothing worse than having a painful mark on the side of your head where your sunnies were pressed in by your headset for 8hrs!! I personally prefer Ray Bans for flying, and my Oakleys or Police ones for posing in out of work!
I think you'll find a lot of pilots have been through the Rayban/Oakley/Randolph/Bolle/Blah products and many have ended up with Serengetti - where they stay.
Look for the Drivers gradient lens which works well with EFIS. Personally I like the Lassen frame but whatever suits you. I think they are about £170 but the titanium frame and the engineering on the hinge means they will last a mighty long time.
Cheers
WWW
Look for the Drivers gradient lens which works well with EFIS. Personally I like the Lassen frame but whatever suits you. I think they are about £170 but the titanium frame and the engineering on the hinge means they will last a mighty long time.
Cheers
WWW
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Much appreciated guys. Thanks a mil for the info. Is it very expensive though to get prescription lenses put into other glasses. Just i not unlike other trainee pilots havent much dosh jingling about. Thanks
Steve
Steve