Pilots Sunglasses
Join Date: Dec 2005
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does the colour of the lens tint matter?
comparing a brown lens and a gray lens.
assuming both are Number 2 lens, non polarised with 20-30 percent light transmission, which is more suitable for use during flying?
comparing a brown lens and a gray lens.
assuming both are Number 2 lens, non polarised with 20-30 percent light transmission, which is more suitable for use during flying?
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Originally Posted by Suvarnabhumi
For Jet EFIS there's only one must have:
Serengeti's with Driver Gradient Lenses.
And they are NOT polarised so no probs there!!!
Serengeti's with Driver Gradient Lenses.
And they are NOT polarised so no probs there!!!
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looking to get either the 555nm lenses or drivers / driver's gradient.... undecided though cos of the lens colour (grey vs brown). Serengetis are costly so don't wanna make a wrong purchase 
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Polarised Glasses-try this test
Try this test:- put on your Polarised Glasses and look at a digital clock by tilting your head to the right...and you will see the screen go completley black. This will also effect your instruments when flying.
Tried and testd:- Polarising sunglasses should not be used when flying. The polarising filter interacts with the cockpit transparency to produce a distorted and degraded visual image.
Tried and testd:- Polarising sunglasses should not be used when flying. The polarising filter interacts with the cockpit transparency to produce a distorted and degraded visual image.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Ray Bans- boring but they work
US airforce made Aviators compulsory for years. + They have been around since the 30's.
http://www.ray-ban.com/
http://www.ray-ban.com/
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Sunglasses help please folks...
I'm about to buy some perscription sunglasses and have a lens choice delema. I have a pair of Sarengetti Aviators which give superb vision inside and out the cockpit, but they've never been comfortable for long periods. Should I go for polarized lenses ? The optician says that polorized lenses are not suitable for inside and outside cockpit vision although I never had any real problems with the Sarengetti brand lenses. Does anyone have any advice on tints etc ?
TFS
TFS
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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TheFlyingSquirrel,
Dont know if its the same reason but I had to try 4 different pairs of sunglasses as I could not get a good seal around my headset and they were uncomfortable...?
Think thats why good old tom cruise style aviators were made with very thin wire arms (not that I wear any!) but that is what I found I needed...
MADY
Dont know if its the same reason but I had to try 4 different pairs of sunglasses as I could not get a good seal around my headset and they were uncomfortable...?
Think thats why good old tom cruise style aviators were made with very thin wire arms (not that I wear any!) but that is what I found I needed...
MADY
Bottom line: Polarised lenses are good if Tuna Spotting in a 500 (because the polarisation works by removing the reflections from the water). Not so good if the aircraft has glass screens (the polarisation filters out many of the onscreen colours).
My recommendation: Serengeti Driver's Gradient lenses in whatever frames have the thinnest arms. These lenses improve contrast in almost all light conditions (except at night!) Particularly good during 'flat light' conditions as often found in the UK.
Prescription Serengetis will cost you several hundreds of pounds/dollars though and will probably have to be sourced from the USA.
HTH,
B73
My recommendation: Serengeti Driver's Gradient lenses in whatever frames have the thinnest arms. These lenses improve contrast in almost all light conditions (except at night!) Particularly good during 'flat light' conditions as often found in the UK.
Prescription Serengetis will cost you several hundreds of pounds/dollars though and will probably have to be sourced from the USA.
HTH,
B73
Last edited by Bravo73; 9th Apr 2006 at 18:48.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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I think it depends on the type of flying you will be doing. I fly offshore and I tried Serengeti Drivers but found that the gradient lens was not good when a lot of reflection from the sun was coming off the sea. I instead love the pair of Serengettis I have which do not have the gradient lens. They are not polarised but they cut down on glare as good as polarised glasses. I have also found no problem looking at the screens with them.
However, using with a headset (especially as mine is an ANR set), means that I have to make sure that the headset and sits properly with the sunglasses on, as otherwise the ANR doesn't work so well.
I cannot remember the name of the model but the number is 6535.
Hope that helps?
However, using with a headset (especially as mine is an ANR set), means that I have to make sure that the headset and sits properly with the sunglasses on, as otherwise the ANR doesn't work so well.
I cannot remember the name of the model but the number is 6535.
Hope that helps?
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Frankly, I have never seen the need to spend the money dictated by "designer" glasses. The money you spend on them is not necessarily needed to get good quality, frankly.
I found that brown #3 lenses on good quality basic sunglasses works very well, and polaroid glasses should be avoided because of effects from plastic windows and poor visual cues near water.
This place has excellent glasses at good prices, and is the "secret" of many US pilots. They do excellent prescription word, including custom bi-focal segments at the top of the lens for reading overhead switches. I have no interest in this company, this is not a "plug" I am just a satisfied repeat customer:
Hidalgo's
I found that brown #3 lenses on good quality basic sunglasses works very well, and polaroid glasses should be avoided because of effects from plastic windows and poor visual cues near water.
This place has excellent glasses at good prices, and is the "secret" of many US pilots. They do excellent prescription word, including custom bi-focal segments at the top of the lens for reading overhead switches. I have no interest in this company, this is not a "plug" I am just a satisfied repeat customer:
Hidalgo's
I like Revo. The "blue/purple" lens (with white shirt and bars) seems especially helpful for getting waved by military checkpoints - but in Africa only, in the US they just tell you to take them off ;-(. Note that the weird color is just the outside coating - the lenses themselves are kind of a brown.
I've found the Serengeti's a little on the light side for the glare of offshore flying and glacier work, even the IFR when you're in the sunshine on top of white cloud.
It's going to be a compromise for the darkness of the instrument panel going from out to in. Maybe if everyone painted them light grey it wouldn't be such a black hole of contrast.
Wearing comfort is a major consideration. The bayonet type (Randolph?) seem OK for helmets, though my HGU-55 came with a visor anyway. Normal headsets need a pretty good seal to keep the noise out and therefore have a lot of "clamp" force. Purpose built ANR's, like the Bose, don't rely on a seal and have far less clamping force, and therefore are more tolerant of different sunglass arms.
Malabo
I've found the Serengeti's a little on the light side for the glare of offshore flying and glacier work, even the IFR when you're in the sunshine on top of white cloud.
It's going to be a compromise for the darkness of the instrument panel going from out to in. Maybe if everyone painted them light grey it wouldn't be such a black hole of contrast.
Wearing comfort is a major consideration. The bayonet type (Randolph?) seem OK for helmets, though my HGU-55 came with a visor anyway. Normal headsets need a pretty good seal to keep the noise out and therefore have a lot of "clamp" force. Purpose built ANR's, like the Bose, don't rely on a seal and have far less clamping force, and therefore are more tolerant of different sunglass arms.
Malabo
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I completely agree with Nick.
The man running Hidalgos has worked offshore.
I called him, Skype, and had a long conversation with him about what I needed and he delivered. At a very good price.
He has glass lenses which most claim not to be available. Use a nose bridge. He will explain all.
Charlie Alexander
The man running Hidalgos has worked offshore.
I called him, Skype, and had a long conversation with him about what I needed and he delivered. At a very good price.
He has glass lenses which most claim not to be available. Use a nose bridge. He will explain all.
Charlie Alexander
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I use a ENC headset so my glasses have to be snug on my head otherwise they don't work correctly.
I found a set of Oakleys called 'Crosshair' which are real comfy and the arms are shaped to the headset cups. Bit pricey but worth it!
I found a set of Oakleys called 'Crosshair' which are real comfy and the arms are shaped to the headset cups. Bit pricey but worth it!
"Just a pilot"
If you're not certain what you want, try a few clip ons, available, inexpensive. They work very well, and you can try a lot of different colors, shading, gradients, and polarized. I especially like the flip-ups, quick change capacity. I prefer a medium brown, polarized- gives a little better vis in precip.
You may have issues with helmet visors (diffraction color bands, distracting), the occasional plastic windows (twice in 20 years), and gauge face glass. The biggest issue is LCD displays- polarized lenses will conflict with the LCD polarization at some point, or all the time. I carry an extra pair of cheapo non-polarized clip ons.
And a pair of collectible frame RayBans with scrip lenses, when I gotta look like Joe Cool, pro pilot. But not to work in.
You may have issues with helmet visors (diffraction color bands, distracting), the occasional plastic windows (twice in 20 years), and gauge face glass. The biggest issue is LCD displays- polarized lenses will conflict with the LCD polarization at some point, or all the time. I carry an extra pair of cheapo non-polarized clip ons.
And a pair of collectible frame RayBans with scrip lenses, when I gotta look like Joe Cool, pro pilot. But not to work in.
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Maui Jim. www.mauijim.com
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paris catwalk....
www.Dior.com....you might like the glasses....i have a male dior, has aside triangle glass piece...slide like a old fasion us randolph...silver frame..at least enjoy the clothes....
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I've tried lots of sunglasses over the years, and most of them came from Hidalgo's. He has good products at a good price. For years I used glasses with the thinnest temples I could find so I could get a good seal with my headset, and the best I found were some I got from Hidalgo's, Carlo Bellini brand IIRC, and I don't think they're carried any longer. Now I'm using a set of Randolph Engineering glasses I got free from Professional Pilot mag for returning a survey. I've discovered lightweight in-the-ear headsets, which use foam earplugs, and I can use whatever glasses I like, because there is no heavy, hot dome over my ears. I get better noise reduction than what is advertised by ENC headsets, with Howard Leight Laser Light earplugs giving a NRR of 32. They're light, cool, and quiet, and I don't have to take the button off the top of my cap. There are at least 3 brands available, and Google should turn them up for you.