From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Night vision goggles
To: lml
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:10:17 -0500
Message-ID: <web-1838718@logan.com>
In-Reply-To: <af33cdf20702141854y49176978m745c800bb729ef07@mail.gmail.com>
References: <list-1838253@logan.com>
 <af33cdf20702141854y49176978m745c800bb729ef07@mail.gmail.com>
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Posted for "Jeremy Fisher" <jffisher@gmail.com>:

  The NVGs you listed are fine, definitely better than the first ones that I
  used.  They are biocular, i.e. they use one image intensifier with a beam
  splitter into two eyes.  That means that you will get blanking if you happen
  to look directly at a canopy strut, but you just look to one side of the
  strut or the other, and they are obviously cheaper.
  
  The instrument issue is not difficult.  Use green electro luminescent strip
  lighting and turn all the other lights off; I plan to use EL anyway because
  they give good cockpit illumination.  Then go and buy samples of different
  red transparent film, get into the cockpit and get someone to throw a cover
  over it.  Try the different films in front of the NVG optic until you find
  one that is not dazzled by the EL light.  Tape the film that works on the
  front of the optic and you are done.  You look around the eyepiece to read
  your instruments, the object of the film is to avoid swamping the NVG with
  light.  Oh, and get rid of the rubber eyecups shown in the brochure, you
  don't need them and they cause disorientation.
  
  If you need more detailed information, please email me direct.  I can go on
  at boring length. (I know, I just did!)
  
  Jerry
  
  
> Posted for "S. Reeves" <sreeves@sc.rr.com>:
>
> Jerry,
>
>          Thanks for the great info.  You raised some issues I hadn't
> thought of.  I had originally planned to kill all of the lighting in an
> emergency, but I forgot about the focus range and reading the
> instruments.  I
> looked through a monacle (ITT Night Enforcer I believe...) and  definitely
> see
> how light sensitive they are.  I guess the main problem would be dealing
> with
> viewing the instruments, in which case I'm not sure how that would be
> done!  I
> had been thinking of something like this (or around the same price range):
>
>
> http://www.opticsplus.net/NightVision/Goggles/ATNNVG7Gen22Free5xMagLensonselectmodels
>
> Could anything be done about instrument viewing?  Thanks for the input.  I
> did get a couple of the usual LML smartass replies, but they might think
> differently if they have an engine fail if they fly at night, which I know
> alot of them do.  A thousand bucks is worth improving my odds.
>
> Steve Reeves
> Glasair 1FT 38SR