From: Sky2high@aol.com
Message-ID: <9bf495c7.361d8cf6@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 00:11:34 EDT
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Subject: Flying in Prime or not -- A vision test for everyone
Mime-Version: 1.0

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Dan:
It hard to see fast homebuilt in gray prime and any other color except,
perhaps, if it were painted in a neon color.  My commentary was tongue-in-
cheek since I am in a reasonably high traffic area myself (ORD Veil).  My
friends and I have tried to join up for experimental reasons such as video-
taping the tufting of an area, checking whether certain doors are closed in
flight, etc.  This has been done (or tried) in severe clear and hazy
conditions, over known landmarks with constant radio contact.  We hold the
following to be self-evident:

1)  The slower plane goes first until join up.

2)  The leader takes a higher altitude until the follower has him in sight
because it is easier to find someone in a sky background as opposed to ground
clutter.

3)  Talk often and realize that you won't see your bogie until  about 1/2 to
1/4 mile apart.  Ask the leader to turn 90 degrees since the wing high profile
is easier to see.

4)  Join up from a turn -- its easier.

5) Take formation flying lessons (I'll have to do that sometime).

In haze, we have sometimes searched for 1/2 hour and have had to give it up.

Finally, if its' so hard to find a small, fast, painted airplane when you know
where it is and you're talking to the target, think how hard it is for anybody
to see them (us), especially at closing speeds 400 to 700 mph.  Maybe the time
is right for TCAD or TCAS or whatever (as long as I can spoof it to avoid the
incoming missle) for our type of airplanes.

P.S. White is the most visible color in all lighting (except a white-out).

Scott Krueger
N92EX