LED flashlight recommendation wanted

[satpak77]

anybody use an LED flashlight in the course of their flying duties?

care to recommend a particular model?

thanks

 

[DJS]

Check out the LED Museum for Reviews

http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/ledleft.htm

This guy has devoted his life to the study of LEDs. You can find reviews of lots of different LED flashlights (plus other LED stuff as well).

The two LED lights I use the most when flying are the Petzl Zipka Plus headlight (mostly for preflight and such before actually getting in the plane) and a couple of Photon 2's (red or green) while flying.

 

[Illini Pilot]

i dunno what brand it is...but i bought one at walmart for like $10 with a removable red lens

 

[johnpeace]

I have a photon light that is very, very handy. I wear it on a lanyard around my neck all the time, but it came with a little clip so it can attach to headset, seatbelt, interior of cockpit...whereever.

I am drooling over/planning to buy a Surefire Aviator. It's a super, mega bright Surefire light with a stepped switch. First detent turns on 3 LEDs for low-light use, press harder to get the full strength superlight.

I have a couple of Surefire's already, they are the best flashlight in the world.

 

[cforst513]

i say go to the sporting goods part of wally-world and just look at the flashlights there. mine wasn't expensive and came b/c red, blue, and orange covers. pretty bright for how small it is.

 

[ultrarunner]

anybody use an LED flashlight in the course of their flying duties?

care to recommend a particular model?

thanks

Surefire

 

[erj-145mech]

The problem with the Surefires is 1.) Cost, 2.)requires non standard batteries that you have to buy from Surefire.

 

[cforst513]

so, real quick hijack: is red still the color for night? i heard that there was another color that was better for night vision than red, but i can't remember which. what's the latest word?

 

[UnAnswerd]

I have 2 flashlights that I usually carry with me at work. One is a Streamlight Stinger, which is rechargable. I payed about $120 for it, but it's without a doubt the best little flashlight I've ever owned. Be careful though. It emmitts a super bright, white light. Probably not what you want for night flying.

The other is a little LED light manufactured by Coast. I carry this with me at all times. Isn't no bigger than a pocket knife, and is just about as bright as the Stinger. For it's size, it is very impressive. The light is actually a light blue, so again, not too sure about the night flying.

 

[mattpilot]

Ever-light

You know.. the one you shake to get electrons flowing

 

[aviatornick]

if u can afford it, surefire!!!!

 

[Moonfly201]

Surefire's are great, and the Lithium CR123 batteries are getting more common. They last forever, so you don't have to shop for batteries very often.

If you will be using the light around the inside of the cockpit, use green LED's. Even one LED is plenty. I find green does not hurt night vision adaptation very much, and offers much clearer vision and map-reading. I have four different green LED's positioned around the cockpit, and they are great. In fact, I flood the panel with the Clipmate in green by clipping it onto some plastic on the headliner behind my head;
http://www.theledlight.com/clipmate.html
I like this light better than the white post lights.

If you are looking for a high-power white light, to check for ice accumulation outside the cockpit, forget about LED and just go with a strong regular white bulb type flashlight. Mine is an inexpensive one powered by 4 "AA" batteries.

 

[flyf15]

Well, everyone knows anything designed for aviation is about 4x the cost of a comparable "non-aviation" unit.... I've found some great ones in the sporting goods areas of Target, Wal-Mart, ...

I personally have about 3 ones each a little bigger than a tube of chapstick that take 1 AAA battery each. Last forever, easy to put anywhere (including a lanyard around the neck), definately bright enough for cockpit activities, and they cost about $6 each at Wal-Mart.

Also have a few larger ones that work well for pre-flight and such that take 2 AA batteries... they were about $15 each.

 

[Vik]

you can buy those surefire batts on ebay for cheap .. its not a non-standard battery actually. Its a camera battery the old Olympus cameras used to use, etc. Many people sell'em, I think its as 123A battery.

 

[SLagonia]

I just found a great conversion kit for the mini-mag lights that convert them into LED lights. I picked it up in Walmart for about $4.50. You pull out the tiny bulb and the reflector and replace it with this new LED unit. Battery life is extended and it so far works fine.

 

[Twotter76]

If we are talking about a full size (D cell) light then I carry a Lightwave 8000 that I got on eBay for about $80 and it is the best flashlight ever. Very very bright but it has a blueish hue to it so it doesn't totally destroy your night vision. Also built very sturdy in case I need to whack someone with it. I have been using it for almost 3 years now and I have never had a problem with it.

 

[FN FAL]

If we are talking about a full size (D cell) light then I carry a Lightwave 8000 that I got on eBay for about $80 and it is the best flashlight ever. Very very bright but it has a blueish hue to it so it doesn't totally destroy your night vision. Also built very sturdy in case I need to whack someone with it. I have been using it for almost 3 years now and I have never had a problem with it.

I think I have something similar...uses three D cell batteries, has about 10 or 12 led's and will run forever without a battery change. Plus you can drop them from 6 feet on to a concrete floor and they keep on working.

Yea, I'd spend 50-60-80 bucks on a flashlight like that! It's worth a million dollars if you ever have to use it.

 

[Corona]

Take a look at Princeton TEC. I've a headlamp with a blue-white LED; 1-watt, but it's bright enough to blind you. Great for doing preflights. It was about $26 and runs on two AA batts. It's waterproof and very well made.

I agree with FN-don't skimp on flashlights. They might save your life.

CJ

 

[Corona]

I think I have something similar...uses three D cell batteries, has about 10 or 12 led's and will run forever without a battery change. Plus you can drop them from 6 feet on to a concrete floor and they keep on working.

Yea, I'd spend 50-60-80 bucks on a flashlight like that! It's worth a million dollars if you ever have to use it.

FN: Is that Uzi guy in your avatar a reject from the Village People?

I sincerely hope it's not a self-portrait...I could not handle having that image in my head each time I see your posts.

C

 

[Goose Egg]

The other is a little LED light manufactured by Coast. I carry this with me at all times. Isn't no bigger than a pocket knife, and is just about as bright as the Stinger. For it's size, it is very impressive. The light is actually a light blue, so again, not too sure about the night flying.

I have that same light (probably). I paid about $40 bucks for it at the local pilot shop. Imagine my surprise when I saw the same thing at Target in the camping section for $12. Bummer. Live and learn.

-Goose