Jetjock22 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 14957 times:
To all pilots in here, just wondering what type/brand of sunglasses yall use. I think I am gonna get a pair of oakley half jackets from the avshop. Just wondered what yall had.
DeltaGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 14935 times:
Ray Bans....gold Aviator style to be exact (think Top Gun). I used to have some pretty cool Oakleys, they didn't cover enough of my eyes/didn't block enough light...fine for the beach, not for the cockpit. I wear these glasses when driving and flying, so they tend to get kinda beat up...but still very reliable.
I just got a VERY nice pair of Saranghetti Aviator-style ones from my dad for Christmas (these are the same kind he flies with), so I can't wait to give em a try next week We'll see how they feel under a David Clark. They seem to block out the rays just as well as the RayBans do, but they stay on my face a little better (the Raybans I usually have to push up my nose a little bit)
Ralgha From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 1614 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 14916 times:
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8937 posts, RR: 65 Reply 3, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 14898 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Oakley OO Square:
The things have proven to be durable as hell. I've had them for about 5 years and they still fit great. They could use a bit more coverage on the sides, but I recommend them highly.
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3016 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 14886 times:
Smith Mainline Sliders.
The brown lenses are great for flying. They come with three sets of lenses which is great if you are into other sports like cycling.
Q330 From Australia, joined Dec 2003, 1460 posts, RR: 29 Reply 6, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 14853 times:
I wear Oakley Half Jackets which are great glasses. Very comfortable and they really stay on your head (not that that's an issue with a headset over them) so they're good for other sports too. I'd recommend getting XLJ lenses which extend lower than the normal ones and block more glare from below.
The only problem is that the relatively thick stems can dig into your head a bit with the headset on top of them. Maybe that's not so much of a problem if your headset has very soft foam ear covers. However, with the one I use, by the end of a one hour flight it gets a bit annoying!
Wing From Turkey, joined Oct 2000, 1551 posts, RR: 27 Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 14840 times:
Whatever sunglass you choose,always avoid "polarised" glasses during flight.I've made that mistake,bought a very expensive polarised model(makes me look good I have to say) but it is impossible to see from cockpit windows.Because its polarised the windows looks like oil spilled all over it and is very annoying.
Santhosh From India, joined Sep 2001, 542 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 14831 times:
Is it really really difficult when you guys fly into the sun in mornings and evenings with out sunglasses? Since I have never been in such a situation height up don’t have even a rough idea on how difficult it would be. It would be great if you could share your experiences.Also how often do you wear these polarized glasses?
Whiskeyflyer From Ireland, joined May 2002, 224 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 14826 times:
Silhouette sunglasses.
They have very narrow, flexible, thin arms so they do not bite into your head when you got a Dave Clarke on. They are also so light you forget you are wearing them, so I swear by these glasses.
They are practically indestructable as they are very flexible. Only dis-advantage is you need to store them in their case as they do not fold up nicely.
http://www.sunglassesgiant.com/silhouette.html
For travel/spare set I got a very practical pair of Polo glasses that fold up very small in a case that will fit in your shirt pocket (picked mine up from onboard duty free of British Airways)
Wing From Turkey, joined Oct 2000, 1551 posts, RR: 27 Reply 10, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 14825 times:
George,
I personally wore the polarized glasses only once and as I found that its really not good to wear in the cockpit I am leaving them in my car at the airport.
Again I don't wear any sunglasses during TO's and landings(disturbs my concentration) no matter if its shining or not.The worst is when landing a westerly runway just after the rain and runway is still wet.Talk about sun glare!During the cruise we find differnt ways to protect from sun addition to the sun shades.The are lifting curtains on the side windows and we use everything from binders to newspapers to cut the the sun.
707cmf From France, joined Mar 2002, 4885 posts, RR: 38 Reply 11, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 14815 times:
Ray Bans.
Although a mere GA pilot, I have chosen, thanks to advices from here, not polarised ones.
RB are a bit more expensive that what I was used to, but they are really worth the price. You don't have the impression to wear sunglasses at all !
I usually keep them for TO/Landings, but if the light is not enough on the ground, I will remove them without a second thought. (always keep them nearby on the dashboard though)
Soaringadi From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 472 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 14808 times:
I am just a student pilot (working on instrument). But I do wear glasses.
Since the aviator style are a little too big for my face I usually wear those Gucci dark glasses. I think they are really useful.
SlamClick From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 10039 posts, RR: 75 Reply 13, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 14766 times:
I don't wear them for flying anymore. Can't see the glass cockpit if I'm wearing sunglasses. I'll use the shades that come with the airplane and more. Jeppesen makes great window shades, both high and low altitude models. (Just kidding, FAA!)
For driving I have a pair of RayBans that look a lot like the old AO glasses that we were issued on active duty.
I can't keep good glasses. I lost a nice pair of photochromics in the iceplant at the Holiday Inn in Mission Viejo. (story for another time) but I kept a flimsy pair with cellophane lenses that I bought in Brazil for under a buck. They lasted me for fifteen years!
Wing is right about the polarized ones. Had a pair when I was flying a DC-3 that had Collins Pro Line avionics. I bent down to latch the landing gear and all the LED displays went away. I thought we'd lost our radio bus. Turns out it was just the glasses.
Now that I've had my first skin cancer I always wear a hat (ugh) so sunglasses are part of my past. Must say, though, I did look cool and studly in those issue glasses.
Happiness is not seeing another trite Ste. Maarten photo all week long.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8937 posts, RR: 65 Reply 14, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 14757 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
One note about photochromics...many of them (if not all of them) require UV light to activate the lens tinting. This means the lenses will never darken when you're behind UV-filtering windshields.
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3016 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 14736 times:
George,
To answer your question, I find that the sun is at it's worst when it's low on the horizon. Just after sunrise, or before sunset can be pretty tough. St. Louis is usually hazy during the summer and this just adds to the problems. I had a checkride early in the morning recently and forgot sunglasses. BIG mistake. Another fun one is when you break out of a layer of cloudcover and get on top. I always seem to not bother bringing my shades because the weather on the ground is so crappy then you get on top and it's like being on a snow covered mountain. The glare is almost as bad as a hazy sunset.
XFSUgimpLB41X From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3695 posts, RR: 36 Reply 16, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 14691 times:
Santhosh From India, joined Sep 2001, 542 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 14687 times:
Wing & Pilotpip
Sir thanx for the detailed explanation. Now you all can choose whether to wear glasses or not. But what about pilots using spectacles with power. Since they have to keep those glasses to correct there eye sight. They don’t have much option on wearing the latest generation cooling glass. Do they? Or do they always keep separate lenses made to correct their eye sight which have tinted coating on it just incase if they need?
Philsquares From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 14676 times:
Like SlamClick, I don't wear sunglasses in flight either. The pull down shades on the 2 and 3 window do fine and the attachable shades on the 1 window work fine. LOL..wouldn't know about the Jep charts either!!
On the new 744s the LCD screens are almost impossible to read with sun glasses on.
Finally, being "thin on top" a hat has been part of my attire for a long time!!
TWAMD-80 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 1006 posts, RR: 5 Reply 20, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 14647 times:
I have a pair or polarized Ray Bans. They have worked pretty well for me, I can't complain.
TW
Two A-4's, left ten o'clock level continue left turn!
SSTjumbo From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 14601 times:
I use opaque yellow lenses, i.e. pretty much yellow windows. Yellow increases contrast in poor visibility situations or when I just want to see what clutter is traffic around an airport. Very useful, and I look like a strange rockstar when flying instead of a pilot.
Bravo45 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2165 posts, RR: 15 Reply 23, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 14501 times:
I have the Rayban aviator, just bought a Rayban New pilot, haven't flown since. Don't intend to get a polarized lens so far.
Cancidas From Poland, joined Jul 2003, 4112 posts, RR: 15 Reply 24, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 14477 times:
oakley straight jackets, black polarized iridium lenses with my prescription in them. best glasses i've ever owned.
"...cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home."
25 Inbound: I wear Oakley C-Wire, black iridium with dark carbon frame. Unpolarised. good shades, very light and comfortable compared to my glass-lens RayBans. bu
26 Fr8tdog: XFSU, ha! Next time I am in Melvis, I will buy you a gold set...... and putter in yur V-File....hehehe. Paul, MSP Capt.....
27 CaptainTim: i would wear Oaklyey M Frames (cover wide enough area) but i've seen pilots on Wires and jackets.. i think they choose wires cuz they can also wear th
28 Flight152: Cancidas How did you get the Oakley sunglasses with the prescription lenses? Everytime I go to one of those places in the mall that sells Oakleys, the
29 2H4: Flight152, You have to go to an eyeglass place like D.O.C. to get them. I believe they're in the neighborhood of $350 to $400. 2H4
30 BartiniMan: cancidas its a bad idea having polarized sunglasses in the cockpit. They block out the digital displays when viewed from a certain angle. BartiniMan
31 CO2BGR: Serengeti Hurikanus from Sporty's I have had them for 2 years now and would get them again in a heartbeat. They have very good coverage and the frame
32 AV757: I wear my personal prescription on Serengeti Drivers large frame aviator model 5223. AV757
33 Mirrodie: There is no right or wrong with what specs to wear. I have some patients who are pilots in my office and they love their polaroids, swear by them and
34 Cancidas: BartiniMan: the polarized glasses are fine as long as the LCD displays are no mounted vertically. other than that, theyre fine once you get used to th
35 BALandorLivery: POLARISED OAKLEY SQUARE FRAMES, BLUE TINT excellent for blockng strong sun rays and dangerous UV rays.
36 Stoicescu: 5 $ +taxes designer imitation from a gas station
37 Jamesbuk: Well im only a student pilot but I almost always wear these There quite comfy but ive lost one if the rubber bits so its only got one rubber bit but t
38 Tu204: Silver Athletic type sunglasses that I bought from Adidas for about $20
39 113312: I'm not too much into "cool" looks. In fact, I don't wear any sunglasses at all. I did in my early years but they were contributing to weakening of my
40 Skyslave: My dad passed down to me a pair of Ray-ban aviators from the late 70's that he used back in the day. They're the ones where it wraps all the way aroun
41 Turnit56N: I second that! I don't like the rainbow effect of polarized sunglasses on the windshield and the sun visors are generally sufficient to cut down on t
42 Saab2000: Serenghetti glasses are the best I have ever used. I used to have some old Ray-Bans, and when lost them I was mad. Bit the bullet and bought the Seren
43 Starlionblue: Ok, so I'm not a pilot, but I'm a big fan of Maui Jims. I used to be all Ray-Ban for 20 years but since I tried my Mauis there's no going back. Lightw
44 JBirdAV8r: I use the Oakley Minute sunglasses, similar to these but gray with greenish/yellow lenses. I like that they wrap close to my head and have excellent v
45 Jetstar: I have used the American Optical 58mm Skymaster sunglasses in a gold frame with the neutral gray lens for over 30 years and love them. American Optica
46 AirWillie6475: Bolle Heatseaker of Italy with a polarized lense. Polarized lenses are the best, your eyes feel more relaxed. At some angles LCDs are hard to see thou
47 Jspitfire: I have Ray Ban Aviators, although I rarelly wear them while flying because they dig into the side of my head and get rather uncomfortable rather fast.
48 ShyFlyer: I'm a Serengeti man myself. After switching to Contact Lenses, I first tried the "el-cheapo" things you can find at Wal-Mart. Naturally, those didn't
49 CX flyboy: I currently have Ray Bans, which have served me well (No not Top Gun style ones). I have seen a pair of Oakleys which I like, so I am going to look in
50 Zeke: Serengeti for myself. Cannot wear polarised glasses in most jets, the windows are already polarised. Also with EFIS some are useless as they may filte
51 FSPilot747: Ray Ban Flights But, I realized that I never wear them. Not even when I fly (I just use the big Cessna shades). I think, I just don't like wearing gla
52 Andrew: I wear my Rudy Project Radon's for flying, and also for when I'm doing my running and cycling training. They hold on to the head well, and don't inter
53 Mirrodie: As I type this, my polaroids are on. Polaroids need to be oriented in a certain way for them to work best. They are haands down the best gare protecti
54 CFIjames: I almost always wear imitation oakley minutes, like Jbird (reply 44) But whatever glasses i wear, i always tip them down so the arms go up over my hea
55 N766UA: And I have no problems with headset seals.
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We'll see how they feel under a David Clark. They seem to block out the rays just as well as the RayBans do, but they stay on my face a little better (the Raybans I usually have to push up my nose a little bit)
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