High Vis Markings

"France mandated high vis markings for a reason, they saw a statistically
significate difference. France mandated Flarm for the same reason, it
works."


FRANCE mandated hi viz marking to help see gliders in the snowy backdrop of
the alps.

They also mandated FLARM for the alps as FLARM can see round corners in the
mountains and the eye can not.


Bright colour markings do nothing. If you wish to improve visibility put
silver reflective tape on each of your control surfaces.

At 09:01 27 January 2016, Justin Craig wrote:

"France mandated high vis markings for a reason, they saw a
statisticall
significate difference. France mandated Flarm for the same
reason, i
works."


FRANCE mandated hi viz marking to help see gliders in the snowy
backdrop o
the alps.

They also mandated FLARM for the alps as FLARM can see round
corners in th
mountains and the eye can not.


Bright colour markings do nothing. If you wish to improve visibility
pu
silver reflective tape on each of your control surfaces.

The "Big Sky" theory only works if all aircraft are evenly distributed
over the airspace. The restrictions and requirements of gliding
means that they are far from evenly distributed.

High vis markings (dayglo) do work with gliders against some
backgrounds if they are above or below. In the most dangerous
area, the same level they do not work too well at all as the area is so
small that the "benefit" is cancelled out.

Silver reflective tape, or mirror tape only works in sunshine. Gliders
spent a lot of time in shade, under clouds, and again at the same
level the effect is minimal. Something that requires the sun to shine
is not likely to be too effective for most of the time in the UK.

The Royal Air Force did a study which concluded that the best
colour to provide the best chance of being seen was black, which is
why all RAF training aircraft, except the GRP ones, are painted
black. From my limited experience in seeing these aircraft in the air
they certainly seem to be more easily picked out from most
backgrounds.

It would seem that what is needed is a colouring that absorbs
visible light but reflects ultra violet and infra red. So there is the
challenge.

I'm pretty sure FLARM cannot see round Alpine corners.

Adding mirror foil to control surfaces certainly works if it's
sunny but your friendly engineer or glider manufacturer might
view adding weight to the control surfaces in a different light?
I've seen it suggested that this might affect flutter?

David Walsh

The Royal Air Force did a study which concluded that the best
colour to provide the best chance of being seen was black, which is
why all RAF training aircraft, except the GRP ones, are painted
black. From my limited experience in seeing these aircraft in the air
they certainly seem to be more easily picked out from most
backgrounds.

Canadian Air Force trainers are also painted black. Best contrast against sky, clouds, snow, and prairie. Unfortunately, not possible for most gliders, and rather warm to the touch for ground handling.

Well, I stand corrected. However, if you google military high visibility markings you will find formations of aircraft with and without high vis markings. One can really see the high vis aircraft better. Ever noted how all the roadside workers wear orange vests, certainly improves their visibility, same for hunters, crosswalk monitors, school buses, fire trucks, bicycle riders...etc. Out west I have only see two gliders with high visibility markings, one in blue, which did not improve my ability to spot it in the sky, but another glider had fluorescent orange markings and it stood out like a sore thumb! Not a statistically significant sample size, nor a controlled experiment, but I could spot that glider against any background even out of the corner of my eye. Vanity kept me from using the same color scheme as I thought it was too "in your face" and on the ground the color appeared to hurt my eyes it was so bright.

Thanks for the studies, glad I have an LED strobe, Flarm and good eyes!

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 7:00:07 AM UTC-5, Don Johnstone wrote:

Silver reflective tape, or mirror tape only works in sunshine. Gliders
spent a lot of time in shade, under clouds, and again at the same
level the effect is minimal.

Nothing is going to work from all directions and under all conditions. But some combination would improve the odds.

LED lights for the shade and mirror for sunlight would be complementary.

A forward facing LED strobe is a big payback even though it works on only one axis.

How about something like this on top of the fuselage and another on the bottom? If mounted from the inside through a hole it would be less than 20mm tall and I'm guessing a streamlined bubble to cover it wouldn't add any significant drag.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...Specifications

This appears to be the same as used on emergency vehicles and with a draw of over an amp at 12v, it sure seems like it should be bright. I'm sure a much slower flash rate would reduce the current draw.

I've seen a bicycle headlight strobe while looking into the rising sun from more than 4 miles. I was sure it was a police car flashing headlight with someone in front of him covering one of the lights. But when I got closer it was a bike!

5Z

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 12:11:48 PM UTC-8, son_of_flubber wrote:
LED lights for the shade and mirror for sunlight would be complementary.

A forward facing LED strobe is a big payback even though it works on only one axis.