Sunglasses for soaring

Brent Mayes wrote:
I guess this is a stupid question, but why are non
polarized lenses better for soaring?


Getting involved in this fight on this news group is about as productive
as debating the merits of a 2-33 but, for the record, many organizations
actively discourage the use of polarized sunglasses for flight operations.

From the FAA:

"The use of polarized sunglasses should be discouraged, since they can
reduce or effectively eliminate the visibility of instruments that
incorporate anti-glare filters or can interfere with visibility through
an aircraft windscreen due to striations in some laminated materials."

From: Flight Safety Foundation

www.flightsafety.org/hf/hf_jul-aug90.pdf

From NASA

http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/callback_issues/cb_205.htm

In the old days (at least decade ago) I know that U.S. Navy issue
sunglasses specs specified non-polarized lenses. I have no idea if that
has been updated or if the USAF had different ideas.


--

Peter D. Brown
http://home.gci.net/~pdb/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/akmtnsoaring/

Pete Brown wrote:
Brent Mayes wrote:
I guess this is a stupid question, but why are non
polarized lenses better for soaring?


Getting involved in this fight on this news group is about as productive
as debating the merits of a 2-33 but, for the record, many organizations
actively discourage the use of polarized sunglasses for flight operations.

From the FAA:

"The use of polarized sunglasses should be discouraged, since they can
reduce or effectively eliminate the visibility of instruments that
incorporate anti-glare filters or can interfere with visibility through
an aircraft windscreen due to striations in some laminated materials."

I guess it depends upon the glider. I have never had any problem with
polarized glasses -- the instruments are clear (302, Dittel radio, B50)
as long as you keep your head upright, and there has never been any
effect on visibility through the canopy. The polarized glasses sure
make it a lot easier to see clouds, though.

The only time I have noticed a problem is in my car, where I can't read
the display on the radio without tilting my head to the right.




From: Flight Safety Foundation

www.flightsafety.org/hf/hf_jul-aug90.pdf

From NASA

http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/callback_issues/cb_205.htm

In the old days (at least decade ago) I know that U.S. Navy issue
sunglasses specs specified non-polarized lenses. I have no idea if that
has been updated or if the USAF had different ideas.

Greg Arnold wrote:
"The use of polarized sunglasses should be discouraged, since they can
reduce or effectively eliminate the visibility of instruments that
incorporate anti-glare filters or can interfere with visibility through
an aircraft windscreen due to striations in some laminated materials."

I guess it depends upon the glider. I have never had any problem with
polarized glasses -- the instruments are clear (302, Dittel radio, B50)
as long as you keep your head upright, and there has never been any
effect on visibility through the canopy. The polarized glasses sure
make it a lot easier to see clouds, though.

The only time I have noticed a problem is in my car, where I can't read
the display on the radio without tilting my head to the right.

I also use polarized sunglasses, not because of any particular preference
but just because the ones I got with my regular glasses happened to be
that way. I have also noticed no real problems. Sometimes I have to tilt
my head to get a clearer look at the GPS, but I don't do that very often
anyway. Another poster's comment about it masking the flashes off of other
aircraft's wings is has given me some pause though. In any case they don't
seem to be terribly beneficial either, although the added sky contrast is
nice.

Where they're really handy is driving. There's a lot of glare coming off
of horizontal surfacaes there, whether it's your hood, other people's
hoods, or the road, and the polarization stops all of that. They do make
funny colors and shades come off my car GPS but it's still readable.

--
Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software

Pete Brown wrote:


Getting involved in this fight on this news group is about as productive
as debating the merits of a 2-33 but, for the record, many organizations
actively discourage the use of polarized sunglasses for flight operations.

From the FAA:

"The use of polarized sunglasses should be discouraged, since they can
reduce or effectively eliminate the visibility of instruments that
incorporate anti-glare filters or can interfere with visibility through
an aircraft windscreen due to striations in some laminated materials."

Hmm. Didn't look to me like anyone was fighting.

In any case I have noticed the artifacts that polarized lenses produce on my
PDA but it is enough to simply lean my head little if necessary to make them
go away.
It doesn't interfere enough to be a big deal.

Up to this point I have been so absolutely pleased with the Revos that it
seemed unnecessary to seek further.
This discussion has encouraged me to go out and try some of the other names
I've read here.
Thanks all for the input.

--
Message posted via AviationKB.com
http://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums...aring/200709/1

"Michael Ash" wrote in message
:

snip

I also use polarized sunglasses, not because of any particular preference
but just because the ones I got with my regular glasses happened to be
that way. I have also noticed no real problems. Sometimes I have to tilt
my head to get a clearer look at the GPS, but I don't do that very often
anyway. Another poster's comment about it masking the flashes off of other
aircraft's wings is has given me some pause though.









Actually, I think the result is just the opposite...



How often are a distant gliders wings "horizontal"?... almost never!



And the increase in contrast between the glider and the sky or clouds
while circling or on the run are substantial.





Larry

"zero one"

And how often are the other aircraft (that are much
heavier, much faster, probably have their pilots eyes
glued to their panels, and much likely to hit you than
another glider, especially one at a distance) flying
with 'their' wings level...

Almost always!

Paul


Actually, I think the result is just the opposite...



How often are a distant gliders wings 'horizontal'?...
almost never!



And the increase in contrast between the glider and
the sky or clouds
while circling or on the run are substantial.





Larry

'zero one'

On Sep 20, 10:11 am, Paul Hanson
wrote:
And how often are the other aircraft (that are much
heavier, much faster, probably have their pilots eyes
glued to their panels, and much likely to hit you than
another glider, especially one at a distance) flying
with 'their' wings level...

Almost always!

Paul



Actually, I think the result is just the opposite...

How often are a distant gliders wings 'horizontal'?...
almost never!

And the increase in contrast between the glider and
the sky or clouds
while circling or on the run are substantial.

Larry

'zero one'- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

..... Copy all. I have been using polarized sunglasses not
specifically made for soaring, and have noted all that pretty much all
the drawbacks associated with them ARE at least minor factors in my
old Speed Astir. Blotches in the canopy, difficulty reading the iPAQ,
and most notably, not visually picking up other acft as well as my
naked eyes.
I will give the un-polarized Sun Tigers a shot and see how well they
work for me. Thanks to one and all for the input.

Jim

wrote:

I will give the un-polarized Sun Tigers a shot and see how well they
work for me. Thanks to one and all for the input.

Jim

For the first time EVER my glasses made the display of our CAI 302DDV black
out on Sunday. No artifacts at all on the pda, radio, or canopy. Just a black
ring around the needle. Never happened before.

I suspect I can blame you all for bringing it up. ; )

--
Message posted via AviationKB.com
http://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums...aring/200709/1

On Sep 24, 4:14 pm, "Kloudy via AviationKB.com" u33403@uwe wrote:
wrote:
I will give the un-polarized Sun Tigers a shot and see how well they
work for me. Thanks to one and all for the input.

Jim

For the first time EVER my glasses made the display of our CAI 302DDV black
out on Sunday. No artifacts at all on the pda, radio, or canopy. Just a black
ring around the needle. Never happened before.

I suspect I can blame you all for bringing it up. ; )

--
Message posted via AviationKB.comhttp://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/soaring/200709/1

There were some 302s made that had incorrect orientation of the
polarization glass. You might have that, check with Cambridge if they
can fix it for you. I think this may have been mentioned on ras
before.

Darryl

And which glasses were those?


At 23:18 24 September 2007, Kloudy Via Aviationkb.Com
wrote:
wrote:

I will give the un-polarized Sun Tigers a shot and
see how well they
work for me. Thanks to one and all for the input.

Jim

For the first time EVER my glasses made the display
of our CAI 302DDV black
out on Sunday. No artifacts at all on the pda, radio,
or canopy. Just a black
ring around the needle. Never happened before.

I suspect I can blame you all for bringing it up. ;
)

--
Message posted via AviationKB.com
http://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums...aring/200709/1