PhotoPilot
New Member
As a new pilot coming from an outdoorsy background, the obvious answer to the lighting requirements for night flight seemed to be a headlamp. With the new dual bulb LED/Halogen lamps, it's easy to throw on over or under my headset, I have a low LED setting for in the cockpit work and a brighter halogen for pre- and postflight, and my hands are free once it's on. A few of the pilots I've talked to have said it was a bad idea but, when pressed, couldn't give me a reason that I should use a standard flashlight other than "nobody uses headlamps." My instructor was game and thought it was a good idea, but what about the rest of you? What do you use at night? Any reason that I shouldn't use the headlamp?
I've been using a Black Diamond Gemini. Takes a couple of AA's, lasts hundreds of hours on the LEDs and about 25 or 30 on the Halogen, is lightweight, compact, and pretty cheap at 35 or 40 bucks. When it's on your head, you hardly know it's there but it works great for in-camp or in-cockpit stuff. Not recommended for night telemark skiing or mountain biking, however . . . Not quite bright enough to see those roots and trees rushing toward you! I've even stuck a custom cut piece of colored transparency sheeting over the lens with double sided tape to act as a filter when needed. Works great for me, I think!
I've been using a Black Diamond Gemini. Takes a couple of AA's, lasts hundreds of hours on the LEDs and about 25 or 30 on the Halogen, is lightweight, compact, and pretty cheap at 35 or 40 bucks. When it's on your head, you hardly know it's there but it works great for in-camp or in-cockpit stuff. Not recommended for night telemark skiing or mountain biking, however . . . Not quite bright enough to see those roots and trees rushing toward you! I've even stuck a custom cut piece of colored transparency sheeting over the lens with double sided tape to act as a filter when needed. Works great for me, I think!