Sunglasses for flying, but not expensive ones!

[ZK-Brock]

Currently I don't own any flying sunglasses, but without much money to spend on stuff other than flying, I can't go buying any expensive ones, and apparently polarised ones aren't any good with some aircraft windsceens (ruling out those $40 polarised ones from just about every petrol station I've been to this week). What could I get for under ~$80, or shouldn't I bother? I've only hadprobs with glare once or twice in the air...

ZK-Brock

[pois0n]

I'm interested in this too, I need to get some glasses for flying but have no idea what to get and it has to be on the cheap. Get some pretty insane glare after 4pm here in christchurch, so far i've just relied on squinting my eyes and hoping for the best

[towerguy]

I used to have almost exclusively Ray ban but now wear "Randolph" brand which can be got over the internet here in NZ. just google the name to find the site , they usually have good deals going as well.

the frames are tough and have a lifetime guarantee so sometimes it's better to pay a little more but I am more than happy with mine.

[h290master]

I use aviator sunglasses i got them at Warbirds over Wanka last year for $15 and they are good quality.

[ZK-Brock]

I have some of dad's early 90's Ray Ban aviators which are good quality, but are very big on me! Also have some other aviators that I bough when I was out and about with friends, though I find n certain light conditions I can't see anything in them. They cost me $40

[G-HEVN]

I've heard that polarised glasses can have problems with GPS etc LCD screens, but not with the perspex/acrylic of windows. The best bet is is if you can borrow a pair off somebody - or are prepared to sacrifice $40 - and try them out in the plane you fly (just sitting on the ground at various angles to the sun). If they don't cause a problem, well and good.

I've certainly had passengers who wore polarised sunglasses, and never mentioned any problems with them.

[Brennanx]

polarised glasses in the airbus makes rainbows show up on the windows. My dad only had them and thats what he said

[ZK-Brock]

Aye, well I won't be flying airbusses for a looong time yet (by the time I'm flying jets I should be able to afford some good ones anyway ).

[Brennanx]

by the time you fly big jets you would have $-2234242

[ZK-KAG]

I use polarised sunnies for my flying and have no probs at all. However when looking at screens, like an Ipod, I have difficulty and just generally take them off. Polarised are no good for an aircraft that has a G1000 or other glass screens etc.

No worries for GA generally

~ZK-KAG~

[chopper_nut]

I was told that the polarised sunnies destroy your ability to see other aircraft ie the glare off the wings, prop disc etc. I bought a $30 pair with green tint from a local place, no problems.

[ZK-Brock]

I was told that the polarised sunnies destroy your ability to see other aircraft ie the glare off the wings, prop disc etc.

Do you mean destroy your ability to... when wearing the glasses, or destroy your ability to... in the long run because you have worn the polarised sunnies

[ZK-KAG]

I think he means when wearing them... Although I still pick out landing lights and the odd strike of sunshine so I dunno, depends on the light I suppose.

[travnz]

Polarized lenses are not aviation approved; this is because if two polarized surfaces are put together they will block out all light.

Polarization of the cockpit or instrument panel can cause dangerous visual black patches for a pilot who is wearing polarized lenses. Polarized sunglasses are excellent for fishing by diminishing the reflected light from the water surface.


Thats about it!

[ZK-KAG]

Polarized lenses are not aviation approved

Not true unfortunatley. There is no where in the laws that states this and having spoken at length to AME's (Aviation Medical Examiner's) they just say use with caution but otherwise ok.

d; this is because if two polarized surfaces are put together they will block out all light.

This is true, but there are no said surfaces in a light aircraft without G1000. (Well hardly any anyway).

~ZK-KAG~

[ZK-Brock]

Might havta get a second opinion on polarised ones, going back to the doc's office to fix up a form for my Class 2 medical tomorrow, I'll see what he says.

[chopper_nut]

It really isnt that important, its better to have some glasses than none at all

[scon]

Yea I found this ( you need good glasses )

I splashed out and got Ray Ban's

[HardCorePawn]

I have a pair of those ultralight Silhoutte sunglasses... they're made from titanium and weigh something silly like 8g's... yes... eight grams...

after wearing them for any longer than around 5 or 10 minutes I almost forget they're there...

They also have very thin 'legs' so they fit under the earseals on my headset and dont affect the noise attenuation.

My wife scored them for me on the cheap when AirNZ was hocking off a bunch of 'old stock' from their in-flight duty free catalogue to staff... so I think I paid around $150 for them (they were listed in the catalogue at around $300) and worth every penny.

[A185F]

Some fallas like meself are required to ware specs while flying as per medical so I though b*gger that and splashed out on custom prescription lenses for a nice pair of oakleys, 700 slides and 4 years later they are now appart of my body and awesome to fly with.
But in case of good aviation sunnies, a mate of mine brought himself a pair of these and wow they are awesome sunnies for flying, especially if flying IFR in and out of cloud, just awesome. Check em out if yr ever gonna splash out on some