Cockpit flashlight

[MooneyMitch]

What flashlight are you all using these days?  I've use Mag Lights for years but suspect there is something better.  LED light maybe, in the same price range as Mag Lights?

[pjsny78]

I carry 3 flashlights with me.

I have a surefire aviator A2 (Red). It may be the most overpriced flashlight in the world ($230). Battery life is ridiculous. Had to send it back already 1x. I would never buy this again.

I also have a Maglite that was a 1/10^th the price ($25) and I think it’s better except for the small blind spot you get in the center of the beam. This flash light is just too big but I wanted something that took "D" batteries.

I also have a very cheap Led flash light that I think I paid $5 for. This is my favorite but it may be too cheap as half the led’s burnt out.  produces Great light for night.

 

 

 

[rob]

I carry four, they are all identical. I don't know the brand, but I believe I got them at Lowe's. They are LED and red/white switchable. They have one button for about 3 red LEDs in the center, and another button that lights about 8 white LEDs around the outside. I keep one in the pilot seat pocket, one in the copilot seat pocket, one in my baggage compartment, and one in my flight bag. I find that actually having four, with a spot for each, keeps me from losing any of them. And if I do lose one, I'm all set on backups....

That said, with the Aspen, nuLites, and iPad, I rarely use the flashlights anymore, except for fueling/loading and fuel changes. 

[triple8s]

My CFII has some caps ordered with his ad on them (of course) but they also have four small LEDS embedded into the bill. I plan on getting one and building a small dimmier circuit and a more substantial battery pack.

[Immelman]

I use an LED headlamp that can go between red and white.

[M016576]

I have a petzl led headlamp w/ red flip cover that I carry as a backup.  I actually use my single bulb LED keychain light more, though, as I tend to keep it clipped to the zipper on my jacket... Small, easy to use (just squeeze it, or you can lock it on), and its effective.  They cost about 2 bucks and come in all sorts of colors.

[stevesm20b]

I use a 2D LED Maglite and  2AA maglite.

[DrBill]

I have a mini-Mag lite with red lens (primary) and in the bottom of the bag is a 3D Maglite white lens.  Only needed once when the field wire broke on the alternator on a flight from CLT-RDU.  Told ATC I was returning to my home airport, shutdown unncessary load, and landed w/o incident. Used the red lens one to see the instruments.

Bill

 

[David Mazer]

I also use a Petzl.  Tiny.  Fits on the brim of my hat. Easily aimed.  Battery life is amazing and replacement batteries are cheap.  Red and White LED and you can turn the red on and off without going through white to save your night vision.  It is the best headlight I have ever used for the plane. I also carry cheap LED flashlights stuffed in pockets around the plane and in my flight bag just in case.

http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/headlamps/emergency-signal

[N601RX]

I use a flitelite that mounts on my mic. I also have a small red/white led light from Lowes that I hang around my neck.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/flitelite_gen2_dclark_green.php

[ChrisH]

Not to start the whole safety of flying at night (or icing), but I know the new acclaims have an exterior light pointed at the wing to see ice accumulation. Anyone have any experience using a handheld from inside (in weather) to see (or hopefully not see) leading edge wing icing?

[pjsny78]

Quote: ChrisH

Not to start the whole safety of flying at night (or icing), but I know the new acclaims have an exterior light pointed at the wing to see ice accumulation. Anyone have any experience using a handheld from inside (in weather) to see (or hopefully not see) leading edge wing icing?

[Cris]

Hand held on the wing works just fine. Aim at the stall stripes. 

[Shadrach]

I used to use a Petzel headlamp that pulled double duty in the cockpit and the backcountry. I recently purchased this and have found it to be an excellent addition to the cockpit.

 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Energizer-5-LED-Headlight/15571828?ci_sku=15571828&ci_src=14110944&sourceid=1500000000000003260410

[Hank]

I use a Smith & Wesson 2-AA LED, with one button for 3 white LEDs and one button for 3 blue LEDs. [They also come in green/white and red/white, but I think the red washes out too much on charts.] I buy them from a local industrial supply house for ~$25 each [ www.mscdirect.com and search for flashlight].

The first one I bought came with a free carabiner light a couple inches long with one white LED--this one lives clipped onto my headset cord where it plugs into the panel. Clipped between the two split leads, it's always easy to find.

And I have an Ashlight [$30 from Spruce] with four red LEDs sitting on my left where the factory had installed the ashtray. My how times have changed! Compared to the ashtray, the light is actually useful, and I've used it in flight often. Runs on AAAs.

Just in case, there's also a mini-mag lite in my flight bag. It used to hang bulb up in the old microphone bracket, but I now keep binder clips there to hold approach plate books open when needed.

I'd hate to run out of light . . . Oh, yeah, the S&W lives in a nylon holster with spare AA's in the pocket of the holster. It's in my flight bag all the time; when out after dark, it moves to the seat pocket between my knees for easy access.

Then for Christmas I received two spider lights that can be wrapped to most anything. My coat now has a single red LED attached to the zipper pull, but I haven't tested it for cockpit suitability yet. These are all just in case the overhead spotlights and nulites both stop working . . . .