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06-06-2015, 03:57 PM | #1 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Glow sticks and visibility...
Ok, so I have night blades (main and tail) and wanted a quick solution to get in the air since I don't do it too often. Has anyone had success using glow sticks on the skids/ boom? How is the viability?
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06-10-2015, 09:00 AM | #2 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Sep 2010
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Glow sticks alone aren't that good at all. Seems like they would be, but once they're 75 feet away from you, they're not really bright enough to keep good orientation on the aircraft. i tried it on airplanes, and had a terrible time. if you put enough of them on there, i guess it could work, but then it'd be super heavy.
However, when added to having main and tail night blades, you might not be too bad off, depending on your skill level. i have a flying buddy that enjoys flying with only mains and tails illuminated. i cant' keep orientation on his heli when i watch him fly it, but he obviously can. you might add something that'll help you now what top and bottom is, but I wouldnt expect a glow stick to be very visible from very far away. |
10-23-2015, 10:33 AM | #3 (permalink) |
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Join Date: May 2006
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You may find that glow sticks are just fine for the occasional night flying setup. Back in the early 90's when I initially started doing some night flying it was lighted blades and three glow sticks. One stick on each skid and one on the rear of the tailboom. I even won the IRCHA nightfly a few times with that simple setup in the mid 90's.
I recently got a set of nightblades for my synergy E5/600 and did some nighflying again at the tuscaloosa event last weekend. First time I've had a night machine going in 12~15 years,.. and it was a hoot. Lighted mains and tails, and three glow sticks.I flew it numerous flights, Josh Schiff flew it a few times, and Nick flew it on saturday night. No problem at all with orientation for any of us, and perhaps better than most of the over-lighted stuff I see at events these days (I find that they almost blind you). If I were to make night flying a more regular thing, I'd definitely put some LED's on the boom and in the canopy, plus the skids,..not for visibility, I think the glow sticks are fine,.. but for expense and hassle of zip-tying and taping the glow sticks on and off every time. For a few times a year though, glow sticks will be just fine.
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Gary Wright Champaign Il Helifreak user # 7001 |
10-25-2015, 09:31 PM | #4 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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I did this exact same thing when I "started" night flying. Main & tail blades only, then added glow sticks to the skids..not worth it. I flew one flight, then never used them again...flew with blades only for probably two dozen gentle flights, and now have a full night bird. Love it!
I've watched your videos...your skills are sufficient to where glow sticks won't help you one bit. Gentle flying with blades only, then make it a full night bird.
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