Re: [Paddlewise] compass and red light

To:             	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
From:           	Mark Zen <canoeist_at_netbox.com>
Send reply to:  	canoeist_at_netbox.com
Date sent:      	Tue, 02 Mar 1999 12:03:57 -0700
Subject:        	Re: [Paddlewise] compass and red light

Mark Zen wrote ---

> last time [night vision] came up, someone provided a reference to a "reliable source"
> saying this wasn't true [the red light] although we used it on our ships in
> 1990, i can't say what they use now, mainly cause i got out in '90, and moved
> 2000 miles from the nearest ocean ;-)
> 
For Mark and Chuck, anyway, last time I flew Navy aircraft, we had 
red filters on all the candles on and in the instrument cluster; later, 
when we converted to coal oil lamps, we stayed with red.  In the 
meanwhile, the Navy went to dim white light in aircraft --- can't 
imagine your ships changing, Mark: y'know, "224 years of tradition, 
unhampered by progress --- the United States Navy!   It was easier 
to see than white, and was easier for the relatively senior guys to 
see <anything> at night!  (To this day, I hate renting anything by 
Pontiac --- can't see a bloody thing on those red panels at night!)

Anyway, now we're all into pale green cockpit lighting for 
compatibility with night vision goggles (NVGs) on all tactical 
aircraft.  A red light in an NVG is instant bloom and loss of vision 
for the time being --- a bad thing, especially on final to a carrier on 
a dark and stormy night.

I know I promised more analysis from Pax River, Chuck, and I'll try 
to get the definitive word on that tomorrow.

Jack Martin

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************