Shut one eye


This was prompted by the notice of the gentleman that was struck by his plane and died.
Most beginners (and experienced fliers) sometimes get into the sun and lose orientation.

One rule of thumb that can help save accidents or injuries is:
If you're heading into the sun, close one eye and try to follow the plane, once it's coming out you can open the other eye.
By doing this you avoid the glare on one eye and can help you identify the attitude of the plane and correct it quicker than when your two eyes are trying to re-adjust whe coming out of the sun.
It's like closing your eyes when the light at the theaters go on or you come out into bright light from shade, by clisng your eyes the transition is smoother; of course when flying you can't shut both eyes.
Regards,
Patricio

It leaves the left hand free for shading the face when necessary. Without a strap, some people actually raise the transmitter with both hands for a quick block of the sun. Whatever you do, be careful. It happens to all of us and it will serve us well to be prepared. Sometimes when it's very cloudy with some breaks between cloud banks it's a gamble as to whether or not to use the sunglasses as the conditions change often during the course of a flying day. And we thought this would be easy

I think it would be worth mentioning here that we should never go flying without a pair of sunglasses and a hat with a brim. And for those of you youngsters who don't know any better.... THE BRIM GOES IN THE FRONT! Now, if you must, or accidently fly into the sun, the glasses will help protect, and with a slight dip of the ol' noggin, you can shade your eyes without having to take your hands off the sticks. Note: This also goes for cloudy days. The sun may not be shining, but that sky can get awfully bright.

also of note.... if you loose the plane in the sun and cant get back orientation, bring the throttle to idle. better to lose the plane than risk injury or death.

also shout out that you lost it in the sun and someone that is watching may be able to point it out to you before it goes in. there is no shame in loosing site of your plane... but plenty of being to stuborn to admit it.

I just can't recommend Zurich glasses enough here. I have 2 pair for different types of flying conditions and they are so good you can almost look at the sun, not a good idea I agree but they really do work that good!!!! If you know you are about to fly close to the sun make sure you put your plane in a safe attitude and remember what it was so you can recover when you can see again.

All of the above suggestions are very good.

I'd like to add that one should remember that you are still in control of the plane. For example, if you fly past the sun and you were in a turn, don't frantically start yanking the sticks. Just continue the turn. The plane will continue on its path and emerge from the sun exactly where one would expect. If you started yanking sticks who knows where you'll emerge.

I know this will sound like common sense and obvious, but when the sun is out and bright, I intentially fly "around it" - turning over it, under it, before it and after it.

I see beginners all the time that line it up and fly right through the sun. Then it's the "AHHHH, I'm blind, where is my plane...".

To the newbie, there is so much concentrating going on that they usually don't even think to make a turn. On the buddy box and flying toward the sun, I will tell the student - "hey lets try a half loop and roll out of inverted". They think that is pretty cool. Later, I will explain why we did that... Blank stares and "gee that makes sense" usually follows.

Be safe.

My question is....why would you be flying into the sun? You know its there, and before you take off you glance to see where it is, and stay away from it. I've been flying 2 yrs and have never flown by the sun.

Sometimes it's just unavoidable. If you're lucky enough to have a field that faces north, the sun is behind you all day. If your field faces south, then in the morning and the evening, it's on one end of the runway or the other, and at some point it always seems to wind up smack dab in the middle of your traffic pattern.

Flying sailplanes also makes flying into the sun often unavoidable, or at least desirable! Why? Thermals thats why. When your circling in low lift and the wind drift is taking you closer and closer to that bright spot you have to decide if the lift is worth the risk.

I fly with Sunglasses (prescription not the clip-ons) all the time, AND a cap, and I use my left hand to block out the sun. There will be perhaps two 360 turns where the plane disappears behind my hand for a second or so then pops out. I've learned not to adjust the turn when the plane is gone. It helps that I'm flying a GL which is a very stable, hands off, plane. Even so it sometimes pops out where I don't expect it and/or at an attitude that I don't like. Then it's time to re-evaluate the lift vs. risk equation.

Also, where I fly the wind comes mostly out of the south. Therefore I'm invariably launching with the Highstart right into the sun! Even more fun . The left hand goes up to the sun as I throw the plane then hold breath and stop heart for 1/2 second as it goes through the blind spot.

If the thermal is good the next challenge is loosing sight of it as it turns towards me because it's so high up it's invisible when nose-on.

I'm with rc_sport on this one. If the sun gets where you have to fly thru it either landing or taking off (because oF the orientation of the strip and and/or the wind) I'll do it just once.

I'll then pull up a chair, pop a soda, and WATCH THE EXCITMENT BEGIN!

Just another vote for Zurich sunglasses.

The glare here even 90 or more degrees away from the sun is often so bad my eyes are sore from squinting after only a few minutes, even though i am wearing dark sunglasses. A friend loaned me his Blue-grey lensed zurichs. i put them on over my prescription sunglasses. i was impressed that i could look right at the sun, but the real clincher was the comfort and clear vision even when a was looking nowhere near the sun.

I had been puting off getting them for a long time, because they seemed too expensive, but now I wish i had gotten them from the start.

Everyone should be wearing these.

I lost a good friend last week to an RC accident. Pretty sure it wouldn't have happened if he had these glasses.

go to a welding supply shop and purchase a large arc welding lens, silicone two clothes pins to it then attach it to your antena
and hold your transmitter up enough so that the lens is over the sun. you can see your plane very well as it goes across the sun.

Ted,

Wouldn't it be easier to just ware the welding helmet out to the pad and then as you approach the sun tilt your head rapidly forward to pop it down in front of you're eyes???

I'm leaving this thread, bye, bye !

I think its whole lot easier to just stay away from the sun

Art, is there a web address for the Zurich Glasses somewhere? Thanks Loren

All us glider pilots know all thermals are located right in the sun! Well, it sure seems that way. I usually will adjust my flight path enough to avoid flying right across the sun, and it normally doesn't cost me the thermal. I tend to shade my eyes with the radio. I wear polarized fishing glasses, but would like to try the Zurichs... sounds like they're really good.

Try www.zurichsunglass.com

If you call them as opposed to ordering online, say you saw an add in the AMA model airplane magazine and they give you a free neoprene case. regularly 10$ for the case. Just got mine today.

They really make flying a heck of a lot more comfortable, and safer too.

I'm with rc_sport's last comment on this subject.
Good flying ( away from the sun)
Ledz