| For most people sunglasses fulfill one,
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| | another aircraft's fuselage or wings,
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| or both, of two purposes: as a fashion
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| | which in turn can reduce the ability of
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| statement to look "cool", and to help
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| | pilots to "see-and-avoid" other aircraft.
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| cope with bright sunlight. The choices
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| | Photo chromic lenses automatically darken
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| available are seemingly endless, and can
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| | when exposed to ultraviolet light and
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| range from polarized to photo chromic to
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| | become lighter in dim light. The majority
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| colorful tints and shades.
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| | of the darkening takes place within 60
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| But for pilots sunglasses are much more
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| | seconds, while lightening may take
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| than a fashion statement. Sunglasses help
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| | several minutes. While most photo chromic
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| safeguard a pilot's most important
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| | lenses can get as dark as regular
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| sensory asset in flight - vision. A
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| | sunglasses, direct sunlight or warm
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| quality pair of sunglasses is essential
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| | temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit
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| in the cockpit environment to optimize
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| | can seriously limit their ability to
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| visual performance. They help reduce the
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| | darken, and reduced ultraviolet light
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| effects of harsh sunlight, decrease eye
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| | exposure in a cockpit can further limit
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| fatigue, and protect ocular tissue from
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| | their effectiveness. Further, the faded
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| exposure to harmful solar radiation.
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| | state of photo chromic lenses may not be
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| Additionally, they protect the pilot's
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| | clear enough to be useful when flying in
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| eyes from impact with objects such as
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| | clouds or at night.
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| flying debris from a bird strike, sudden
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| | The selection of frames is more a matter
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| decompression or an aerobatic maneuver.
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| | of personal preference; however, bayonet
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| The choice of tints for sunglasses is
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| | style temples are the most popular
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| almost infinite, but the three most
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| | because they are easy to put on or remove
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| common tints are gray, gray-green, and
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| | while wearing headsets or a helmet.
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| brown, any of which would be an excellent
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| | Smaller lenses may not be practical
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| choice for the aviator. Gray is
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| | because they allow too much visible light
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| recommended the most because it distorts
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| | and ultraviolet radiation to pass around
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| color the least. Many pilots, however,
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| | the edges of the lenses. Finally, use of
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| report that gray-green and brown tints
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| | a strap is recommended to prevent the
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| enhance vividness and minimize scattered
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| | sunglasses from being accidentally
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| blue and violet light, thus enhancing
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| | dislodged.
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| contrast in hazy conditions.
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| | In summary, while sunglasses may add to
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| For a pilot, sunglass lenses should
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| | the mystique of a pilot, sunglasses are
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| screen out only 70-85% of visible light
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| | the most important method to protect the
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| and not appreciably distort color. Any
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| | pilot's eyes from glare associated with
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| tints that block out more than 85% of
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| | bright sunlight and the effects from
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| visible light are not recommended for
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| | exposure to solar radiation. Since
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| pilots due to the possibility of reduced
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| | sunglasses are such an important asset,
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| visual acuity which could result in
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| | careful consideration should be used when
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| difficulty seeing the flight instruments,
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| | selecting an appropriate pair for flying.
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| written checklists and data inside the
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| | Since 1982, Randolph Engineering has been
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| cockpit.
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| | standard issue for U.S. military pilots.
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| While polarized lenses are very popular,
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| | Not only are their sunglasses made in the
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| they are not recommended for use in the
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| | USA, but quality of materials and the
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| aviation environment. While they are
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| | precision of manufacturing the Randolph
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| useful for blocking reflected light from
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| | Aviator, their flagship product, actually
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| horizontal surfaces such as water or
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| | surpass the exacting standards of the
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| snow, polarization can reduce or
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| | military. So when NASA Astronauts lift
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| eliminate the visibility of flight
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| | off the launch pad and head for outer
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| instruments that incorporate anti-glare
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| | space, Randolph is right there with them.
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| filters like the new glass cockpit
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| | When America's Top Gun Pilots step into
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| environments. These polarized lenses may
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| | the cockpit of a sleek jet fighter or the
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| also interfere with visibility through an
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| | magnificent Stealth Bomber, Randolph is
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| aircraft windscreen by enhancing
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| | the priceless pair of sunglasses that
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| striations in laminated glass and mask
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| | helps those pilots safely navigate the
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| the sparkle of light reflected off of
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| | skies.
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