Astro Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Inspired by the recent thread, Do you like to fly alone? I've been flying recreationally a lot these days and I must say, after a recent day flight I'm reminded of why I prefer to fly at night. 1. The glare of the Sun off of the haze made visibility crappy.2. It was a lot more crowded (not just at the airport, but flying around the area too...frickin' low flying banner towers!).3. Had to stay on with ATC practically the whole time (because it was so crowded)4. Sky divers, why do they always pick crowded airspace to jump into?5. Couldn't see my GPS worth a damn with my shades on.6. Sweating during startup and shutdown. Its basically the complete opposite when I fly at night! Should have waited until sunset...next time definitely! So how about you? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Pig Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 About 1/2 my time is at night. I enjoy it. For most of the reasons you started. I love Flying during the day in the winter when it's cold and crisp out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle5 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroscout Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) I like nights because so often the air is so perfectly smooth.I don't like nights because I always hear sounds that I don't hear during the day.I like it that night recency counts for day recency.I don't like nights in the middle of summer. You have to wait all night for it to be night. edit punc. Edited November 10, 2014 by aeroscout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I like nights for the same reasons the OP mentioned and:Smoother, no thermals; and vis with NVGs is way, way better than any unaided day or night vis. Everything has the same uniform lighting intensity and detail level, even if it's too far away to be discerned unaided (if it's lit). When I come over the Blue Ridge I can see Atlanta 60 miles away and traffic at KATL. I watched lightning in the tops of thunderstorm 250 miles away, offshore of Savannah one night. Nurse counted almost a hundred shooting stars on a one hour flight, I only saw a couple dozen, busy scanning for traffic and navigating.Of course, the NVGs are heavy and stick out from your helmet, and everything is green... What I don't like is the swap in the middle of the hitch with the 24 hour break between days and nights. Then, I spend my 1st day off zombied from lack of sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutter49 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I could do the rest of my career at night! Not only less people flying but more importantly less people at the office! Bit of an introvert... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-aron Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Only night time I have so far was a night cross country. It was really freaking awesome though. However flying back and only seeing blackness and knowing that there are mountains surrounding you is kinda freaky for a student pilot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Pig Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 ^^^^its kinda freaky for everybody 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Only night time I have so far was a night cross country. It was really freaking awesome though. However flying back and only seeing blackness and knowing that there are mountains surrounding you is kinda freaky for a student pilot. What Flying Pig said. Mountains get bigger without sunlight pressing them down. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Pig Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 If you are flying at night and looking at a light in the distance..... and the light disappears, its because there is a mountain between you and the light you were watching! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroscout Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I do some of my best flying at night, but I know plenty of pilots who tell me night air produces no lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akscott60 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Yup. Temps are better, air is settled. After the first two hours of official dark, most other Army helicopters are gone, so I can enjoy 5 or 6 hours of NVG flying to myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroscout Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Yup. Temps are better, air is settled. After the first two hours of official dark, most other Army helicopters are gone, so I can enjoy 5 or 6 hours of NVG flying to myself.Field grade night. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hunt Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Only got 850 night hours, most of which was OK, some was very enjoyable, some was just rotten. Given the choice of flying day or night, I will take day, because the bikini babes aren't on the beach at night. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-aron Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Only got 850 night hours, most of which was OK, some was very enjoyable, some was just rotten. Given the choice of flying day or night, I will take day, because the bikini babes aren't on the beach at night. LOL Awesome reason to fly during the day xD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WolftalonID Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 If you are flying at night and looking at a light in the distance..... and the light disappears, its because there is a mountain between you and the light you were watching!Or you closed your eyes..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBuzzkill Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 My favorites are the night into day flights. Just when you start getting tired the sun comes up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnr032 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 My favorites are the night into day flights. Just when you start getting tired the sun comes up. I hate the inverse of that, dusk into night. Do you start with the NVG's on your helmet and up, NVG's around your neck but battery pack pulling your head rearward or do you land and take 5 minutes to goggle up when it gets dark? I usually go with NVG's mounted and flipped up if it will be dark in 45 minutes or less. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBuzzkill Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 With a two cockpit crew it's just a matter of waiting until it's time to put them on and then handing over the controls. But if we're going to be busy then putting them on and flipping them up is the easiest way. Usually I do that during refuel if I know I will be flying into goggle time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akscott60 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I will put on my NVGs and flip them up if I know I am flying with them in 30 min or so, maybe 45. Otherwise I take off the goggles and helmet weight and put them on the dash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Flights as the sun sets or rises are my favorite times of all flying, for the light. Visual detail and color, especially if there's cultural lighting. Unless I'm landing into the sun, that is. Dusk is better, I start goggles up and get the full benefit, while the best part of dawn is often spent seeing green before I'll remember to flip up.It's been so long since I flew unaided that what I enjoy about that didn't even occur to me to post... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotorhead84 Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Night flight is only fun for the first few minutes until you realize you're in a light single and need to be looking for spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBuzzkill Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 That doesn't go away with sunshine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Posted November 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 Night flight is only fun for the first few minutes until you realize you're in a light single and need to be looking for spots.Perhaps you should fly a blimp. That way you can have the security of not needing an engine to stay aloft? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Pig Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 If I head out knowing a tank of gas could keep me out after dark I'll start with them mounted. I fly 2-3hrs a night on NVGs so another 30-45 min with them flipped up isn't even noticed by the neck 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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