What's the best way to fly while looking at the sun???

[Paul Taylor]

Today is was full on SUN!!!!
I wear 2 pairs of sun glasses on days like today. The way the breeze was blowing we had to setup right into the sun. I almost lost my new favorite plane because as I came around on the vert 8, I went thru the sun and for a few seconds could not see the plane, as it got to the bottom I am not sure what happen but the lines when slack and I did not have control of the plane. I might have tried to turn it too hard at the bottom of the eight because I was flying blind. The plane has a very thin air foil.

What is the best way to fly on days like today? (Nice wind conditions. 5-10, other then the sun beating you blind.)

[Alan Hahn]

If the wind isn't too bad, I'll try to fly on one side of it or another.

If that isn't possible, you just have to get use to looking off to one side. However I have been in the same boat as you.

[Matt Colan]

Wear sunglasses, and don't look directly into the sun.  For me, if I'm flying through the sun, I would look a little bit off to the side, or in front or behind the plane.  When I flew on Monday, I had an extreme (and I mean EXTREME) glare of the setting sun off the trees.  i was flying inverted and it scared the crap out of me every time I passed by it, but just held my handle neutral and flew straight through it.  It took me about 1 second to get my eyesight back enough to be able to see clearly.

[Phil Coopy]

I was told that if you close one eye when you pass thru the sun that you will still have one good eye to work with.  Only trouble is that I forget to do it.... but it really works.

Phil

[Wayne Foster]

Not sure about flying stunt, but when flying Combat, the close one eye in the sun has always worked pretty good for me.

Wayne

[pipemakermike]

Crashed my Go Devil after flying through the sun just couldnt see it and guessed wrong.  I have more difficulty as, after a detached retina about 10 years ago one of my eyes has significant blind spots so closing one eye isn't an option.  I do wear sunglasses on sunny days but if the sun is that leathel combination of bright, low(ish) and downwind. I will chose to pass on a flight.

[Harleyman]

I went thru the sun and for a few seconds could not see the plane,

That's how I lost my T-38 Talon.   Talk about a Heart Breaker.   

[Paul Taylor]

So where is that new one?

 

[Ted Fancher]

Rootbeard,

Instead of thinking of the Sun as your enemy, use it as much as possible.

The secret to flying against the Sun is to never look directly at it.  The "blinding thing" only happens if you are focused directly at it.

Now, those two probably sound irreconcilable but, in reality, they're not.

If you know the sun is going to be right downwind use it as reference for your maneuvers by always flying just to one side of it or the other depending on the maneuver.    If you're doing inside rounds, for instance, make sure it is always in exactly the same location in relation to the airplane every time you pass by it.It's a lot easier than using a ground based reference for intersections, for instance.  There's never any question where the Sun is so just always fly by it in the same spot every time.  If you're watching the airplane, by definition, you won't then be looking directly at the Sun and frying your retinas.

The one time you can't plan doing this in advance is when you start the wingover on the opposite side of the circle.  In this case you need to plan well in advance of take off where you are going to start your wingover so that the descending arc will pass to one side or the other of the sun.  This isn't ideal since, if the wind is blowing to any degree, you might have to accept a less than ideal point to climb.  Now it become a matter of judgement.  Is the risk of getting blinded on the descent greater than the risk of doing the wingover slightly off the wind.

Here's another hint.  Check out the inclination of the Sun on a given day when you go flying and if its going to be around 45 degrees or so you can pray for a wind blowing at the Sun because it'll give you a real good gauge as to the accuracy of the tops of your maneuvers.

The last bit of "always good" info is to "never" look directly at the Sun.  Again, it is only this direct frying of the eyeball that produces the temporary blindness. 

Now, the only caveat to the above is that to make this work for you, you've got to know how to make the airplane go where you want it to go.  Even this isn't all bad. Making all of your loops pass in exactly the same place relative to the Sun will pay big bonuses in teaching you how to make it go where you want it to go.  It's like a road sign.

Ted

[RC Storick]

Or one other thought is do like I do and use look into the sun SunGlasses. #5 Snap-on gas welding lenses.

[Elwyn Aud]

Around $15. I keep this pair at the clubhouse. Got 'em from an industrial equipment supplier.

[W.D. Roland]

Just close your eyes when passing the sun.
The airplane and your timing should stay the same and the airplane should be where it is supposed to be when you open your eyes back up.

Practice flying while not looking at airplane just not a good airplane until you are comfortable.

A mild combat plane may be the best to start practicing with.
In younger days when we flew almost everyday I did not need to see where my combat plane was--I felt and knew.

Not so anymore!

David

[Matt Colan]

Today, when we flew, and an absolutely great day to fly as well, the sun was somewhat in the path of starting the wingover.  Since the wind died down on my last flight, I decided to start my wingover to the right of the sun so I knew where my intersection was.  If the sun is directly overhead, I'll try to use that as my intersection, but when I get towards the top, I move my eyes over slightly that way I am not looking directly into the sun.

But the best thing to do is this:  aka sunglasses

[Phil Spillman]

I have had my old pair of "Good" glasses darkened at the local Wal-Mart store. They are for the most part usable for all purposes but the extra hard darkening has made them ideal for sun flying! I also hold my ball cap right at the sun and peep around behind it in the shade it affords so that I don't loose sight of the sun or the plane! From the point of view of what do you do with the hand you're not flying with while you are flying I use mine to hold my hat and keep it ready fro when the sun posses a problem!

Phil Spillman

[Elwyn Aud]

All great advise and I use most of it. BUT remember, the sun , or rather the earth, moves and the sun won't be in the same place a few minutes later. If fun flying, wait a while, but if at a contest, cheat and lie and get moved down two places so by the time you fly, the sun won't be a problem.  Just kidding. Squint, put one  hand up to block the sun, and look below it or above it depending on its angle in relation to the plane. 

I've seen more than a few days in Oklahoma where the wind seemed to shift direction and blow right into the sun almost all day.

[Pinecone]

Get a pair of these sunglasses:

http://www.zurichsunglasses.com/

I fly with the medium rose tint and you can fly right through the sun without being blinded.  He does prescription sunglasses, they aren't cheap, but IMO worth every penny.  For prescription, you need to supply frames.  I buy frames from Hidalgos (http://www.hidalgos.com/).

[John Stiles]

I was told that if you close one eye when you pass thru the sun that you will still have one good eye to work with.  Only trouble is that I forget to do it.... but it really works.

Phil

That's what I used to do.......but I am pretty much one-eyed these days.....the chemo shot helps some, but that eye is color blind, and doesn't recover from a bright object as quickly anymore. Takes about five minutes for the big purple blotch to go away. I really feel your worries rootbeard, but can't offer much other than; try to stay parked till the best sun angles.

[john e. holliday]

I am beginning to think Mother Nature made a rule that no matter what, the sun will be directly across from the judges or on the side of the circle you want to practice on.  Now if only she would make the judges as blind as I get.

[George]

Don't fly without a good strong pair of sun glasses.

Looking directly into the sun, like some other things, will make you go blind.   

George