Pilot Flashlight recommendation

[jyossarian]

I'd like to get a few recommendations for a AA powered flashlight for aircraft preflights.

1) Will buy online
2) Budget: Pilots are cheap.
3) Format: flashlight4) Flashlight-specific format/size: 2-4AA5) Emitter/Light source: LED6) Manufacturer: willing to purchase or peice together7) What battery type do you want to use? rechargeable AA's8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? enough to illuminate to 100'9) Throw vs. Flood: not sure, good spread at 50'
10) Runtime: will carry spare batteries, but runtime essential
11) Durability/Usage: metal body
12) Switch Type and location: don't care13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. 2 light levels, one for outside preflight (bright), and one very low for cockpit illumination (only in emergency)
14)Material/Finish/Coating: just no plastic body15) Special Needs/extras: belt clip & crenulated bezel

Thanks for the input.

 

[enomosiki]

Quark "X" AA² Tactical with neutral white emitter. It's a 2xAA light that can be programmed so that it will have different outputs when the head is tightened and loosened, the most useful to you being the turbo or high modes for pre-flight and low or moonlight modes for low-light situtations. At high or turbo outputs, it will easily project its beam past 100 feet.

The downside is that it doesn't come with crenulated bezel. But, other than that, it's a light that I would highly recommend.

 

[Gorram]

Well, it's doesn't exactly fit your specs, but I have been carrying a Surefire E2D for about the last 3000hrs.
Never an issue at security, Canada or Stateside. 160LM with a perfect throw for walkarounds (CRJ) It's months before I need to replace the 123's she runs on, and they are much more available than they used to be.
The crenelated bezel is a potential bonus....

 

[Outdoorsman5]

I'd recommend the Quark X AA2 Neutral as well (2 AA alkaline, lithium, or NiMH rechargeable batteries.) The neutral color tint looks nicer than the cool white tint, but both are great. I have both the "Tactical" UI where you have two output options available (& can program each setting,) and the "Regular" UI where you cycle through the output options. I prefer the Regular UI because you'd have all output modes available without re-programming it. Both are great though, and either would fit your needs well. The moonlight mode (0.3 lumens) would be what you'd want in the cockpit. Anything above 1 lumen would be too bright with night-adjusted eyes. If there is any ambient light around then you may need to use the low output (2.7 lumens.) The max output (280 lumens) would be more than enough light for pre-flight check.

 

[Gregozedobe]

The 4sevens Quark AA2 XP-G version may also be worth looking at. The XP-G emitter will give a slightly more focussed beam than the X (XM-L version) and is $10.00 cheaper ("Budget: Pilots are cheap" ). Maybe look at beamshots and reviews of the two different versions and see which you prefer.

For in-cockpit use consider a Photon Freedom Micro (with a covert nose to prevent any distracting side-spill). These will give you a very low light level if you want, and are available with NVG or red LEDs if that is needed. Put one on the included necklace and you'll have a light available anywhere, anytime. For a tiny light they are surprisingly bright on Hi as a bonus. I bought my last lot from batteryjunction.com (look for their 5% discount code over at the "Good Deals" sub-forum on CPF Marketplace). I have hundreds of lights and the P F M are my favourite by a good margin.