Recommendation For A Pilot

[Yourrid]

I need a new flashlight for night flying. I have plenty for using in the cockpit, but I need one that I can shine across the airport apron and light up the side of an airplane to read its tail number, or spot people/vehicles that could be on the runway/taxiways. I recently flew into an airport that was VERY poorly lit, and realized that my Solarforce L2 with the XML-U2 drop in just didn't throw far enough. So here is my list:

---

1) I'd like to buy it online, anywhere in the world. I'm in the US
2) I'd like to keep it less than $75-80 bucks
3) I want a handheld flashlight.
4) Nothing longer than the size of your hand. 6ish inches max.
5) LED or HID. 1 mode preferred. Or high and low. CANNOT have strobe in the cockpit.
6) I can build it myself as long as all the pieces fit properly.
7) I don't care what type of battery it takes as long as its bright.
8) I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens). Airports are usually spaced out pretty well so I need some power.
9) Throw vs. Flood: 150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible) I need to see down a runway which average 1 to 2 miles in length.
10) Runtime: ~30 minutes or so. I only need it in brief spurts and can recharge the batteries the next day if needed.
11) Durability/Usage: Slightly Important. I doubt it will ever be dropped. Just need it to work.
12) Switch Type and location: Tail or body mount is fine. Tail is preferred.
13) User Interface (UI): Single mode or high and low. NO STROBE/SOS
14) Material/Finish/Coating: I don’t care.
15) Special Needs/extras: I would like to have a light that I can focus myself; like a maglite, but its not required. I just need something that will send a searing beam as far as possible in the smallest design as possible.

Thank you guys and gals for all the help! :twothumbs

 

[BenChiew]

Though it is way out of your price range, do have a look at the Deft X. It will be the benchmark for throwers in a small package.

 

[Bicycleflyer]

Oh Man, I can talk airplanes and flashlights all day......hold me down :)

Anyway I do understand your concern about the strobe. What if the strobe was what they call "hidden"? In other words you will not step through it to get to off or any other steady mode. It takes a deliberate action. My recommendation is Nitecore's new EA4. It has five light levels instead of your desired two, but with mode memory it shouldn't prove an issue. Does not meet all your criteria, but at this price it comes close enough.

 

[tjswarbrick]

Get a Solarforce M3 head for your L2.



If it still isn't bright enough, have Vinh put a hard-driven XM-L2 in it.
If that isn't throwy enough, have him put an overdriven XP-G2 in it.
I have the latter, and I can't find enough uses for that much throw. It just keeps going.
The nice thing is you get to choose, and you can select the level of modes you want as well.
The standard head, as delivered, is actually quite impressive as-is. Farther throw, and more output, than my LuminTop TD15x. Tint was a little cool, but nothing unseemly.

 

[BenChiew]

Read the thread. Even if you don't have the budget for it, you may pick up a few things that will tell you how he throws light.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=352661

 

[scsmith]

My nailbender D26/P60 XP-G2 drop-in easily throws further than my nailbender XM-L2 with the larger D36 reflector. I agree tjswarbrick - get vinhnguyen54 to put an XP-G2 into a Solarforce M3 head for you. He does great work at very reasonable prices. If you need even more throw get an XP-E2 in the M3 head.

 

[climberkid]

I would also suggest the M3 head on a solarforce body for ultimate money savings. If there is some extra cash then you can have someone put a XP-G2 in there for even more throw (or you can do the same yourself). There are many modders on here who are reasonable, just browse the customs area and see who might fit the bill.

 

[Yourrid]

Benchiew - That Deft X is INSANE. I wish I had that much money to spend on a flashlight, but I can't justify that man. After seeing the pictures on that link, thats EXACTLY what I'm looking for... just can't spend that much on something like that.

Bicycleflyer - Looks like we have another aviator on here! Glad to see it man. Yea if I didn't have to cycle through the strobe then that would be fine. That Nitecore EA4 looks perfect for my needs because I will be able to select the intensity. I'm really liking that one!

tjswarbrick - I love the Solarforce L2 lineup. I haven't heard much about the M3 heads, but if I could do that, I would definitely be game because then I could choose the drop-in. How would that perform up against that Nitecore EA4?

I want to try and build this one myself, and then have a custom driven one built for my next light.

 

[tjswarbrick]

Benchiew - That Deft X is INSANE. I wish I had that much money to spend on a flashlight, but I can't justify that man. After seeing the pictures on that link, thats EXACTLY what I'm looking for... just can't spend that much on something like that.

Bicycleflyer - Looks like we have another aviator on here! Glad to see it man. Yea if I didn't have to cycle through the strobe then that would be fine. That Nitecore EA4 looks perfect for my needs because I will be able to select the intensity. I'm really liking that one!

tjswarbrick - I love the Solarforce L2 lineup. I haven't heard much about the M3 heads, but if I could do that, I would definitely be game because then I could choose the drop-in. How would that perform up against that Nitecore EA4?

I want to try and build this one myself, and then have a custom driven one built for my next light.

I don't have an EA4 to compare. I've read where the stock M3 has about double the lux of an XP-G in a P60; I'd agree with that. Would put it in the 20,000-25,000 range. SelfBuilt calculated the EA4 at 21,500 cd (lux at 1M equivalent.) Right in the same range. With the 2.5a driver pushing a neutral XP-G2 in my M3, if I had to guess, I'd estimate it's putting out some 50% more lux than stock. It's no DEFT, or any aspheric for that matter, but it really gets the light out there.
There are aspherics which cost a lot less than the Deft. They have their own set of compromises, but they are known to throw well for their size. Tiablo used to have a popular one. Might be worth checking in to. Or look at the One Stop Throw Shop for lights which are specifically modded for throw. Their smallsun seems to fit your requirement to a "T" - but I have no experience with it. (As for me, the XP-G2 M3 has more than I can use. Objects get too small, blurry or indistinct before I run out of light.)
But I would like to play with a DEFT-X!

One thing to note: the M3 reflector is threaded to accept P60 pills, but it is very deep and not all will fit properly or align well. At the very least, you'll probably need an extended inner spring. But it depends on the module. I'd recommend having the stock module modded with the driver and emitter of your choice. It's actually a very nice, hefty, well machined pill.





You'll probably pay as much or more for the mod as you do the head (depending on where you get it), but can still come in near your budget.

Best of luck to you.