Surefire A2L Aviator Red

I was browsing the bay to try and snag some older model Surefires and came across an A2L BNIB for ~$140. I thought about it for a bit but it is now on it's way to me.

I know its an older light and out of vogue these days, but I love the design of the A and L series lights so I was willing to give up the brightness in exchange for style. I had wanted to get the LX2 for the longest time, but the unique characteristics of the Aviator line was enough to get me to bite. I can't wait to get it

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

Do you mean an A2L-RD? If so, it's an awesome light! I owned one for the longest time and it never let me down.

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

cland72 said:

Do you mean an A2L-RD? If so, it's an awesome light! I owned one for the longest time and it never let me down.

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Yes, the LED version with the red LEDs.

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

I see LX2 heads on eBay from time to time for around $80-90, if you ever want the best of both worlds!

If you want to upgrade the primary LED at any point, there's a forum member named Nitroz here who does some excellent work with Surefire lights.

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

cland72 said:

I see LX2 heads on eBay from time to time for around $80-90, if you ever want the bet of both worlds!

If you want to upgrade the primary LED at any point, there's a forum member named Nitroz here who does some excellent work with Surefire lights.

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Uh oh :devil:

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

For a real treat, see if you can find an original A2 with the regulated incandescent bulb.

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

Is this the regulated version? It says Digital Fusion Series on the side
http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/a2.htm

I'm pretty sure my model is not regulated. It is a great flashlight for what I use it for, and I use it almost every single day

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

I had thought all the incandescent aviators were regulated. Why do you think yours is not?

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

yowzer said:

For a real treat, see if you can find an original A2 with the regulated incandescent bulb.

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I've always had LED lights, as I missed the boat on the good incan stuff (minus the old standby, the maglite). Is it worth picking up one of the old incan Surefires? What makes it different than the LED version minus the tint?

Re: Surefire A4L Aviator Red

KQL said:

I had thought all the incandescent aviators were regulated. Why do you think yours is not?

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All incan A2s are regulated. The bulb is not what houses the electronics.

Okay, maybe mine is just a different version.

http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l486/DragonDan108/Flashlights/2014-09-29 20.54.41.jpg

Yes, although Surefire had changed the A2 bodies over the years from a 4 sided more squarish body to a later rounded 3 sided version, the electonics have always been in the body and not in the bezel (head) of the light.

Dan, yours is most definitely regulated

What is the advantage of the A2 WH model? Seems like it would be better to have colored secondary led's.

Some folks just want normal white light with ultra long run time. I can say that while the A2L-RD was great for checking on my son in the middle of the night, it sucked for identifying colos. The same could be said for blue and green as well. You don't have that problem with white.

recDNA said:

What is the advantage of the A2 WH model? Seems like it would be better to have colored secondary led's.

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cland72 said:

Some folks just want normal white light with ultra long run time....

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And the white LED "triple" provides more of a floody beam, without an intense central "hotspot" ... the exact opposite to that of the central incandescent lamp.

The stock A2-WH ring tint is rather cool, however. Modded rings with "warm white" emitters (such as those from koala or calipsoii) are quite a nice upgrade

Thanks...thinking of grabbing an A2 before they disappear. Is it possible to upgrade the bulb as well? I assume not since electronics control output.

The A2L really outputs decent amount of light on high in quality darkness. 120 lumens of floody goodness.

Its time to take my A2L green out of storage for Halloween! Tommy Knocker green baby!

If you can find one pick up a A2Z. Awesome flood and a pencil thin high beam to reach out and touch someone! My favorite hand held trail light at night.

Well she arrived today. And she's a beaut!

recDNA said:

Thanks...thinking of grabbing an A2 before they disappear. Is it possible to upgrade the bulb as well? I assume not since electronics control output.

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Fivemega did a few runs of an adaptor to use Streamlight Strion bulbs, which are brighter. I have one (and a warm white LED ring from calipsoii). A want ad on the custom maker b/s/t forum might get results.

There's also the Lumens Factory HO-A2 bulb.