Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Helicopter pilot lens

  1. #1
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Chesapeake, VA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    105

    Confused Helicopter pilot lens

    I have a customer who pilots a chopper. He used to wear frames with a narrow "b" and a ST28. He leans out of his chopper to look at the ground. He used to look under his glasses, but now needs a correction for distance. I dug down into the cobwebbed corners of my brain and seem to remember a "ribbon" seg. Is that still made? Any suggestions for another lens that might work?

  2. #2
    OptiWizard
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    393
    Still available from XCel in two sizes 9 22 9 25

  3. #3
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Earth
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    538
    Seems interesting.

  4. #4
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    usa
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    989
    If you can't make a ribbon seg work, you could suggest they get contact lenses corrected for distance vision, then go back to a st28, plano top, with a narrow b frame they can look under.

  5. #5
    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Gold Hill, OR
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    4,401
    Whats the Rx? Near vision while flying will probably be a secondary requirement so an upside down flat top fit above his distance gaze could be a consideration.

  6. #6
    One eye sees, the other feels OptiBoard Silver Supporter
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Wauwatosa Wi
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    5,458
    Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. - Richard P. Feynman

    Experience is the hardest teacher. She gives the test before the lesson.



  7. #7
    Rising Star
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Minneapolis
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    59
    Instead of a ribbon seg a custom Franklin seg might suffice. This could offer a wider range of lens option i.e., materials, tints, etc..

  8. #8
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Chesapeake, VA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    105
    Quote Originally Posted by rbaker View Post
    Whats the Rx? Near vision while flying will probably be a secondary requirement so an upside down flat top fit above his distance gaze could be a consideration.
    He needs the near to see his dashboard, or so he says.

  9. #9
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Chesapeake, VA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    105
    Hi Lensman11, Can you give me the name of a lab I can get them from? I checked a couple and was told it's been discontinued, which I'm assuming is lazy person speak for "I don't want to trouble myself to order it, price it and add it to the computer." LOL!

  10. #10
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Chesapeake, VA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    105
    We discussed that, but he didn't want to have to lower his head that much to see his instruments, or have it obstruct his distance vision.

  11. #11
    OptiWizard
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    393
    Hi
    i am currently retired so can’t give you a specific lab. The product is listed in XCel catalog as semi finished product so try calling them. Secondly contact any lab that does glass themself they would surely do business with X cel.

  12. #12
    Eyes eastward... Uilleann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Utah
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    3,237
    Remembering that avionics panels are almost always positioned higher than a dash display in an automobile. I'd have your pilot take some very careful measurements to the panel, as well as panel height in relation to his horizontal sight line when flying. Also bearing in mind, rotorcraft pilots also need clear distance vision down near their feet, so any design will need to accommodate that to a degree as well.

  13. #13
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Earth
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    538
    http://www.x-celoptical.com/

    http://www.x-celoptical.com/PDF%20fi...ide%202016.pdf

    It looks like the ribbon bifocal was still available in glass through 2019.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Lenses For Professional Pilot
    By dustman in forum Progressive Lens Discussion Forum
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 03-19-2021, 12:58 AM
  2. Lens for a pilot
    By Logan in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 01-09-2014, 11:03 AM
  3. Spectacle lens design for helicopter pilot.
    By iiiiisoptom in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 09-01-2010, 05:45 AM
  4. Is a flat BC for a pilot made...
    By Uncle Fester in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-28-2009, 07:42 PM
  5. Pilot vocational lenses
    By Monkeysee in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 10-08-2004, 09:42 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •