BARNES AIRCREW LASER EYE PROTECTION (LEP) VISOR

File: aaaaf_02.txt
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        02  06           AUG  90  RR  RR  UUUU                   DOSSL/43063

        VISOR.  THE COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ARE FROM PILOTS WHO

        PARTICIPATED IN THE OPERATIONAL TESTING CONDUCTED BY TAWC-

        QUOTE

        4.  GENERAL DESCRIPTION.  THE BARNES LEP VISOR PROVIDES MULTIPLE

        WAVELENGTH PROTECTION AGAINST VISIBLE, NEAR INFRARED (IR) AND IR

        LASER ENERGY.  THE VISORS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF POLYCARBONATE AND ARE

        ROSE-BROWN IN COLOR.  THE VISOR IS SUFFICIENTLY DARK TO PRECLUDE ITS

        USE DURING NIGHT OPERATIONS; THUS IT IS INTENDED FOR DAYLIGHT

        OPERATIONS ONLY.  ALTHOUGH THE BARNES VISOR IS DARKENED, IT STILL

        ALLOWS PASSAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 25 PERCENT OF AVAILABLE DAYLIGHT

        THROUGH THE VISOR, COMPARED TO 13 TO 15 PERCENT TRANSMITTANCE FOR THE

        STANDARD AIR FORCE SUN VISOR.

        5.  GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.  AT LEAST 80 PERCENT OF PARTICIPATING

        AIRCREW MEMBERS (PER AIRCRAFT TYPE), RATED THE VISOR AT LEAST

        SATISFACTORY FOR THE F-16 AND F-111 AIRCRAFT.  THIS LEVEL OF

        ACCEPTANCE WAS NOT OBSERVED FOR THE A-10, F-4, AND F-15 AIRCRAFT.

        THERE WERE THREE PRIMARY CONCERNS:  (A)  STRIATIONS IN THE VISOR;

        (B)  PROBLEMS IN READING HEAD-UP DISPLAYS (HUDS), MULTIFUNCTIONAL

        DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND RADAR WARNING RECEIVERS; AND (C) LACK OF SUN

        PROTECTION.






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