Flashlight for helicopter pilot

[u/CrossfeedCow]

Hello! I’m a SAR helicopter pilot looking to stop getting crappy lights that stop working after a year or so of use. I read some posts by airline guys asking for recommendations and seems like the P40 and Arfeld Pro are regularly offered. Unlike an airline guy I don’t need to shoot a beam at stuff 40 feet away, I would mostly be using it to see directly inside cowlings maybe a foot away at most, a flood for night time walk around would be good too. Wouldn’t be using it in the cockpit at all, I fly under goggles so I have a great lanyard pelican green light that I love for that.

I’ve heard some of these can come with UV for spotting fluid leaks and that would be great too. Preferably USB-C, don’t want any proprietary ports, and something pretty small (cigar sized at most) would be ideal. Thanks for the help!

[u/Wirehead-be]

An Armytek Wizard Pro Nichia. Floody TIR optic with high cri, low moonlight mode as well, potted driver,.. granted, no USB-C charging, but does have magnetic charging.

[u/T-rad69 → u/Wirehead-be]

The elf c2 now has usb c charging. I think there’s a 21700 version as well.

[u/Ziazan → u/Wirehead-be]

This is basically the same light as the Skilhunt H300 with the Nichia 144(?) & TIR lens but skilhunt don't seem to make it anymore, it's been out of stock every time I've checked. It was brilliant, I loved mine. It started to get excessively hot one day after about 4 years of being dropped off of ladders and battered around daily and such, and also cuts out from heat way quicker than it should these days unless you keep it on a low setting, so it's in retirement now.

TIR optics are so good for that sort of thing, such a nice even beam.

[u/fragande → u/Ziazan]

but skilhunt don't seem to make it anymore

It's been replaced by the "Skilhunt" F50S emitter which in addition is high R9 as well (144ART is R9050). 5000K instead of 4500K though (unfortunately IMO).

[u/Ziazan → u/fragande]

Yeah, doesn't really count as a replacement IMO, 4500 was one of the things I really liked about it, 5k is alright but, not as nice. Also, I was under the impression that that emitter automatically came as the orangepeel reflector version but looking at the site now, it seems like that might not be the case, at least not anymore. I might end up with one anyway, even though I've got various other headtorches these days, seeing as it looks like I can get a TIR lens on it.

[u/TheSoftie]

I am a fan of the rovyvon E60. Has spot, flood, UV, red light, laser, and is quite small. I edc one for over a year now and have a second for home use.
Durability wise I have not had any problem, but Its not like I use them hard since I work in an office.
edit: also USB C charging

[u/rufio_rufio_roofeeO → u/TheSoftie]

E10! E10! E10!

[u/darkgauss → u/rufio_rufio_roofeeO]

I have both the E80 (the E60's bigger brother) and the E10. I'd recommend them both.
My E80 rides in the front pocket of my vest and it's side lights make great hands free lights.
I can pull it out of the pocket if I need the green laser or want to light up something farther away.
I like the E10 because it also has a magnetic base and I can stick it to things I'm working on.
But if I had to pick only one, I'd pick the E80.

[u/rufio_rufio_roofeeO]

I think you’d be happy w sk-06 - it also has sidelight options in White or other colors

[u/CrossfeedCow → u/rufio_rufio_roofeeO]

This one looks really nice

[u/GangGreenGhost]

Wanting UV and on board charging is going to limit you, arcfeld ultra, or if you can do without uv, any weltool would be my pick

[u/CrossfeedCow → u/GangGreenGhost]

M7HCRI looks a lot like what I’m looking for, just no UV which isn’t a deal killer. Just has to be indestructible mainly.

[u/GangGreenGhost → u/CrossfeedCow]

That’s what you want. Weltool has been bulletproof in my experience

[u/fragande]

Skilhunt EC200S-UV perhaps? The 5000K Nichia 519A version is really high CRI which should be great for inspections. USB-C charging as well.

Not very powerful (around 350lm sustained) but should be plenty enough for such close up work. Battery capacity is more than twice that of the Arkfield with the 3500mAh cell bundle, or you could get a 4000mAh cell elsewhere like the Amprius SA110.

You can find a review here.

[u/iH8MotherTeresa → u/fragande]

I want them just for the surpised-look face lmao

[u/fragande → u/iH8MotherTeresa]

Poor thing lol.

[u/CrossfeedCow → u/fragande]

Are they available in the USA? Should have specified that, looks like prices are all euros

[u/fragande → u/CrossfeedCow]

Yeah you can switch currency to USD, but they ship from China if that's an issue. I'm not familiar with the current tariff situation over there.

Killzoneflashlights is US based but only stock the Mini version it seems.

[u/AD3PDX]

Skilhunt EC200S-Mini UV

https://www.skilhunt.com/product/ec200s-mini-uv-2100-lumens-white-and-uv-365nm-beam-usb-c-rechargeable-powerful-edc-flashlight/

There is also a non mini version that takes an 18650 battery

https://www.skilhunt.com/product/ec200s-uv-2100-lumens-white-and-uv-365nm-beam-usb-c-rechargeable-powerful-edc-flashlight/

The mini comes with an 1100 mah capacity battery (you can also use 1600 mah capacity 18350 batteries if you set the turbo output to the lower of its two settings.

The non mini comes with a 3500 mah 18650 and you can use batteries up to 4000 mah capacity

You can choose the Nichia 519A HI CRI led for good color accuracy.

The Olight Ark Pro & Ark Pro Ultra have low CRI white, UV, a rotary mode selector, a green laser, a spot beam, and a 2000 mah non replaceable battery, and usb-c in addition to magnetic charging.

The Ark Pro Lite has a 1350 mah non replaceable battery, looses the laser and spot beam and gains a red LED

[u/A_HOMELESSGUY2]

You could look at the wurrkos hd01 pro, or maybe a hd05.

[u/45pewpewpew556]

Oclip 2 might be a good option for you if it satisfies the runtime requirements

[u/nwstig]

If you can swing it the Surefire Aviator is the go-to in your situation but is on the higher end of lights.

[u/Weewoo_the_Woowee]

If you wear a cap to clip the light to, the arkpro ultra is a great light with a lazer and UV.

The oclip 2 ultra is also really great and I have been enjoying clipping it to the brim of my cap during day to day. It also has red whixh is probably more beneficial to you than me. I am a naval ship builder making some Navy ships right now and have found many good uses for tight spots without proper job lighting.

Either of those 2 lights should be more than enough convenience, especially if you where a cap, if not the oclip 2 ultra will be much more versatile as you can clip it to a shirt and aim it.

That being said I am not an olight fanboy. I just think those 2 lights are something they've done extremely right. I really like my d3aa, and I also primarily use an armytek wizard pro c2 warm epoxied to my hardhat. Armytek would be my recommendation for a full fledged headlamp that goes on a strap.

[u/thrauco69]

Yo uso desde hace un año la Fenix C6 1500lum.es muy liviana (100gr.) y portatil..!!!..recomendada!!!