A mate at work recently expressed an interest in my Soda can lights
This as per my 2-AAA thread, is for Air Ambulance work.
The Soda Can size is great as it sits int eh console between the pilot seats in the coke/can / coffee cup holder.
Requirements are most definitely .
Soda Can size
No memory
First ON in Low or moonlight for cockpit night vision
NO, absolutely no strobe of flash modes
Ideal a Super bright level for pre flight Aircraft checks
I have three
Meteor M43
Mountain Electronics Custom one with 12 LED’s
The same again ,from Mtn Electronics, the basic 3 LED version.
Also seen on here in similar threads
Sofirn SP36 BLF Anduril
Thorfire Q8 Super Bright
Airpro Flashlight DC7
Astrolux MF01S
Emisar D18
BLF Q8
trouble is they all show on Amazon UK as …Currently Unavailable.
So what is currently available with these specification.
I don’t know if Anduril can be set up the way you want but i have a tested but unused Sofirn SP36 BLF Anduril available to buy if you decide to go that route, depending on your work purchasing protocols.
Separately to that though, if you figure out how to set up Anduril the way you want it i can test the setup on the SP36 to confirm it works so you know if Anduril lights are an option.
Yes, you can use Anduril that way but it requires learning/remembering and still allows for accidents in a situation with the potential for significant consequences.
I personally would want a light that was locked down with minimal room for error but the OP will know what’s acceptable, that’s not my call
Sofirn SP36 BLF Anduril would be my choice. Smaller than some of the others. Long press from off starts the lowest mode. Double tap for the highest. I store mine head down and press the head into my leg to turn on in case I error. I also store mine with the tail cap turned slightly to keep it off. Most of the lights you listed are quad 18650 cells except the the Sofirn SP36 BLF it’s a triple. However the head is just small enough to be stored head down in a cup holder.
I’ll get an order in for one and have a play with this firmware.
Once setup it almost needs to be Granny Mode…so anyone can pick it up, press the button and get it to low.
Any ‘complex ’ press sequences are out.
It actually often lives in the cup holders pointing upwards…as a cabin lamp. Once we shut the aircraft down, we are always aware of not draining the very small aircraft start batteries which are the same as the internal lighting batteries, especially in cold weather. So pretty much as soon as engines are stopped, battery master goes off. So a lamp like the M43 or any soda can lamp, in a cup holder, on high or medium power pointing up at the curved ceiling gives good all around illumination
I too store my current lamps with the cap just unscrewed too…had a burnt pocket before !
The new Q8 runs Anduril ll which has manual memory. Set it for whatever level you want and it always starts there. Not sure if Anduril l has that in later versions.
