Re: Flash Blinded By Green Laser

From: Mike Simmons (mikes_at_nospam.mtwilson.edu)
Date: 12/31/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 21:14:33 -0800

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 04:17:33 GMT, Gary Honis <ghonis@epix.net> wrote:

> I've been watching the news channel reports today on green lasers and the
> dangers to pilots. I've also been reading the messages here about using
> green lasers to easily point out objects in the night sky. I don't own
> a
> green laser pointer but I have a unique opinion of green lasers because I
> was flash blinded by one accidentally turned on by Howie Glatter at a
> star
> party. When a pilot says he was "flash blinded" by a green laser, I know
> what he experienced and the disorientation that results.

No you don't. The pilot of an aircraft will likely be miles from the
laser. The beam will diverge greatly at that distance. Equating that (if
that's what it was) with your point-blank experience is ludicrous.

Mike Simmons

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