22 Mile Sun Flash - 3"x5" Glass Mirror (Best in Full Screen, HD)

My naked eye easily spotted the sun flashes at 22 mile range from this 3"x5" glass GI issue MIL-M-18371E mirror and my friend hit me nearly continuously, in this, his first long-range session, thanks to the builtin retroreflective mesh aiming aid. These were pretty favorable signal conditions: while the sun was a bit hazy, the air was extremely clear (for Los Angeles), he was against a dark backdrop and he was signaling nearly directly into the sun, the most favorable direction. If you are buying a 3"x5" glass signal mirror, make sure yours has a working retroreflective aiming aid. See this site to know what to look out for: see: http://www.equipped.org/phony_signal_mirrors.htm

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• signal mirror
• survival
• life raft
• hiking
• boating
• SCUBA
• MIL-M-18371E
• heliograph

[ufoengines]

If the flashes were shown through a red filter, do you think that it be easier to see?

[rafowell]

@ufoengines Red flashes stand out more, but filtering greatly reduces brightness, range and detectability. The US tried signal mirror color filters in the 1940s, then dropped the idea. At ranges under a mile, brightness is no problem, so the red might work. Google for "Safe signal mirror" to find retailers for the MPI Safe Signal Mirror: red mirror on one side, plain on the other. I think the plain Coghlan's Survival Signal Mirror (2"x3" glass) is better: the "fireball" aimer is key.

[royrichardsify]

how far can you see this at night?