Sun block
Finally, sunshades that actually work
By J. Mac McClellan
We’ve all done it. Looked all over the cockpit for something to prop up in the windows to block the torturing sun at cruise altitude.
In the old days we had en route charts that could sometimes be stuck in place as a sun shade. In our operation we carried binder clips so we could secure a checklist or other handy document to anything to block the sun. Most airplanes have movable smoked plastic sunshades mounted on rails or swiveling arms in the cockpit, but the transparency of those shades simply allows too much punishing glare and retina-frying heat through in direct sunlight.
But now Sporty’s Flight Gear has invented a collapsible sunshade that is pure magic. These black fabric shades stay where you put them, and block nearly all of even the most brilliant sunlight blast.
The Flight Gear sunshades are made from a laminated fabric that is UV resistant. The fabric is mounted on a frame of flexible plastic that springs into a shade measuring about 20 by 12 inches, with radiused ends.
I’m not sure of the exact technology of the fabric, but one side has a tight weave, as you would expect on any conventional fabric. But the other side is completely smooth. So smooth that if feels a little tacky, even though there is no adhesive.
The smooth side forms a temporary bond with the warm cockpit window and, with a few presses against the window, keeps the shade in place. When you pull the shade off, there is zero residue, or any kind of marking left behind on the glass.
We use the Flight Gear shades primarily on the cockpit side windows in the Cessna Citation CJ4 I fly. Long flights, particularly east or west bound in the winter when sun angle is low and the position of the beating sun rays doesn’t seem to change for hours can be torture through the cockpit side windows. The Flight Gear shades bring immediate and lasting relief.
In the CJ4, and many other airplanes, direct glare thought the windshield is less of a problem because of the shape of the windscreen and overhead. But when the sun does move directly ahead, the shades work perfectly in the windshield, too.
The size of the Flight Gear shades makes it possible to block the sun, but not the entire window so you can look around the shade while being protected from direct sunlight. And, of course, it’s wise to use the shades above Flight Level 180 where all traffic is under positive control.
When you’re ready to stow the Flight Gear sunshades a simple hand crossing technique snaps the shades from their 20-by-12-inch size into a compact circle about seven inches in diameter. I say the maneuver is simple, and it is once you learn how. It’s tempting to try to twist the deployed shades by grasping both ends. But that won’t work. What works perfectly is to grasp the lower edge of the shade several inches from each end, and then move your hands across each other. The shade snaps into a circle that fits in a little cloth bag along with its twin shade that is included in the purchase.
The Flight Gear sunshades cost only $14.95 from Sporty’s. They are the best 15 bucks I’ve spent on anything to do with an airplane in a long time.
Sun blocking on the ground
When it comes to blocking the sun on the ground, I’ve had nothing but great experience with Kennon sun shields. Kennon shields are the easiest to use, and most effective I have found after using them on several different airplanes.
Kennon makes the shields from a multi-layered reflective material that is very light weight and easy to roll, but springy. The springy nature of the Kennon shield creates tension between the shield and window frame to hold it in place with no adhesives, fasteners, suction cups, or Velcro that other shields may require.
Kennon makes the shields to fit an exact make and model of airplane, even considering the serial number that could impact the size and shape of the window frames.
When my company took delivery of our new CJ4 Gen 2 I called Kennon to order the shields. They had not yet made shields for the Gen 2 version, but Cessna told them there was no change to cockpit window size and shape.
But the Kennon shields for the cockpit side windows were just a tad too small and lacked the interference fit that holds them in place. Kennon tried to get a new template from Cessna with no luck. Photos I took of the shield in place showed the Kennon people that about a quarter inch size increase all around would fix the problem. They made the new shields—no charge—and they now fit perfectly.
To store the Kennon shields, roll them up and put them in the supplied storage bag. They weigh mere ounces.
Kennon claims the sun shields have a reflectivity value of 93 to 94 percent. They drop cockpit temperature on the ramp dramatically. I’ve used a set of Kennon shields for many years, but not long ago the company updated the material to one even lighter in weight and more flexible and springy. The material is smooth and soft and it won’t scratch, mar, or mark a window.
Several pilot supply retailers sell Kennon shields, or you can order direct at kennonproducts.com, or call 307-674-6498. The shields are custom made for your aircraft so there may be a little wait for delivery, but the shields’ performance is worth it.
J. Mac McClellan is a corporate pilot with more than 12,000 hours, and a retired aviation magazine editor living in Grand Haven, Michigan.
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