[mdlug-discuss] binoculars

[Garry Stahl]

Aaron Kulkis wrote:
> I used to be a Stinger missile gunner (which is categorized
> as short range air defence (SHORAD)), and firing the missile,
> although a 14-step procedure, is the easy part of qualifying
> in that MOS... the difficult part is the aircraft identification
> test.  Silhouettes, silhouttes, silhouttes.  

Stingers do not have the luxury (luxury?) of a 1.2 kg 15x "aiming
system".  You are also not trying to hit targets at 30,000 feet.  Apples
and oranges.

Yes astronomical binoculars are heavy.  They are also large.  The 15x70
Celestrons I have are on the small side.  Tripod not an option.  On the
large end you have things like the Twin Keck telescopes that can be
linked.  On the more "practical binocular" end are things like a pair of
6 inch Newtonian reflectors strapped together in an "over the shoulder"
style binoculars.  *http://tiny.cc/amrGY*   Vixen makes these in the
medium range *http://tiny.cc/h00ug* 35x80.  Note I said medium.

It's a different world from what the military would employ.  Although I
did gaze with lust on the monster set of Russian binoculars that were
surplussed from the Soviet navy.  The kind about the size of the Vixens
meant to be mounted to the ship.  I didn't have the money at the time,
sigh.  Not only would they have been good for astronomy they would
simply have been cool to have.

-- 
Garry  AKA  --Phoenix--  Rising above the Flames.

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