[mdlug-discuss] binoculars

[Aaron Kulkis]

Garry Stahl wrote:
> 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.

Next time I travel to St. Petersburg, maybe I can find some.
I know of a military surplus store on Nevskii Prospekt.  The
last time I was in St. Petersburg (about 10 years ago), there
was a surprising amount of night vision equipment on display
in the front window.