Aircraft displaying green lights only

Victor

In what circumstances would something like this happen?

Email from brother:

"We're away in Devon and [we] just spotted a very low flying plane directly over us. It sounded like it was a twin engined turboprop to me but couldn't see the outline against the night sky. 

The really weird thing was it had only green external lights. One forward of the wings and one on each main wing tip. "

EchoIndia

Maybe a military aircraft with formation lights, sometimes nicknamed "slime lights", presumably for their colour in the dark.

Victor

Thanks. I would have thought they would go for red, as it is the most visible wave length for humans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formation_light

EchoIndia

They're not meant to be highly visible as they are intended for aircraft flying close together, including into combat areas.

ZX7R

They use green as it does not affect there night vision goggles or head mounted night vision.

Green is also less likely colour to affect natural night vision.

Victor

"Green is also less likely colour to affect natural night vision." - I thought that red was the best colour for this.

ZX7R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119415485#Comment_119415485

Green shows more detail than red.

Psychlops

Osprey ones are epic!