Daidalos Team's Room -QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS ONLY - For 4.11

[Tempest123]

Landing lights were often hooded to the sides, so that they were only visible when the plane was on the correct approach. This was partially a navigation aide and partially another method of keeping the lights from being visible to every plane in the air. So, again, arguable realistic.

This is true for reducing side visibility from enemy aircraft during wartime, however the main function of a landing light is to light up the surface of runway on the final stages of approach and touchdown for depth perception. Having just recently flown IRL at night I can attest to the importance of a properly functioning landing light

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Tempest123

This is true for reducing side visibility from enemy aircraft during wartime, however the main function of a landing light is to light up the surface of runway on the final stages of approach and touchdown for depth perception. Having just recently flown IRL at night I can attest to the importance of a properly functioning landing light

I see your point about needing the lights to illuminate the runway. It is unrealistic that they don't.

My point was that wartime airfields were kept as dark as possible, not lit up like Christmas trees the way that modern civil airports are. You're absolutely right that the lack of landing lights is a safety issue, however. The need to keep airfields dark to prevent attacks probably contributed to the higher rate of landing accidents among nightfighters.