Pilot Report: A Smarter Flashlight for Night Flying

When it comes to night flying, every pilot knows the importance of having a good flashlight. Not just any flashlight—but one that plays nicely in a dark cockpit, offers multiple lighting options, and doesn’t die on you in the middle of a flight. I recently took Sporty’s new Flight Gear Smart Flashlight on a series of flights to see how it holds up, and I came away impressed.

First Impressions
Right out of the box, the flashlight has a solid, tactical feel without being bulky. The rectangular design prevents the flashlight from rolling away. It fits comfortably in the hand or a side pocket, and the aluminum body feels like it can take a beating. The controls are simple and intuitive: one side slider button for white or red and a push button for cycling through the brightness levels. A double-click allows you to access the side floodlight.

A Flashlight for Every Task
This isn’t your average flashlight—it’s smarter. You get seven lighting modes, including four levels of white beam light brightness, a white flood light and two red options (beam and side flood). I found the medium white light perfect for preflight checks and cockpit use—bright enough to illuminate, but not blinding. The red light setting is what really sold me: it’s gentle enough to preserve night vision but strong enough to clearly read what’s in front of you.

On the Flight Deck
On a recent evening IFR flight, I put the flashlight to the test. During engine start and taxi, I used the low white beam to inspect switches. Once airborne, I switched to red and clipped the flashlight to my kneeboard using the dual-sided clip. It stayed secure, and the side switch made it easy to toggle modes without fumbling. USB-C charging means no more hunting for AA batteries, and obviously you can use your same cables as you would for your iPad or phone.

Integration and EFB Use
For iPad pilots, this flashlight checks a lot of boxes. It doesn’t interfere with screen visibility, and the lower brightness settings make it easier to maintain night vision. I appreciated being able to spot-check my panel and then return to my tablet without needing to adjust brightness.

Final Thoughts
The Flight Gear Smart Flashlight is now a permanent part of my flight bag. It solves the age-old problem of flashlight clutter in the cockpit and replaces it with one thoughtfully-designed tool. At $59.95, it’s not the cheapest light out there—but considering the rechargeable battery, multiple modes, and rugged design, I think it’s a solid investment for any pilot who flies at night.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. Eric now heads Sporty’s flight school and directs the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Training Program. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in Sporty’s corporate flight department.

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