So what does a $270 flashlight do, exactly? The Surefire Ultra has six steps of brightness from searing white hot (above) to a dimmer, less power-hungry beam. That’s impressive performance for an LED.

by Frank Bowlin

Like a mirage, the perfect flashlight for flying seems to shimmer on the horizon, just out of reach. Our definition of perfection is a light that can be held and operated conveniently in one hand, has variable intensity—bright enough to ignite a match at 10 feet but dim enough to preserve night vision and with a uniform or adjustable beam that both floods and focuses. Batteries should last at least 12 hours and the entire package should easily withstand harsh elements and physical abuse. Is that too much to ask? In our review of inexpensive flashlights in the December 2005 issue of Aviation Consumer, we concluded that for…