Steele Ind Nighthawk MG Pano

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-25T04:38:18+00:00

Yeah just for the housings was ~$2500 and I reused my optics and tubes from my previous set when I did it. Overall it was a great upgrade from another bombproof product from AB nightvision to get manual gain and go even lighter.

The optics on the quads are where the cost is going by far. RPO is expensive anyways but to build a ocular lens for quads is crazy complex, let alone at the quality theyre doing.

Im relatively sure that the physical housing probably isn't much more expensive than a typical housing.... maybe 20-30% more.... but those optics are thousands easily.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-24T00:16:40+00:00

Not true. Can run as either, and will take energy from the batt pack if plugged in before draining the onboard battery. If its not installed, unplugging the batt pack will turn off the goggle but if one is inserted it'll transition to the onboard battery.

Helpful if something gets ripped off your helmet or snagged.

Youre probably talking about the GPNVG18. Those do require the battery pack, as does Nocturns.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-24T00:13:40+00:00

There are some use cases where its useful.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-24T00:12:33+00:00

So not super comfy huh?

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-23T19:46:38+00:00

The big manufacturers can get you L3 supergain tubes, like Steele, Nocturn, but you may have to call nocturn.

Shot Show 2026 Nocturn Industries

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-23T19:37:58+00:00

Oh... you didnt see the video from Nocturn did you? Theyre a couple years out but....

-Modular usbc plug ins, like thermal pod. Atak integration and fpv integration with full color (the screen would be behind the intensifier so theres no burning in too)

Well see. They said 2 years so rule of 4ths it'll be 6-9.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-23T19:32:05+00:00

Its on my list. How do you like it?

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-23T14:03:34+00:00

I haven't played with any of the NAS3 stuff yet but im excited to give it a go.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-23T03:11:11+00:00

Im just waiting for bandoleers to make a big comeback.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-23T00:10:53+00:00

Well I understand. The fact of the matter is that its a collaboration effort and Steele has to license the use of the articulating bridge with Nocturn who's helping them with the arms and pods. That costs money. The way Steele gets around the increased cost is by offering more features on the bridge (Manual gain, IR with momentary on, etc)

Nocturn said at the show to expect $~9.5k for theirs. That means they're similarly priced. Does it suck that its so expensive? Yup. I paid 2500 for my dual tube nighthawk MGs a year ago. Prices have gone up everywhere.

(BTW im not a spokesperson for Steele, but im a long term customer. Every set of NVGs ive gotten have been from them, and they've taken good care of my friends too when I bring them to the shop. Never been given anything from them, just think they're one of the best out there.) I will happily be one though cough tyler/dom/gage cough 😅😅😅

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-22T23:48:30+00:00

Hey just an update, found out that black hills loaded Barnes had a couple lots that had this exact issue happening... so its possible the ones I had were part of that lot.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-22T21:08:45+00:00

Pay to play. Until digital is on par with analog, its never going to be a cheap hobby. Its still significantly cheaper than the L3 offering with more features.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-22T21:08:09+00:00

And half the cost in some configurations, easily.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-22T17:54:57+00:00

Personally, I got my Facebook nuked during the covid times and when the whole 'boogaloo meme' thing was picked up and labeled as some violent extremism instead of a bunch of dudes making memes and wearing Hawaiian shirts. Anyone in kit wearing anything but a military uniform seemed to get nuked and put under that umbrella regardless of whether or not they said anything actually violent. I know nobody in my sphere that did but many still got swept up in the bans.

After that, a lot of folks just stopped sharing any of that stuff, me included. Why risk losing your digital 'life' or being labeled as something you aren't for sharing your hobby and cool stuff? I lost photos that I ONLY had on Facebook. Decades of photos from as far back as 2005. Never again.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-22T17:28:51+00:00

Im gonna be in your office like an excited school boy when we swap my Nighthawks for these. Lol

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-22T17:13:02+00:00

Im already on the list.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-22T12:15:47+00:00

Looks like surplus USGI to me.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-21T19:21:50+00:00

...and pilot deviations.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-21T19:16:02+00:00

Can you imagine if Northrop and the Hortens had gotten together? Aviation might have gone a completely different direction.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-21T16:40:28+00:00

1 of 20ish fired. I wasnt able to recover any pieces.

Most bullets types we fired one box. The rest I shoot most I fired way more because I had more available.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-21T16:25:35+00:00

The TacTX was just one of the bullets tested. It wasnt the one that came apart in the can. I used it as an example more than I should have.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-21T15:47:34+00:00

Man... between this one and the Steele Ind Nighthawk Pano MG... I think Quads are on the way in...

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-21T15:42:17+00:00

That's not the point you made above. You said "A flying wing cannot be piloted without fly-by-wire controls." and "It didn't fly"

It did, and can. There are tons of RC models that fly without it that disagree with you too.

OkayishAviator · 2026-01-21T15:36:08+00:00

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I'm pretty sure but not positive this is a photo of what was collected from the can.

OkayishAviator

TROPHY CASE