Brightness
Brightness
LEDs are assigned a brightness value measured in millicandela units. The higher the millicandela (mcd) rating, the brighter the LED. From hundreds to thousands in rating, how bright the LED should be is based on what you’re lighting and what you can tolerate. Most of the LEDs, to be bright enough to see in the dark at a distance away (since you are going to be flying, after all) should be in the thousands of mcd rating. I’ve used smaller mcd LEDs in my helicopter blades, but I also don’t fly it very far away from me yet, so I may increase that later. Your mileage may vary here, it depends on your eyes and the distance you’re planning on flying away. If you’re going to go where no man has gone before, consider at least 6-8000 mcd LEDs.
A good note when launching any craft with LEDs that bright… Don’t look at the lights. You need to concentrate on the craft at a distance, not be blind while trying to adjust your eyes right after takeoff. :)
