Lighting

[Screw]

Screw-In

I've been to Pep Boys a few times here recently and found several less expensive ways to light aircraft. Most Pep Boys do not carry in stock Green neon, but it can be ordered.

What I'd like to know is minimum FAA requirements for lighting for VFR nightime operations. I know I need red and green markers on the sides of the aircraft. A landing light, but what about strobes and flashers?

Can anyone help?

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[pwendell]

John,

See: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=bc85912aa74ea0bdfbb8df949adc9586&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.3.10.3.7.3&idno=14

It looks you will need position (Nav) and anti-collision (strobe) lights. A landing light is not required.

[KenSandyEggo]

John, don't forget that you'll also need a white tail-light. A flasher is a lot less expensive than a strobe, even the one made by Whelen and TSO approved. I wouldn't fudge on that. You want to be seen and to have the light be reliable. I believe the Whelen flasher is under $100. The nav-lites are a rip. I have a model that Whelen introduced a couple years ago and never really marketed. I don't know why, as it's way better looking than the ancient tear-drop shaped ones. I crunched one and the replacement is $137 plus tax plus shipping. Ugh.

You can fashion a great landing light from Manny, Moe and Jack also with a good headlamp or off-road light. Add a $2.00 switch and a heavy duty turn-signal flasher for about $6 and you have the equivalent of the flashing systems that sell for around $200. The flashing landing light, either night or day, really gives you an element of visibility like no other light....at least to the front.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Thanks guys, but I guess what I'm asking is:

1. My nav lights will be constant red and green neon. It's iether on or off no flashing. Is this OK?

2. Where do I mount a flasher and what color should it be red, or white, or one of each?

3. Ken, how is your set up?

Use the below pic if it'll help.

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[Screw]

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Ken J, when I ask you a question, I expect an Answer! :D I know I'm not worthy of polishing your blades but come on! :D

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[rgraffeo]

Screw,
This is the strobe light I use, I removed the magnet to bolt it to the keel. I couldn't locate a good place on the top side so mounted it on the keel. White is the best color for night.
You may be able to mount one on the top & bottom.


http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/showCustom-0/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2003481/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2003481/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=strobe%20light

[KenSandyEggo]

I WORKED TODAY! 12 HOURS!! 8 A.M until 8 P.M.!! What do you want to know? Wait a minute while I scroll up and read your babblings......O.K., I'm back. Nav-lites usually don't flash, but they can legally flash. A lot of the military fighters have this feature. I see their nav-lites flashing while doing touch & goes at Miramar, which is nearby.

Flashers or strobes can be red or white, or half & half. One on top and one on the bottom is usually the best for overall visibility. I have a red strobe on the top of my cabin which alternates flashes with a white one on the belly of my cabin. I used to have a tail-strobe/tail-light combo, but now just have the white tail-light.

If you decide on the 20 buck strobe, use only white. Red cuts the intensity of any strobe greatly. If you're going to be flying at night, I'd rather get Whelen's TSOd flasher.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Thanks guys. That's what I needed to know.

Ken, I thought you were too old to work those hours. Thanks for getting back to me. :D

screw-Out

[KenSandyEggo]

Whelen's flasher is actually a little over a hundred bucks.

[KenSandyEggo]

Whelen's flasher is actually a little over a hundred bucks. Speaking of parts, I would recommend perusing both Spruce's and Chief's catalogues before you buy anything. Each is much, much lower on price than the other one for numerous varying items. A VAL radio is over $200 less at Chief, yet the Becker cost for a Comm radio and transponder is hundreds less at Spruce. Most parts are just a couple bucks apart, but it pays to check out both first. I now keep both catalogues in the basket in the bathroom, right below my Citation Jet and Mercedes catalogues.

[scottessex]

Hey Screw, check out what I found in the aviation dept of Jc Whitney!!

http://www.downloadfreetrial.com/automotive/pilot-flashing-led-antennastyle-lights-3.html

[KenSandyEggo]

Don't forget that on almost any boat light or Whitney light, you'll have to mask a part of them so that the red and green are only visible from the front and side, not the rear. I once looked at boat running lights, but boat s**t is as expensive as aircraft s**t.

[rehler]

Ken, I called J C Whitney to check on these. Did you really order two dozen of them for your gyro?

[KenSandyEggo]

No, other Ken. I couldn't find my "duck-tape" to mask them off, so I popped for the real things and cancelled the order for the 2 dozen lights.