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Landing Lights

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dfmoeller

Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 60
Location: Austin, TX

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject: Landing Lights

I hate to deflect the focus of the discussions here off of the accident/wing issue, but I have a silly question about the Zenith implementation of landing/taxi lights.  I hope someone can set me straight on this.



I have always been under the impression that the focus zone of landing vs. taxi lights is different and may also entail different power ratings.  I don't have them on my XL, but I'm curious about Zenith's implementation.



1.  The Zenith kit pricing page shows the same lamp with no special lens in front for each light.



2.  It appears from several schematics I've seen that the intent is not to drive them simultaneously.



So, what makes one a landing light and the other a taxi light?  And why not just have 1 light?  Exactly what is the operational usage of these lamps here?



Doug

chris Sinfield

Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 270
Location: Sydney Australia

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

On mine, I have one adjusted down towards the ground a little (taxi) and the other in line with the wing (landing) if one blows the other can be used either way..

Safety first.

Chris..

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

It all depends on where you aim it. The taxi light should be aimed so it illuminates the ground in front of you when you are taxiing. The landing light will be aimed so it shines down when at a noise high attitude.



You can get a rough idea by going to someone else's small plane and seeing where there landing light hits the ground and duplicate it.



 	  dfmoeller wrote: 	
		  I hate to deflect the focus of the discussions here off of the accident/wing issue, but I have a silly question about the Zenith implementation of landing/taxi lights.  I hope someone can set me straight on this.



I have always been under the impression that the focus zone of landing vs. taxi lights is different and may also entail different power ratings.  I don't have them on my XL, but I'm curious about Zenith's implementation.



1.  The Zenith kit pricing page shows the same lamp with no special lens in front for each light.



2.  It appears from several schematics I've seen that the intent is not to drive them simultaneously.



So, what makes one a landing light and the other a taxi light?  And why not just have 1 light?  Exactly what is the operational usage of these lamps here?



Doug

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

Tim Juhl

Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

My 68 Cessna 172 had two identical bulbs, just aimed differently as described by previous posts.   Later wing mounted Cessna landing lights used two different bulb types.....  in use I didn't see much difference.



Tim

_________________
______________
CFII
Champ L16A flying
Zodiac XL - Jabiru 3300A
Almost done! It'll fly in spring!

jetboy

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 233

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 12:37 am Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

I got the best results from a newer design QH lamp from Philips: called the masterline series, part 124508. This is a 12V, 8 degrees beam lamp at 45 watts which replaces the previous 75 watts type for same light output. So you can run two of these for less drain than the GE4509 thats used on most GA aircraft. My Cessna 150a had 2 in the wing, the taxi light tilted inwards and downwards and switched progressively from the single pull switch, thats more load than the generator could actually sustain.



I originally tried a wider beam, but the light was spread too thinly in this case. Observers have said the new light is noticably bright, during daylight approaches. Its on the left wing, used as a landing light, and  would be adequate as taxi light.

Ralph

_________________
Ralph - CH701 / 2200a

hansriet

Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 93

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 7:47 am Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

Has anyone built the landing light and taxi light as two separate units in each wing yet? (To accommodate a wig-wag installation).



What lights did you use? Which lamp holder?



Also there's a slightly different Aeroflash Strobe/Nav unit (Kit No. 156-0049) than the one ZAC is supplying. It has a white light on the backside. By mounting this strobe on the wingtips, you don't need the (rather ugly IMHO) rudder tail light. Does anybody have experience with that strobe? Will it fit on the XL wingtips?



Thanks,

Hans van Riet

dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 8:34 am Post subject: Landing Lights

Check out GS-Air.com at the link below. They offer an LED based strobe/position light combo package that does as you described.



Dred



https://ssl.perfora.net/gs-air.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1543ab024ee6dc8/shopdata/index.shopscript



---- hansriet <hansinla(at)mac.com> wrote: 

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Has anyone built the landing light and taxi light as two separate units in each wing yet? (To accommodate a wig-wag installation).

 

 What lights did you use? Which lamp holder?

 

 Also there's a slightly different Aeroflash Strobe/Nav unit (Kit No. 156-0049) than the one ZAC is supplying. It has a white light on the backside. By mounting this strobe on the wingtips, you don't need the (rather ugly IMHO) rudder tail light. Does anybody have experience with that strobe? Will it fit on the XL wingtips?

 

 Thanks,

 

 

 Hans van Riet

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject: Landing Lights

 	  Quote: 	
		   What lights did you use? Which lamp holder?


	


I'm just using 2 inch (MR-16) 75 watt halogen spot lights, one in each wing.

But this is just for day VFR so 99% of the time they will just be wig-wagged

for visibility. Occasionally I see using them for taxi lights at dusk or

dawn.



www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?RefId=1006&ID=10387



The mounting is just two spring-loaded plates clamping the lamps. The three

long, spring-loaded bolts allow the lamps to be aimed. I borrowed the idea

from Creative Air:



http://www.creativair.com/source/_inst/duckworks_landing_light_install.pdf



I've decided on (almost) no socket at all. The sockets for MR-16 (bi-pin)

are less then impressive. But the lamps will last a long time so I'll just

solder pig-tails to the lamps' pins, encapsulate the pin end of the lamp in

RTV to mechanically support the joints and use an in-line Molex plug/socket

for ease of replacement.



If you really want to see and be seen try these HID lights (yes, they say

they can be wig-wagged). But it will cost you $500-$1000:



www.creativair.com/landing-lights-p-91.html

www.xevision.com



-- Craig

Ron Lendon

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 685
Location: Clinton Twp., MI

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

Hans,



I am using the AeroFlash Nav-Strobe-Position Lights and plan on mounting them about 150mm behind the wing spar.  I hope to make the wingtip out of one piece of flat metal with a localized bubble to mount the light.  I just need to figure out what angle to make the bubble face so the light is at the correct position to give full coverage.

_________________
Ron Lendon
WW Corvair with Roy's Garage 5th bearing
CH 601 XLB
N601LT - Flying
http://www.mykitlog.com/rlendon
Corvair Engine Prints:
https://sites.google.com/site/corvairenginedata/

dfmoeller

Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 60
Location: Austin, TX

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 4:37 am Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

These nav/pos/strobe combo units are installed on my XL.  They work quite nicely.  Given the XL's inherent tail heaviness, any way to keep weight forward helps, even just wire and bulb assembly weight.  The fit looks like the wingtips were made for this light assembly.  Since I purchased my plane from the builder, I'm not sure how these managed to get installed, but I certainly recommend these over the 3 piece models.



Doug

 	  hansriet wrote: 	
		  



Also there's a slightly different Aeroflash Strobe/Nav unit (Kit No. 156-0049) than the one ZAC is supplying. It has a white light on the backside. By mounting this strobe on the wingtips, you don't need the (rather ugly IMHO) rudder tail light. Does anybody have experience with that strobe? Will it fit on the XL wingtips?



Thanks,

Hans van Riet

dfmoeller

Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 60
Location: Austin, TX

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 5:09 am Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

Thanks to all for the clarifications.  I clearly see the distinction now.  It should have been obvious in the first place.



Thats what I love about this list.  Even silly/stupid questions get patient answers.



Now, back to the bickering about wing flex!



Doug

goodings(at)yorku.ca
Guest

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:30 am Post subject: Landing Lights

Our CH601HD has two 45-watt lights in variable screw mounts behind 1 mm

polycarbonate lenses, one in each wingtip.  One is set to illuminate about

100 feet ahead (nominal taxi light), the other about 200 feet ahead

(nominal landing light).  We can operate with one or other or both.  We

alternate them, keeping one on all the time - Chris Heintz and an airliner

captain friend both told me they believe birds see the light before the

plane.  Also, the one time the aircraft landed a bit late at dusk, they

were useful.



John Goodings, C-FGPJ, CH601HD with R912S, Toronto/Ottawa/Waterloo.

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 8:34 am Post subject: Re: Landing Lights

John, when you say the landing light is aiming 200 feet ahead, do you mean when the aircraft is at rest? 



 	  goodings(at)yorku.ca wrote: 	
		  Our CH601HD has two 45-watt lights in variable screw mounts behind 1 mm

polycarbonate lenses, one in each wingtip.  One is set to illuminate about

100 feet ahead (nominal taxi light), the other about 200 feet ahead

(nominal landing light).  We can operate with one or other or both.  We

alternate them, keeping one on all the time - Chris Heintz and an airliner

captain friend both told me they believe birds see the light before the

plane.  Also, the one time the aircraft landed a bit late at dusk, they

were useful.



John Goodings, C-FGPJ, CH601HD with R912S, Toronto/Ottawa/Waterloo.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

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