Wingtip landing lights?

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RV7A
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Wingtip landing lights?

Post by RV7A »

Hi all,

I'm open to suggestions for landing lights on an RV-7A. I would like the lights in the wingtips instead of on the leading edge of the wing.

Never say never, but I never fly single engine at night...so...the lights are more for visibility in the pattern during the day than for seeing where I'm going after dark.

I noticed a lot of RV's at Oshkosh with a 2.5" (about) round landing light mounted in the wingtip right by the nav lights.

Any idea who makes these lights? I believe they were LED's.

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bullojm1
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Post by bullojm1 »

A majority of the 2.5" lights are either halogen or HID. Duckworks sells both varieties. I am working on retrofitting my installation for LED's now. Stay tuned and I'll let you know how they turn out.....and their cheap!
Mike Bullock
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Post by RV7A »

Are you making your own, or did you buy LED's?

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hydroguy2
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Post by hydroguy2 »

I have MR16 75W halogen in the tips. I have no idea how well they work at night.
Image

I do not fly at night so only have them to be legal and for recognition during dawn/dusk. I might upgrade them to a 55W HID or a new LED at some point.
Brian
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Post by RV7A »

Wow I was just looking at the Duckworks new LED lights. Those look like they would be perfect. Then I'm thinking I could add the AeroLED's nav/strobes to complete it. They are thin adn small and should also fit in the wingtip lense.

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Me too

Post by DaAV8R »

I'll be watching this thread as I want to do the same thing. Vans sells a kit for 2 small round lights in the tip. As I am building a taildragger, I'm thinking I would try to stuff two lights in each tip, one set pointed down for taxi and one set pointed more forward for landing.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I installed the tips but skipped the lights as I didn't know what I wanted to do.

Robert

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hydroguy2
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Post by hydroguy2 »

just get the single lights in each tip. Then point one side down for taxi and the other side for landing.
Brian
Townsend, MT

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leffler
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Post by leffler »

Not a help to the OP, since there is only a RV-10 version today, but this may give you some ideas. This is the new cowl light from Aerosport Products that Geoff showed off at Oshkosh

Image

http://aerosportproducts.com/
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Post by RV7A »

Wow NICE! Will look into that.

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Post by Vlad »

leffler wrote:Not a help to the OP, since there is only a RV-10 version today, but this may give you some ideas. This is the new cowl light from Aerosport Products that Geoff showed off at Oshkosh

Image

http://aerosportproducts.com/

I am waiting for these.
RV-9A N666BK flying 4,500+ hours since 2011

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Post by captain_john »

Yah!

That is slicker 'an snot!

I have leading edges cut out and am planning LED's of some type.

Not sure if I would put a THIRD eye on the cowl but it is cool!

Sometimes too much IS too much.

Sufficient overkill is a good place to be I suppose? One's definition of sufficient is personal.

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Post by Spike »

That is sweet!
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Post by Doakes »

I put the Kuntzman 3 inch landing light in my wing tips. I installed them like Brian's. I do not know who well they work as I am still in the building stage.
But getting closer.
Dave

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landing light

Post by timotb »

.
Image




I'm struggling with wing tip landing lights at the moment for my RV7. Wont do leading edge lights. I like the way this guy above did his. Also see: http://www.704ch.com/2010/04/wing-tip-lights.html

I Want to use 2" LED or MR16 75 watt spots. The secure mounting of the light has me puzzled. Is this a custom or modified mount? How do you adjust up/down left/right? Love to see behind both examples.

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hydroguy2
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Post by hydroguy2 »

I don't have any pictures of the mount. But it is a really simple set up. There are a coule of rings which hold the lamp, then 3 long screws with springs to adjust the angle. I think the RV 10 kit is the same way.

These are the set up I used. You can kind of see how it's put together.
http://www.killacycle.com/Lights.htm
Brian
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Post by timotb »

I looked at what duckworks sells. I like the idea of small powerful LED in the tips. Was disappointed with the mounting method. Sounds like you super glue a cylinder housing in place, check your aim then fiberglass it down permanent. Not much room for later adjustments.

I'm moving back to my orignal idea of using simple MR16 75 watt spots which I already have. Mounting is the concern. Vans has a kit for $125 which might do the job. ( Vans item # LL 7/8 MR-16) http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/sto ... uct=ll_7-8

Killacycle mentioned above has a nice set up. I already haveLED nav lights and just want a mounting method for the light.. I think vans is the way to go at this point.

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Post by timotb »

I looked at what duckworks sells. I like the idea of small powerful LED in the tips. Was disappointed with the mounting method. Sounds like you super glue a cylinder housing in place, check your aim then fiberglass it down permanent. Not much room for later adjustments.

I'm moving back to my orignal idea of using simple MR16 75 watt spots which I already have. Mounting is the concern. Vans has a kit for $125 which might do the job. ( Vans item # LL 7/8 MR-16) http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/sto ... uct=ll_7-8

Killacycle mentioned above has a nice set up.... but, already have LED nav lights and just want a mounting method for the light.. I think vans is the way to go at this point as there is an adjustment method.

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Vertical Power VPX cant power up four MR16 bulbs

Post by timotb »

I am using the Vans duel bulb 75 watt MR16 Halogen in each tip for my RV7. The problem is the Vertical Power VPX cant power up 4 bulbs at once coming from two circuits without faulting. It can do two bulbs, one per circuit. I'm disappointed with Vertical Power because of this limitation.

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Re: Vertical Power VPX cant power up four MR16 bulbs

Post by captain_john »

timotb wrote:I am using the Vans duel bulb 75 watt MR16 Halogen in each tip for my RV7. The problem is the Vertical Power VPX cant power up 4 bulbs at once coming from two circuits without faulting. It can do two bulbs, one per circuit. I'm disappointed with Vertical Power because of this limitation.
Hmmmm, how about using some relays? There HAS to be a workaround.

The VP stuff is incredible!

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Post by timotb »

I'm not skilled at using relays. How and where would you place the relays? I would love to suggest something to the VP person.

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