I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
daylight.
Lou

I don't generally fly at night, but have lights. I turn on the
flashers occasionally near airports to be seen. Sometimes on cross
countries (to OSH for example) I will take off before dawn to beat the
afternoon thermals and need the lights. Better to be prepared. Xponder
is also a "must" for any serious vfr flying.


On Aug 16, 9:44 pm, Lou > wrote:
> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.
> Lou

On Aug 16, 9:20*pm, wrote:
> I don't generally fly at night, but have lights. I turn on the
> flashers occasionally near airports to be seen. Sometimes on cross
> countries (to OSH for example) I will take off before dawn to beat the
> afternoon thermals and need the lights. Better to be prepared. Xponder
> is also a "must" for any serious vfr flying.
>
> On Aug 16, 9:44 pm, Lou > wrote:
>
>
>
> > I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> > and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> > However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> > install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> > daylight.
> > * * * * * *Lou- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I vote for lights...

Ben

wrote:
> I don't generally fly at night, but have lights. I turn on the
> flashers occasionally near airports to be seen. Sometimes on cross
> countries (to OSH for example) I will take off before dawn to beat the
> afternoon thermals and need the lights. Better to be prepared. Xponder
> is also a "must" for any serious vfr flying.
>
>
> On Aug 16, 9:44 pm, Lou > wrote:
>> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
>> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
>> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
>> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
>> daylight.
>> Lou
>
>

There's always plan A, subpart 1(b), change 5, also known as keeping
one's options open: install wiring and any widgets that will be
difficult to access later. This way you can always add lighting later.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Lou schreef:
> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.
> Lou

From a not-yet-building student pilot:
navigation lights are only really useful at night,
but flashing strobes are a real plus for safety.
As Dan said, you could at least install the wiring.

In article >,
jan olieslagers > wrote:

> Lou schreef:
> > I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> > and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> > However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> > install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> > daylight.
> > Lou
>
> From a not-yet-building student pilot:
> navigation lights are only really useful at night,
> but flashing strobes are a real plus for safety.
> As Dan said, you could at least install the wiring.

A landing light can make it easier for others to see you, especially in
reduced visibility.

"Lou" > wrote in message
...
> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.


In a heartbeat. You never know if you got a late start , and want to go
anyway, and run into a headwind and have to stop for gas, and need to run on
into the first darkness into your own airport that you are really familiar
with, and it is a severe clear, full moon night, and......

You get the idea. You also might want to sell it, and not having lights
might screw a good buyer into not paying everything you want for it.

Plus, the landing lights and strobes are great for flying into high density
airports, like Oshkosh or Fun n' Sun.

If these all don't convince you, at least run the wires, so you will not
have to go through that headache, if you or someone else changes your mind
for you. <g>
--
Jim in NC

Lou wrote:

> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.
> Lou


i'd also keep my options.

if you dont know yet what you might install a couple years later, you might
consider using some sort of cable duct instead. so you can easily install
or change any wiring (just for lights, or lights and strobes...) later.


uli

"Uli" > wrote

> i'd also keep my options.
>
> if you dont know yet what you might install a couple years later, you
> might
> consider using some sort of cable duct instead. so you can easily install
> or change any wiring (just for lights, or lights and strobes...) later.

Good choice, but if there will be wiring at a later point anyway, one that
would end up with a bit of extra weight..

Probably not enough to count for much, and it does make future changes much
easier. Very possibly the best way to go.
--
Jim in NC

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:56:57 -0400, "Morgans"
> wrote:

>
>"Uli" > wrote
>
>> i'd also keep my options.
>>
>> if you dont know yet what you might install a couple years later, you
>> might
>> consider using some sort of cable duct instead. so you can easily install
>> or change any wiring (just for lights, or lights and strobes...) later.
>
> Good choice, but if there will be wiring at a later point anyway, one that
>would end up with a bit of extra weight..
>
>Probably not enough to count for much, and it does make future changes much
>easier. Very possibly the best way to go.

I'm with Uli.
my 25 year old aircraft has 25 year old wiring in the wings "just in
case"
If I ever wanted to use it it would need replacing.
a light weight straight run cable duct with a loop of light builders
twine from end to end would have been a better option.

lacing the wiring and the pitot tubing to every rib just hasnt proven
to be the best option.(it took 2 months to replace the pitot tubing)

Stealth Pilot

Stealth Pilot wrote:

> If I ever wanted to use it it would need replacing.
> a light weight straight run cable duct with a loop of light builders
> twine from end to end would have been a better option.
>
> lacing the wiring and the pitot tubing to every rib just hasnt proven
> to be the best option.(it took 2 months to replace the pitot tubing)
>
> Stealth Pilot

For light weight, go with "wiring loom". It's cheap, extremely light,
and designed to surround and protect wiring. Running wires down it
blind is not easy. The wire ends want to catch on the ribs. Solve that
by screwing on a small wire-nut (or make sure you have the twine, as
Stealth suggests).

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:43:01 -0400, Ernest Christley >
wrote:

> Stealth Pilot wrote:
>
> > If I ever wanted to use it it would need replacing.
> > a light weight straight run cable duct with a loop of light builders
> > twine from end to end would have been a better option.
> >
> > lacing the wiring and the pitot tubing to every rib just hasnt proven
> > to be the best option.(it took 2 months to replace the pitot tubing)
> >
>
> For light weight, go with "wiring loom". It's cheap, extremely light,
> and designed to surround and protect wiring. Running wires down it
> blind is not easy. The wire ends want to catch on the ribs. Solve that
> by screwing on a small wire-nut (or make sure you have the twine, as
> Stealth suggests).

Another option I read about, years ago, was to take a piece of mylar and roll it
into a tube. Slide it into the wing, and it'll uncoil as far as it can for the
largest possible cableway for later use.

Ron Wanttaja

In article
>,
Lou > wrote:

> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.
> Lou

I vote for at least installing the wiring for the lights. You can buy
inexpensive, rigid plastic tubing in various diameters. I would
recommend 3/4" to 1", secure it to the ribs, etc. You can then run the
wiring through the tubing when you wish.

--
Remove _'s from email address to talk to me.

Ask your wife.

{;-)

Jim

--
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought
without accepting it."
--Aristotle


"Lou" > wrote in message
...
> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.
> Lou

"RST Engineering" > wrote in message
m...
> Ask your wife.
>
> {;-)
>
> Jim
>
> --
> "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought
> without accepting it."
> --Aristotle
>

Reminds me of a good funny I saw in a tire shop last week.


"If a man makes a statement in the forest, and no woman is there to hear
him, is he still wrong?"

"Maxwell" <luv2^fly99@cox.^net> wrote in message
...
>
> "RST Engineering" > wrote in message
> m...
>> Ask your wife.
>>
>> {;-)
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> --
>> "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought
>> without accepting it."
>> --Aristotle
>>
>
> Reminds me of a good funny I saw in a tire shop last week.
>
>
> "If a man makes a statement in the forest, and no woman is there to hear
> him, is he still wrong?"

What is the gender of the trees within hearing distance?

These are some great ideas.
Lou

"Lou" > wrote in message news:9d88ca6a-1183-4909-9ea2-
....
> These are some great ideas.

A bunch of people putting their heads together can be a very good thing.

Like my dad used to say, two heads are better than one, even if one is a
blockhead, and I'm not saying who! <g>

If I heard that once, I heard it a hundred times. What I wouldn't give to
hear it again. :-(
--
Jim in NC

Lou wrote:
> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.
> Lou

Install the lights.

>
> If I heard that once, I heard it a hundred times. What I wouldn't give to
> hear it again. :-(


Fellow grows up in New England and has a real taste for a fish delicacy
called "scrod" (a type of codfish only found in NE waters).

He gets sent to the midwestern headquarters and after a year or so gets
called back to the New York office for a meeting. Drooling at the thought,
he hops into a JFK cab and asks the cabbie if he knew where he could get
scrod.

The cabbie turns around and says, "Buddy, I've hoid dat question ten
t'ousand times, but dat's the FOIST time I've ever hoid it in de plupoifict
subjunctive."

Jim

RST Engineering wrote:
>> If I heard that once, I heard it a hundred times. What I wouldn't give to
>> hear it again. :-(
>
>
> Fellow grows up in New England and has a real taste for a fish delicacy
> called "scrod" (a type of codfish only found in NE waters).
>
> He gets sent to the midwestern headquarters and after a year or so gets
> called back to the New York office for a meeting. Drooling at the thought,
> he hops into a JFK cab and asks the cabbie if he knew where he could get
> scrod.
>
> The cabbie turns around and says, "Buddy, I've hoid dat question ten
> t'ousand times, but dat's the FOIST time I've ever hoid it in de plupoifict
> subjunctive."
>
> Jim
>
>

Um, Jim? Even for you that's a new low. May all your fleas have
camels. Get thee hence and do penance at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

On Aug 16, 7:44 pm, Lou > wrote:
> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
> daylight.
>------------------------------------------------------------------

I would not install lights... But I WOULD install ultra-bright LED's.

-R.S.Hoover

wrote:
> On Aug 16, 7:44 pm, Lou > wrote:
>> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
>> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
>> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
>> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
>> daylight.
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I would not install lights... But I WOULD install ultra-bright LED's.
>
> -R.S.Hoover
>


In my day we didn't have LEDs, we had candles...and we LIKED it.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

schreef:
> On Aug 16, 7:44 pm, Lou > wrote:
>> I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
>> and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
>> However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
>> install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
>> daylight.
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I would not install lights... But I WOULD install ultra-bright LED's.

Can't see your point, Mr. Hoover. LED's are Light Emitting Diodes so
they do qualify as lights, I should think? Mind you there was no mention
of installing lamps or bulbs or whatsoever.
Or am I again linguistically handicapped? Poor me...

But once you go for LED's, bright is the way to go, and ultra-bright is
better and the day they have hyper-bright we'll want those.
Come to think of it, LED's are just like pilots and tower controllers
and instructors and whoever else: the brighter the better!

KA

Given the odds of being caught aloft after local sundown, there is a
clear-cut need for navigation lights. But the cost and current-drain
of traditional nav lights makes them a luxury for anyone building on
the cheap. Which is why I developed the circuit boards and etching
procedures that allows the use of inexpensive high-output LED's.

I don't recall when the procedure was posted but it works quite well.

The follow-on procedure, which has not been posted, shows how to
assemble the strobe light offered by Great Plains Aircraft.

The point here is that when fabricating a new airframe, the effort &
material needed to include nav-light wiring is such a pittance
compared to the whole that it's difficult to NOT justify its
inclusion.

-R.S.Hoover

"jan olieslagers" > wrote

> But once you go for LED's, bright is the way to go, and ultra-bright is
> better and the day they have hyper-bright we'll want those.
> Come to think of it, LED's are just like pilots and tower controllers
> and instructors and whoever else: the brighter the better!

There was a link floating around for a new combination position light and
anti collision flasher using only LEDs.

It was just approved as a STC for use on planes in the C-141 size, and had
400 candela. That's some bright sum-a-beach LEDs, ya think?

Here's a link:
http://www.emteq.com/led400cd/index.html

Of course, these are probably a "bit" more expensive than would probably be
used on a homebuilt, but it does show what is possible for LEDs, today.
--
Jim in NC

I guess I'm putting in the lights.
Lou

On Aug 18, 4:24 pm, "Morgans" > wrote:

> Of course, these are probably a "bit" more expensive than would probably be
> used on a homebuilt, but it does show what is possible for LEDs, today.
> --
> Jim in NC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The red and green masks are in the Chugger archives but I can't find
the white nor the strobe.

At that time, green LED's were the most expensive, requiring about $20
worth of green LED's per unit. Given Moore's Law and the fact I
posted the masks in 2006, the price has probably dropped
dramatically. The least-cost option, then as well as now, is to
flash a signal lamp through a green lens.

-R.S.Hoover

On Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:44:28 -0700 (PDT), Lou >
wrote:

>I'm getting close to covering my wings. I don't currently fly at night
>and could even say that I have no intention on flying at night.
>However I had no intention on getting married either. Would anyone
>install lights anyway or just limit yourself to flying in the
>daylight.
> Lou

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Although I never intended to get married or have kids or assume the
risk of single engine night flight ever again..... it makes a heap of
sense to install lights while it's a piece of cake to do so. If you
are at all like me, [perish the thought], there will be times that
getting home late in the evening may require them just to be legal....
not to mention the value they add should you ever care to sell your
pride and joy.

- Barnyard BOb -
54 years of licensed flight

The more people I meet,
the more I like my dog
and George Carlin humor.

Ok, while we are on the subject. Would you also install landing
lights?
If so, what is recommended? Remember this is experimental so I'm
thinking
of rectangular headlight types for expense and ease of installation.
Lou

Lou schreef:
>
> Ok, while we are on the subject. Would you also install landing
> lights?
> If so, what is recommended? Remember this is experimental so I'm
> thinking
> of rectangular headlight types for expense and ease of installation.

Still from a slow student pilot, not yet building:

Landing lights are a slightly different matter,
given their much higher power draw.
IMHO their prime value is in being seen rather than in seeing;
(I've known tower controllers to request them)
but for being seen strobes are a better option.
They use less power and they're visible all around.

So my newbie's idea would be to begin with flashing strobes,
and if you still want more prime time you might add
the landing lights - if you have sufficient electrical power.

One factor I can't estimate (not knowing under what flag you fly)
is legal requirements for certain types of flight
which you might wish to make sooner or later.
Or if you don't wish to, perhaps the next owner.

Again, this is only two (euro)cent's worth!
KA

In article
>,
Lou > wrote:

> Ok, while we are on the subject. Would you also install landing
> lights?
> If so, what is recommended? Remember this is experimental so I'm
> thinking
> of rectangular headlight types for expense and ease of installation.
> Lou

Why not get one of the new LED landing lights?
Money upfront, but you probably will never buy another to replace it.

"Lou" > wrote in message
...
>Would you also install landing lights?

To me, landing lights are a basic safety item, even though I seldom fly at
night. I have them turned on when I fly through heavy traffic areas, or in the
pattern, or when I see an oncoming plane that may not yet have seen me.

If you only fly out in the boonies, perhaps they are not so important.

Vaughn

Lou wrote:

>
>
> Ok, while we are on the subject. Would you also install landing
> lights?


well, it depends...

do you install lights now or just prepare the airplane for a later
installation? installing lights without installing a landing light would be
like stopping after half of the way.

another aspekt is where would it be located? if in the nose of the wing,
you'd probably have to do some structural changes, and you should implement
those before getting the airplane flying. if at some place in the cowling,
then preparation for a later installation might not be necessary.

what's the purpose of the landing light? if you use airfields with low
intensity lighting, the landing light should enable you to see the runway a
few seconds before touchdown. if it's just to be seen: strobes are ok for
flying at night, but when flying at twilight, a good landing light is a
nice thing. here i prefer flashing landing lights (doing something like one
blink per second) -- you see them much better than steady ones! to enhance
the effect, put one in each wingtip and make them blink alternately.

not too many answers, but some aspects one might consider.


uli