What does REC mean on the switch?

[Jose]

So now we have a split landing light switch, because we have lights on
the wings too. The nose light switch says LDG which is easy enough to
decipher. The other, which controls the two forward-looking
landing-type lights on the wing tips, says REC.

Well, I'm as dumb as the next one, but if I know what the switch does, I
should be able to decypher the label.

"Reconnaissance"? (lighting up the sky looking for stray F16s)
"Record"? (imagining an Ipod in each lamp)
"Recollect"? (what you do when you stop forgetting what it stands for)
"Recover"? (turn them on if you get into an unusual attitude)

Surely it's not just whatever they had around - the label probably has
to be FAA approved, and I saw the same switch in a Sporty's video anyway.

What says the combined wisdom of the group?

Jose
--
The price of freedom is... well... freedom.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Jose" > wrote in message
...
>
> So now we have a split landing light switch, because we have lights on the
> wings too. The nose light switch says LDG which is easy enough to
> decipher. The other, which controls the two forward-looking landing-type
> lights on the wing tips, says REC.
>
> Well, I'm as dumb as the next one, but if I know what the switch does, I
> should be able to decypher the label.
>
> "Reconnaissance"? (lighting up the sky looking for stray F16s)
> "Record"? (imagining an Ipod in each lamp)
> "Recollect"? (what you do when you stop forgetting what it stands for)
> "Recover"? (turn them on if you get into an unusual attitude)
>
> Surely it's not just whatever they had around - the label probably has to
> be FAA approved, and I saw the same switch in a Sporty's video anyway.
>
> What says the combined wisdom of the group?
>

In-flight use as RECognition lights.

[Larry Dighera]

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 13:05:26 GMT, Jose >
wrote in >::

>So now we have a split landing light switch, because we have lights on
>the wings too. The nose light switch says LDG which is easy enough to
>decipher. The other, which controls the two forward-looking
>landing-type lights on the wing tips, says REC.
>
>Well, I'm as dumb as the next one, but if I know what the switch does, I
>should be able to decypher the label.
>
>"Reconnaissance"? (lighting up the sky looking for stray F16s)
>"Record"? (imagining an Ipod in each lamp)
>"Recollect"? (what you do when you stop forgetting what it stands for)
>"Recover"? (turn them on if you get into an unusual attitude)
>

Well, 'REC' could stand for 'reconnoiter as when making a forced
landing on a moonless night in inhospitable terrain. Of course you'd
want to turn it off if you didn't like what you saw. :-) Or, 'REC'
may refer to 'recognition' if used during daytime to add conspicuity.

[Jose]

Ok, "recognition" makes sense for daytime visibility. The lights are
non-filament, so I'm not averse to using them all the time. (I wonder
why more landing lights are not like that)

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain."
(chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Larry Dighera]

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 13:55:02 GMT, Jose >
wrote in >::

>Ok, "recognition" makes sense for daytime visibility. The lights are
>non-filament, so I'm not averse to using them all the time. (I wonder
>why more landing lights are not like that)
>

What type of lamps do you have.

If they are halogen lamps, they have only recently been developed for
automotive use, and do require a transformer for operation, so weight
may be a consideration.

Quartz lamps do have a filament, but are rated to last significantly
longer than regular tungsten filament lamps in aviation applications.
There's some information about them here:
http://www.google.dk/groups?selm=S1K37.8089%24M9.2878177%40typhoon.we.r r.com&output=gplain

[Jose]

> What type of lamps do you have.

I'm not sure, but they seem to be like those newfangled purplish lamps
new cars are farded with - resembling a florescent or other gas
discharge something-or-other (you can see how technically inclined I
am!). I'll check and get back to you.

I always though of halogen lamps as ordinary filament lamps filled with
a halogen gas that lets them burn brighter, last longer, or something,
but the filament produced the light. In my case the light does not
appear to come from a filament.

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain."
(chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Larry Dighera]

On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 15:48:24 GMT, Jose >
wrote in >::

>I always though of halogen lamps as ordinary filament lamps filled with
>a halogen gas that lets them burn brighter, last longer, or something,
>but the filament produced the light.

Yeah, I think you're right about that. Perhaps I was thinking of HID
lamps: http://www.extreme-exposure.com/hid/faq-data.shtml
http://www.autoplusuae.com/products/kdg/index.shtml
HID System components
(1) BULB : - The Xenon Gas and mercury Metal Halide Salts existing
inside the light emitting tube causes the molybdenum electrodes on
both sides to plasma discharge and create energy, which in turn
produces light.

[Morgans]

"Jose" > wrote in message news:W8Xqe.23

>The lights are
> non-filament, so I'm not averse to using them all the time.

What type of lights are they?
--
Jim in NC

[Jose]

> Perhaps I was thinking of HID lamps:

Yep, that's what we have. They are labeled REC, which I now know to be
"recognition" lights for use even in cruise. No filament, so they last
lots longer (filaments burn out all the time!)

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain."
(chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Morgans]

"Jose" > wrote in message
...
> > Perhaps I was thinking of HID lamps:
>
> Yep, that's what we have. They are labeled REC, which I now know to be
> "recognition" lights for use even in cruise. No filament, so they last
> lots longer (filaments burn out all the time!)
>
> Jose

Do they alternate from side to side, or just stay on constant?
--
Jim in NC

[Jose]

> Do they alternate from side to side, or just stay on constant?

The lights stay on constantly, pointing forward like a landing light.
The split switch's other half is the landing light.

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain."
(chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.