Can I fly it at night?

"Jim Macklin" wrote in news:l%
Tuf.40406$QW2.18045@dukeread08:

See an aircraft mechanic who will ...
install a legal anti-collision light (LED strobe uses the
least power)
fabricate a proper battery box for a battery,
perhaps install a voltmeter,
fabricate an electrical bus, circuit breaker and switch,
perhaps an external power connection for charging,
do the weight and balance and update the paperwork and
aircraft logs.

The airplane may have had an external wind-driven generator
originally, you could restore that with a modern alternator
at the cost of a 1 or 2 mph.




But with a "modern alternator" you now have an engine driven electrical
system, and all of the requirements that go along with it...
(transponder within mode c veil).

I would do the battery thing and/or investigate the wind generator.

--
-- ET :-)

"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams

You can drive the alternator with a propeller just like the
old generator, it just makes power with less drag. I'd use
a self-exciting alternator that would not need to battery,
that would make it fully redundant. A standard automotive
alternator requires a battery to energize the rotor, the
aircraft types used by Beech, have small magnets and will
build a current as soon as they begin rotation and will have
DC output even with the battery turned off.

Not all aircraft manufacturers use such self-exciting
alternators because they cost a little more.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"ET" wrote in message
...
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
in news:l%
| Tuf.40406$QW2.18045@dukeread08:
|
| See an aircraft mechanic who will ...
| install a legal anti-collision light (LED strobe uses
the
| least power)
| fabricate a proper battery box for a battery,
| perhaps install a voltmeter,
| fabricate an electrical bus, circuit breaker and switch,
| perhaps an external power connection for charging,
| do the weight and balance and update the paperwork and
| aircraft logs.
|
| The airplane may have had an external wind-driven
generator
| originally, you could restore that with a modern
alternator
| at the cost of a 1 or 2 mph.
|
|
|
|
| But with a "modern alternator" you now have an engine
driven electrical
| system, and all of the requirements that go along with
it...
| (transponder within mode c veil).
|
| I would do the battery thing and/or investigate the wind
generator.
|
| --
| -- ET :-)
|
| "A common mistake people make when trying to design
something
| completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of
complete
| fools."---- Douglas Adams

"Jim Macklin" wrote

You can drive the alternator with a propeller just like the
old generator, it just makes power with less drag.

You do need to use a special propeller, that is designed for converting
thrust into power, instead of power into thrust. The more curved surface
needs to be on the backside of the airstream, unlike a regular prop.

For a generator, you can use a 12 volt motor with magnets in it, and a
voltage regulator added to it.
--
Jim in NC

True, but a modern alternator will produce power at lower
rpm which means less drag. Also it should have lower frontal
area and internal cooling drag. Alternators don't need
heavy cast iron housings and w/o a commutator, should be
electrically quieter.

Ag planes often use a wind driven pump, so getting a proper
prop isn't difficult, just tell the prop shop how many watts
and what a/s, etc.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"Morgans" wrote in message
...
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
|
| You can drive the alternator with a propeller just like
the
| old generator, it just makes power with less drag.
|
| You do need to use a special propeller, that is designed
for converting
| thrust into power, instead of power into thrust. The more
curved surface
| needs to be on the backside of the airstream, unlike a
regular prop.
|
| For a generator, you can use a 12 volt motor with magnets
in it, and a
| voltage regulator added to it.
| --
| Jim in NC
|
|

"Jim Macklin" wrote in message
news:zoXuf.40449$QW2.13845@dukeread08...

You can drive the alternator with a propeller just like the
old generator, it just makes power with less drag.


Maybe you can, maybe you can't. This is a certificated airplane, not a
homebuilt.

Field approval. No doubt there is an approved wind
generator from the 1940s. The conversion should be a simple
matter, even on a certificated airplane.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in
message
nk.net...
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote
in message
| news:zoXuf.40449$QW2.13845@dukeread08...
|
| You can drive the alternator with a propeller just like
the
| old generator, it just makes power with less drag.
|
|
| Maybe you can, maybe you can't. This is a certificated
airplane, not a
| homebuilt.
|
|

Crap, your right! When I had the Chief I used the transponder exemption
all the time. We used to fly around the SF Bay area (inside the mode C
veil) since we were exempt. We could also fly around Sac Intl. I once
landed a Champ at Sacramento Intl (class C) using the same transponder
exemption (had to give 1 hr notice though).

-Robert

"ET" wrote in message
...
"Jim Macklin" wrote in news:l%
Tuf.40406$QW2.18045@dukeread08:

See an aircraft mechanic who will ...
install a legal anti-collision light (LED strobe uses the
least power)
fabricate a proper battery box for a battery,
perhaps install a voltmeter,
fabricate an electrical bus, circuit breaker and switch,
perhaps an external power connection for charging,
do the weight and balance and update the paperwork and
aircraft logs.

The airplane may have had an external wind-driven generator
originally, you could restore that with a modern alternator
at the cost of a 1 or 2 mph.




But with a "modern alternator" you now have an engine driven electrical
system, and all of the requirements that go along with it...
(transponder within mode c veil).

Nope, only required if the plane came from the _factory_ with an engine
driven electrical system.

I would do the battery thing and/or investigate the wind generator.

--
-- ET :-)

"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams

No, "or which has not subsequently been certified with such a system
installed"

91.215(b)
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(2) of this section, any aircraft
which^M
was not originally certificated with an engine-driven electrical
system or^M
which has not subsequently been certified with such a system
installed,^M
balloon or glider may conduct operations in the airspace within 30
nautical^M
miles of an airport listed in appendix D, section 1 of this part
provided^M
such operations are conducted--^M

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...
No, "or which has not subsequently been certified with such a system
installed"

91.215(b)
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(2) of this section, any aircraft
which^M
was not originally certificated with an engine-driven electrical
system or^M
which has not subsequently been certified with such a system
installed,^M

Added on after the fact is not "subsequently been certified with such a
system." That is from the local FSDO.