Landing Lights at NAPA

Yah, I like everything I own to have tits.

Did you notice that the NAPA bulb didn't have the tit on the back that
the aviation bulb of the same number had? The tit fits into a notch
in the sheet metal that the bulb goes into and aligns the filament in
a certain orientation.

There is no notch in the Skycraft light "socket" -- so the lack of a tit or
two doesn't matter.

Er, so to speak...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:eiX5f.451061$_o.173822@attbi_s71...
In discussing our relatively new Skycraft landing lights (the
cut-into-the-leading-edge-of-the-wings type) here the other day, I noted
that I had just burned out a GE 4509 after around 35 hours. This
surprised me, since, being out in the wing, I expected there to be less
filament-killing vibration, and had hoped for a longer life from the
conventional bulb.

So, after it burned out, I ordered a Q4509 -- the quartz-halogen
equivalent, with a proven much longer life -- from Spruce, which arrived
today.

Imagine my surprise when I get to the hangar, turn the lights on (because,
of course, I can't remember which light is burned out) -- and NEITHER wing
landing light works. At first I suspected a blown circuit breaker, but,
no, the OTHER 4509 had also blown, within 30 minutes of its mate.

I'll say this about them: They may be junk bulbs, but at least they are
*consistent* junk bulbs.

:-)

So, not wanting to wait another week for Spruce, I headed over to my FBO,
who (of course) only had 4509s in stock, for some OUTRAGEOUS price. I
declined, figuring if I'm going to pay thirty bucks for a stupid light
bulb, I wanted it to be the long-life quartz one.

Then, I think, hey -- didn't I remember you guys talking about "tractor
bulb equivalents" and the like? So, I pointed the Grape toward my local
NAPA auto parts store, burnt-out bulb in hand, and simply handed it to the
guy behind the counter and asked for a direct replacement.

To my delight, he instantly produced a NAPA equivalent bulb, made by
Wagner, same number (4509) and everything. Best of all, it costs a whole
$13.49.

Unfortunately, they don't make a quartz equivalent, so I suspect I'll be
replacing this bulb in another couple of months -- but it's just nice to
have a cheap, locally available alternative. Heck, the box even SAYS
"aircraft light" on it -- so it's probably even legal!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
: In discussing our relatively new Skycraft landing lights (the
: cut-into-the-leading-edge-of-the-wings type) here the other day, I noted
: that I had just burned out a GE 4509 after around 35 hours. This surprised

GE states the expected life of a 4509 is 25 hours. Sounds like you did
pretty good! PS, bulbs direct or some web site like that has them for $8 each
in quantity 1. (The GE brand, that is, not the Wagner).

--
Aaron C.

Jay,
The 4509 and Q4509 have the same power requirement and should be
interchangeable. Did you check the Q4509 bulb to make sure that you
did not get a bad one? There is no reason that Q4509 can not be used
in place of 4509.

We have used both 4509 and Q4509 for landing/taxi lights as well the
Galaxy brands also ordered from Aircraft Srpuce which are much cheaper

11-02219 GALAXY 4509 LAND.LIGHT BULB $7.95
11-02220 GALAXY 4509Q HALOGEN LAND LGT $19.85

The 4509 is rated for 25 operating hours vs 100hrs for the Q4509.
Shortly after we bought the plane, both the taxi light and landing
light burned out. We contacted the previous owner for information on
what bulbs to get and he told us in all 9 years of owning the plane and
flying hundreds of hours, he had never changed any bulbs. He recalled
flying about 5hrs at night in all those years. It's most likely that
he did not turn the lights on except at night time. One of the
instructors introduced Rick to the idea of living the landing light on
ALL THE TIME for safety reason. This is the source of contention for us
for a while until we switched to the long lasting quartz light. Rick
reasons that $10 or so every 25hrs, the light bulbs are cheap insurance
against collision. My counter argument is that leaving them on all the
time will increase the chance that the darn bulbs are burned out when
you really need them. So our compromise is that we will use the Q4509
and Rick will only turn on one light (not both) during takeoffs,
landing and enroute in poor visibility or at night.

Yes, I have read seen reports that one can use NAPA's tractor bulb
equivalent but since the Galaxy 4509 is even cheaper than autopart
store price, why bother?

Hai Longworth

The 4509 and Q4509 have the same power requirement and should be
interchangeable. Did you check the Q4509 bulb to make sure that you
did not get a bad one? There is no reason that Q4509 can not be used
in place of 4509.

The lights that burned out on me were both regular GE 4509s that came
with the Skycraft kit. I've replaced one of them with the Q4509 (that
I ordered from Spruce, before I knew the second light was going to burn
out, too), and the other with a regular "NAPA" 4509 bulb, which I
bought when the second original 4509 burned out.

I've not burned out a Q4509 in a very long time. (The nose-light --
now rarely used -- is a Q4509, and it's been in there for, well, I
can't remember how long.)

Yes, I have read seen reports that one can use NAPA's tractor bulb
equivalent but since the Galaxy 4509 is even cheaper than autopart
store price, why bother?

Well, the one I bought at NAPA is not a tractor light -- it says
"aircraft bulb" on the box -- but I sure do like your price better.

I wonder where the Galaxy bulb is made? (Both the GE and NAPA/Wagner
lights are made in the USA.) I'll bet it's Chinese, to be SO much
cheaper.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay, you haven't posted a recent photo of Atlas with the new landing
lights installed in the wings, have you? (front view)

john smith wrote:
Jay, you haven't posted a recent photo of Atlas with the new landing
lights installed in the wings, have you? (front view)

Here ya go:

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/skycraf...ing_lights.htm

(I've since painted them, so they aren't bare aluminum anymore...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Just to stretch you all a little more....

GE (and others) also make a similar Halogen Bulb, an H7604.

H7604
Candle Power 100,000
Watts 50
Beam 7 x 5 deg
LIfe 100 hrs

4509
Candle Power 110,000
Watts 100
Beam 12 x 6 deg
LIfe 25 hrs

Q4509
Candle Power 140,000
Watts 100
Beam 7 x 7 deg
LIfe 100 hrs

I have used some of the H7604's. The have a support inside the bulb
that is obvious that its not a 4509... They lasted fine but have a
narrower beam. Better for landing light, poor for taxi.

Mitch