What landing/taxi lights are you using?

[n85ae]

My biased two cents ...

No issues at all. In fact while the light looks draggy, I don't notice it at all.
A really big benefit of the location is reflected light off the belly provides a
LOT of ground illumination. I have three lights on it, the big center one and
the two smaller ones. I have them angled such that the big one illuminates
the runway that I can see just over the nose on final with one notch of
flaperons. The two smaller ones help with close up illumination (they are
fog lights).

I don't care what kind of lights you put in the wingtips, they will never
provide the illumination you get from reflected light off the belly when you
land ... I'm surprised frankly that Kitfox never made a kit for detachable
light bar as an option ... (John?)

I adjusted them by putting tail on a sawhorse at roughly wheel landing attitude and using a hangar building in the distance as an adjustment
target.

I can install the light bar in less time than typing this post ....

Jeff

That is a nice idea. Do you find any issues with shadows from the nose ? Also saves wires going through wings and the added effort of mounting in the wing tips.

[aviator79]

Don't forget to budget out your power when you're deciding. Bright halogens can draw considerable current. You may not be able shine ATLATT (All the lights all the time).

[Dave S]

Don't forget to budget out your power when you're deciding. Bright halogens can draw considerable current. You may not be able shine ATLATT (All the lights all the time).

True,

Frankly, the Rotax alternator on the back of the engine is a rather wimpy little thing. I should have mentioned, we also have the Aux alternator. I figure if I ever get one of those giant LED off road light bars, should have enough power to make it look like the sun is coming up

The ones on the bottom of the plane are 55 watt each side.

[cubtractor]

I'm using the Microsun from Aeroleds mounted up under the bend of the left hand side of the landing gear. It works great landing and taxiing.

[tracstarr]

This has been a big help. I also stopped by the build here were he placed the lights in the wing tip. Said it was very time consuming.

I like the "light bar" idea using the aero leds. It seems to me it would make it very easy to add a second if one wasn't enough, or just dealing with any maintenance. Would also remove additional wire runs through the wing.

Downside I guess is they are more open to the elements and possibly damage. As well as "maybe" some drag - but as mentioned minimal.

I think my initial decision here is the "light bar". Subject to change upon reaching that point in the build. But I like it a lot.

[n85ae]

Haha, or if you want to get serious, and not worry about your airplane
alternator toss a deep cycle marine battery in the baggage compartment, and
run it isolated from ships power ... Then as long as your wires and battery can handle it just keep adding lights ...

Jeff

Don't forget to budget out your power when you're deciding. Bright halogens can draw considerable current. You may not be able shine ATLATT (All the lights all the time).

[n85ae]

Extra benefit, is the cool factor. I get lots of comments from the Cessna drivers
when they see me taxi by with the spotlight. Don't forget about that, add some
big tires on the plane, get it muddy, and with the spotlight ...

[littlecricket]

Anybody put them in the cowl like Aerotrek has them?

[Mcslamma]

Here's what I am using, two small LED's from Napa, I've had boaters tell me they are very bright and effective. As I am on floats all summer. Very Low draw, and not too heavy.

[tracstarr]

Has anyone tried a light bar designed for off road trucking? superbrightleds.com has some nice looking options. A 20" super slim light bar at 5000 lumens and 2500mA. Might be overkill.