Adjustable landing/taxi light

[Jch]

I would like to put an Aerosun LED light in the front cowl opening on an SS7. I could hook a cable up to it and with a push/pull change the angle for taxi/landing. I did some rough measurements and find the tail dragger configuration with standard wheels has 12 degree pitch up (longit. axis). A "flush" position of the light in the cowl opening has a natural 6 degree down angle. If I aimed the taxi light 20-30 feet in front of the plane I would need to adjust the beam an additional 10 degrees or more for taxi. How to aim the light for landing? Taking a 3-5 degree approach angle for landing, what would be the angle of the longitudinal axis during short final? during flare? If anybody has worked these numbers I could use some help. Has anyone made an adjustable light like this? Should I be concerned about blocking 90% of the cowl opening? I know others have put smaller fixed position lights in this location.

[Danzer1]

Jeff,

You are opening up a can of worms here. This has been hashed and rehashed on many forums. The answer is - it depends. On: what slope do you normally fly in at? power on or off? What do you want to see - the numbers? the landing spot? What do you want to see at flare? On and on.

So my primary thoughts are - I would use a separate light and angle for each taxi and landing (both fixed, but adjustable like auto headlights) - the last thing you need at night is fiddling with a cable to adjust the angle so you can see where your going, when you are supposed to be flying/landing the airplane. No need to add on more workload especially at night. What would you do if the cable or attach point fails or jams with a bird in there or who knows what else - you won't be able to change configurations, then what?

The other advantage of separate lights is, you could have them both on if approach is not optimal, covering a much wider and longer area.

The only way your really going to know is to do it and test them and adjust from there. As a basis, you are probably going to want to see further than 30 feet at taxi and your landing light will likely end up at a much different angle (down) than you initially think.

I don't know what engine you have in your 7, but I would be very hesitant to reduce the cowl intake at all if it serves any airflow/cooling purpose in your configuration.

Everyone will have a different answer though.

Greg

[SkyPirate]

I fly a 5 TD ,,contemplating putting lights in the nose of each wheel pant,..one for taxi/3 pt landing one for wheel landing, I think someone has done this already on the forum on a model 4,..I'm going to use LED

[n85ae]

I would say most people waste a LOT of time on lights, and end up with a
poor, solution. Here's what I did ... It works VERY well.

I still think my detachable light bar that goes between the float attach points
is the best solution. I have three big off road driving lights on it (6" dia.) all
at slightly different angles, plus dual wingtip lights.

I don't fly often at night, but when I do - I look like a 747 on final approach.
I have NEVER seen another small plane put as much light on the runway as
I do ever. Light reflected off the belly provides plenty of ground illumination
for landing flare as well.

The light bar is fed through a 40 amp relay, and a dedicated breaker.

Now some would think the big a** lights would create a lot of drag, and likely
they do, but I really don't notice (or care). Just two clevis pins and a quick
connect plug and the light bar is of the plane in less than a minute.

Regards,
Jeff Hays

[n85ae]

Here's a picture of the light bar when I was first putting it together, it is not
complete, but I think you can see how the idea works.

[DesertFox6]

Now, I might pay some good money to see a picture of that nuke-flash light rig of yours, Jeff, and I'll bet you could make even more bucks selling that picture to some off-road-wheelie-mud-mag editors!

How 'bout a snapshot? It's okay...we can all don sunglasses to look at it!

"E.T."
(I swear this is the most innovative builder site in the world!)

[DesertFox6]

Innovative and SPEEDY! You beat me by nine minutes, Jeff; THANK YOU!

"E.T."