External Aircraft Lights
Most builders, at some point during construction, will install either position, recognition, landing/taxi lights and or an anti collision strobe light on their aircraft.
Some do not, and if you are flying day VFR only, I would recommend to install at least a red tail strobe or wingtip strobe lights as a bare minimum.
To see and be seen is the credo, especially in circumstances where visibility is reduced and in high traffic situations around airports and in training areas, where instructors are busy with students.
Several manufacturers are selling LED position and landing lights (including LED strobes too), these are very reliable with a long service life, probably longer than the aircraft. Current draw is much less resulting in thinner cables and there is a weight savings too because the high voltage unit is no longer necessary.
One drawback might be that prices are still relatively high, but that should improve as eventually production numbers go up. On this page we highlight the different types of lights used on general aviation aircraft.
Aircraft lights
External lights must comply to certain aviation rules and regulations regarding the emitted light. It describes the color, position and angle of visibility from where the light must be seen.
Position, strobe lights and red beacons
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Aircraft lights are not restricted to the standard red, green and white position lights, sometimes called navigation lights. White (or red) strobe lights are usually installed on the wing tips and the familiar red beacon on the tail can sometimes be seen on the back or belly of the aircraft. The red beacon is switched on just before the engine is started, to indicate a 'live aircraft'. The wingtip white (or red) strobes are switched on just before entering the active runway and when ready for departure. |
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Military aircraft are sometimes equipped with an infrared beacon or strobe for detection during night flying.
Note: the use of a surge suppression device to protect expensive electronic equipment, such as the Red LED Aircraft Beacon, is recommended, (thanks to Dick Kuntzleman from KEstrobes).
Recognition, Taxi and Landing lights
Some aircraft are equipped with either recognition lights (usually somewhere on the wing leading edge) or landing and taxi lights. The difference between landing and taxi lights is the beam width. Taxi lights have a wider light beam to illuminate the runway / taxiway while moving on the ground during darkness. Landing lights must be capable to illuminate the runway from a greater distance and so they have a narrow beam.
Aeroled
Aeroled sells their Aerosun LED landing/taxi/recognition lights. LEDs are low current devices. For example, the Aerosun 800 uses
1,5 Amps at 13,8 volts and it emits as much light as a normal 55 watt bulb. But at 3 amps lower current. This means you can save weight on wiring and the current load on the alternator and battery. They also sell a PAR 36 compliant LED landing light, SUNspot, as a drop in replacement. It emits 2800 lumens equal to two 100 watts halogen lights.
Sometimes extra functionality is added to these lights: wigwag. Wigwag will switch the left and right lights alternately on and off. It will make your aircraft more visible when flying near airports and/or during landing or takeoff.
Company lights
Not very common in light aircraft but airlines use these to light up the vertical fin and show off the company logo. Very effective in showing which direction the aircraft is flying. Creates a sort of Xmas tree in the sky...
Courtesy lights
Sometimes bolted under the wing of Cessna's and other high wing aircraft for illumination of the area in front of the door. Handy when getting out at night.
LED lights
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are nowadays popular in aircraft too. Their light output (lumens) is at least equal but usually much better than classic quartz or HID light solutions.
They have a very long service life (sometimes even longer than the aircraft they are used on), weight is low, there is no filament to break, reliability is high, shock and vibration proof, rugged design, have low power requirements and their small size make them ideal for lighting solutions. Aircraft internal and external lights being one of them.
LEDs can now be used for all lights on the aircraft, even for strobe lights which saves the high voltage unit and wires. The only drawback could be their high price, but that should be no factor when more manufacturers are going to produce them in larger numbers.
