External Aircraft Lights

Most builders, at some point during construction, will install position, recognition, landing/taxi lights and or anti-collision systems 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 minimum. To see and be seen is the credo, especially in circumstances where visibility is reduced.

A number of manufacturers are selling LED position and landing lights (Whelen has LED strobes too) and they are very reliable and have a long life. Prices are relatively still high, too high in my opinion. On this page we highlight the types of lighting used on aircraft.

Aircraft external lights

External lights must comply to certain rules and regulations regarding the emitted light. It rules the color, position and angle of visibility.

Position, strobelights and red beacons

Aircraft lights are not restricted to the standard red, green and white position lights, sometimes called navigation lights. White 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 strobes are switched on just before entering the active runway and when ready for departure.

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 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 becoming more and more popular in aircraft too. The light output is equal or 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, reliablility 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 strobe lights. 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.