Landing/Taxi Light Configuration in the pattern and cruise

[Seth]

My landing and taxi lights are finally the way I want them.  I've had different suggestions by different pilots, so I'm curious what MooneySpace as whole thinks:

 

My landing and taxi lights are located in the lower cowling side by side.  They are AeroLED size PAR 36.  They are separately controlled.  The Taxi light can be on/off/pulse and is a 40 degree spread.  The landing light is on/off and is I think a 10 degree spread.

 

-At night, I will have both the landing and taxi light in the ON position in the pattern.  

-When on the ground, at night I'll have the Taxi light ON and the Landing light ON as needed when not blinding other people on the ramp, especially at night.

 

The question is, how should it be during the day in the pattern?  

 

I have been told just the taxi pulse/landing light off, and taxi pulse, landing light on.  Can you see the pulse with the landing light on?

 

What about when in cruise flight?  Do I leave the landing light on at all times?  Just leave the taxi pulse pulsing away?  At night?  

 

Thanks for your input as I design my standard operating procedures for my lights.  It's nice to finally have them set up the way I want them.

 

I may have to have someone on the ground tell me if they can see the difference with the light pulsing or not when the main light is on when I'm in the pattern since the lights are right next to each other.

 

-Seth

[Bennett]

LoPresti Boombox (HID) landing light at all times in haze, in the pattern, or anytime where traffic might be dense - Class B,C,D (the HID light has a 2,000 HR lifespan), wingtip and tail strobes (LEDs) and wingtip landing lights ("Recognition" lights for the 337 form) alternating (LEDs), and I add LED navigation lights in poor visibility conditions, daytime, or at night. 

 

I want to be seen, and this combination really makes my Mooney visible - especially head on. 

[Seth]

  On 5/13/2015 at 10:17 PM, Bennett said:

LoPresti Boombox (HID) landing light at all times in haze, in the pattern, or anytime where traffic might be dense - Class B,C,D (the HID light has a 2,000 HR lifespan), wingtip and tail strobes (LEDs) and wingtip landing lights ("Recognition" lights for the 337 form) alternating (LEDs), and I add LED navigation lights in poor visibility conditions, daytime, or at night.

I want to be seen, and this combination really makes my Mooney visible - especially head on.

You have the best setup ever on a Mooney with the boom beam and wig wag/pulse/"recognition" lights in your wingtips pointing forward.

-Seth

[Bennett]

Thanks Seth, My former 261 conversion might even had been better in some respects. I had the usual dual nose bowl lights, and added dual lights in each wing, thanks to LASAR, (all Quartz), and the usual incandescent recognition lights, nav lights, and strobe lights. Good thing I had dual alternators, as the electrical load was really high. But she sure looked like an airliner (according to some big city tower controllers)

[ryoder]

I can't even respond as the options don't work for vintage Mooneys. I use my halogen landing light when cruising below 3000AGL in the vicinity of an airport. If I had better lighting I'd use it. I want people to see me.

[Hank]

My LED landing light is on all the time now. If it causes problems at night/IMC, then I turn it off. Wish I

could get wingtips LEDs in Red/Green with a blinking white that would fit inside the 201 wingtips. May upgrade the little flashlight bulb in the tail if LED becomes reasonable .

[capthaak]

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/navstrobesextant.php

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[1964-M20E]

I turn my single and only LED landing light on at takeoff and I turn it off when I shutdown.

 

I'd love to install leading edge lights in each wing but I have not yet found out how or more importantly a kit to do it.

[Seth]

  On 5/14/2015 at 12:30 PM, 1964-M20E said:

I turn my single and only LED landing light on at takeoff and I turn it off when I shutdown.

 

I'd love to install leading edge lights in each wing but I have not yet found out how or more importantly a kit to do it.

 

There is a kit - I'm not sure of the price but I'm sure it's expensive

 

 

-Seth

[Seth]

  On 5/14/2015 at 1:23 AM, ryoder said:

I can't even respond as the options don't work for vintage Mooneys. I use my halogen landing light when cruising below 3000AGL in the vicinity of an airport. If I had better lighting I'd use it. I want people to see me.

I understand - I'm looking for if your setup was like mine - which is kind of unique as this option was not available even two years ago for the cost (it was available, but would have cost more and the FSDO may have said no), how would you set up my plane if flying it light configuration wise?  What would you do if flying my setup?

 

The reason is I've gotten different suggestions from different pilots/mechanics, and I'm looking for what Mooney pilots here on MooneySpace would do if they were in my aircraft.

 

Thanks!

 

-Seth

[MyNameIsNobody]

HID landing light on ALWAYS (Taxi to shutdown). Wing Tip Strobes on during lower vis (haz/lower light) belly strobe and recognition lights at night.

[1964-M20E]

  On 5/14/2015 at 1:31 PM, Seth said:

There is a kit - I'm not sure of the price but I'm sure it's expensive

 

 

-Seth

I have not seen it from any of the common STC folks.

[Seth]

  On 5/14/2015 at 5:09 PM, 1964-M20E said:

I have not seen it from any of the common STC folks.

If new Mooney's have leading edge lights instead of under the cowl, I'm sure there is a way to upgrade existing Mooney's.  I thought I had seen it as an option from the factory but did not see it on the upgrade list.  It may be worth a call to your MSC or the factory.

 

-Seth

[Bennett]

LASAR fabricated at least one of my left and right leading edge dual light units. I'm sure they were based on the factory units that were in one wing on newer Mooneys, but they had to make the opposite wing units from scratch because I think there was a different taper to deal with. You couldn't just turn over the factory unit. As I recall it was very difficult to change these lights.

[Ron McBride]

Vintage Mooney, LED landing light on most of the time and 3 point strobes on all the time,    belly strobe red/white all the time,   and rotating beacon all the time.

 

I have a lot of lights, now to add a flashing landing light.

 

Ron

[Ftlausa]

I added the MaxPulse system for my recognition lights and I keep those on in flight except in IMC at night.  I've been told they really stand out.