Alex's M20D (continuous thread)

[MIm20c]

I know a lot of people put in the Whelen light that is almost identical to the certified version but the unit you picked is very different.  Any concerns?  Looks very bright with the 4 amps vs 2.3-2.6 amps for the certified versions which is a good thing. 

[Raptor05121]

Concerns? Not at all. Granted, I could get dinged by an FAA inspector, but I could also get dinged for my GoPro mounts, etc. It's very subjective. After discussing it with a few IAs, they told me the FARs are vague on the subject, requiring only that bulbs have enough light for night operations and not present a fire hazard. That's it. Our GE halogen bulbs carry no TSO/PMA of any kind. It's just a tractor light pulled off the shelf.

AvWeb's Paul Bertorelli even said this:
 

Quote

And by the way, if I wanted one of these LEDs for a certified airplane—and I do—I'd simply install it, approval or not. My interpretation of the FARs indicates I'm in compliance if the lamp provides sufficient light and doesn't present a fire hazard. I deem myself smart enough to determine both. Furthermore, since there's no such thing as an approved landing light bulb anyway, I'm miles away from the stench of unapproved parts. Like I said, common sense. There are little capillaries of it in the FAA, but the veins run dark with baffling illogic and flawed thinking.

Stock 250W GE Halogens are 300,000 candlepower. The Whelen Parmetheus PLUS is only a 10-degree beam, at 35W and barely eclipsing 2100 lumens at a measly 50,000 candlepower. This unit is a 15-degree beam, 55W at 4200lm and 200,000 candlepower. I've already replaced my GE halogen 3x at $30 a pop. I'm tired of spending money and crossing my fingers that the landing light won't blow out hampering my safety at night.

This is the only nighttime picture I have (before I installed it). The camera settings on my phone dumb down the lower light to the sides, but it has a decent spread. 

[Aviationinfo]

Which light bulb and where did you find it?  We are thinking the same way in replacing ours.

[bradp]

Yes raptor - where might I find one of these for my tractor?  My current led bulb gets about a quarter of a mile out the paint will start to reflect back.  I don’t have any intention of replacing it, but I’d be curious to know what model you got.  

Also another benefit is you pretty much turn your landing light on whenever the engine is running day or night so you get additional be seen avoidance.  

[Raptor05121]

So I'm a fan of anything with lights. I retrofitted my truck with red LEDs in the tail. I put HID projectors in place of my stock halogens. I love playing with LEDs especially so I took my time and did A LOT of comparison shopping. In the end, I decided the Rigid Industries PAR46 63372 R2-46 Hyperspot/Hybrid is the best bang-for-your-buck PAR46 drop-in. It is thicker, and the retaining ring sticks out about 1/4" so you might have to tap new holes. I was able to force mine in and its rock solid. The old GE lamp was actually loose in the housing, so this is even better.

At first, I thought the beam was too pencil-shaped and was thinking of opting for the 63362 with a driving beam, but I just flew with it and I'm happy:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0102OH1BO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A16FDLXZT0LPG&psc=1

 

I got this shots with my phone propped up on the glareshield taking burst shots. It really lights up the runway! I love it!

 

It was 41*F outside when I got to the airport at 6am. I did 3 takeoffs and landings. 1500FPM is nice! Also, if you forget to open your cowl flaps, your CO detector will skyrocket and you will freak out. Lesson learned. And I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pose for a shot

 

 

[bradp]

RIgid offers a high quality light.  They had announced developing a PMA some time back but I’m not sure what happened with that. 

[Raptor05121]

Are these Michelin Airstop tubes?



I also seem to be missing a nosewheel tire and tube...

[Hank]

35 minutes ago, Raptor05121 said:

Are these Michelin Airstop tubes?



I also seem to be missing a nosewheel tire and tube...

Looks to me like tbey say "Aero Classics" and not "Michelin Air Stop," but I didn't see mine before the A&P put them inside my new Goodyear tires.

[kpaul]

9 hours ago, Raptor05121 said:

Are these Michelin Airstop tubes?

Should read something like this...

This is from Aircraft Spruce's site...

[steingar]

I took off yesterday with just me in the aircraft and about 20 gals of gas.  Holy moly could that aircraft climb!  First cold wx takeoff.

[Hank]

3 hours ago, steingar said:

I took off yesterday with just me in the aircraft and about 20 gals of gas.  Holy moly could that aircraft climb!  First cold wx takeoff.

Just wait until winter . . . Wish I could remember what the VSI showed that morning breakfast run when it was too cold for my wife to get out of bed [8ºF], I just remember being shocked by how quickly I blew through the pattern as I was departing!

[Raptor05121]

Yeah I guess I got generics. Well 3x Goodyear FCIII's ate up the $1,000 I won from LASAR. They seem hefty.

[Raptor05121]

Insurance is renewed. Same carrier, US Specialty Insurance Company, $860/yr, 35k hull, 500k liability. 275TT, 160MM. Also added a low-time friend for another $200.

[Hank]

That's about what I've been paying Falcon for the last three years, 65K hull, $1M/100,000, zero deductible. I was ~$1100 with a local broker after getting IFR, switched to Falcon when I relocated to Alabama.

[Raptor05121]

I'll try them next year once I finish my IFR. I'm part of a flying club and our club was able to negotiate a lower rate by implementing a standard quarterly safety briefing/checkout flight with a CFI, sort of like an abbreviated flight review but every 4 months versus 2 years. I tried to negotiate the same but looks like USSI is not interested.

[Raptor05121]

 

Annual is starting on the 27th. Stay tuned for another episode of "All my Money...I mean Mooney"

[RLCarter]

Yep, it was time for new tires

[Aviationinfo]

Raptor, I take it you feel the Rigid bulb is brighter than the Whelen Parmethius Plus?  The rigid seems to be quite a bit more expensive.

[Raptor05121]

11 hours ago, Aviationinfo said:

Raptor, I take it you feel the Rigid bulb is brighter than the Whelen Parmethius Plus?  The rigid seems to be quite a bit more expensive.

I don't feel it, the proof is in the pudding. I've played with the Parmetheus and the Parmetheus plus over the years at fly-ins, etc. I build LED arrays in my free time and the LEDs that Whelen is using are over 4 years old and are very dull compared to modern chips. Granted it is PMA, but it's a landing light, not a crankshaft. And it's not it's not more expensive, they are the same price (if not cheaper) with twice the power.

Rigid Industries PAR 46 Retrofit 63372 (200k candlepower, 4200lm):
Autoplicity- $249.37 + shipping
eBay- $289 (free shipping)
Amazon- $296.47 (free shipping)

Whelen P461L Parmetheus Plus PAR46 (50k candlepower, 2000lm)
AircraftSpruce: $288 + shipping
PilotShop: $303 + shipping
SkySupply: $332 + shipping
SkyGeek: $346 + shipping

[JKSmith]

On 10/27/2017 at 10:13 PM, Raptor05121 said:

 

So today I took a high school friend flying who is in the midst of getting his PPL. We went up for an hour over to Quincy, FL. Nice little airport and not very far from where I bought my plane. Three of the old timers outside sitting in rocking chairs watching a couple of Stearmans pound the pattern recognized my plane and we chatted for over an hour about it. It was the first "cool" day of the flying season for me so it was nice.

 

That's a awesome grass strip!! 

[Raptor05121]

1 minute ago, JKSmith said:

That's a awesome grass strip!! 

Surprisingly, it's a paved runway, just no taxiways. You just pull into the grass. Its a good 250 feet from the runway to parking (red circle is where I was) so gotta go slow. Of course, the Stearmans were taking off and landing on the grass parallel to the runway. 

 

[JKSmith]

Just now, Raptor05121 said:

Surprisingly, it's a paved runway, just no taxiways. You just pull into the grass. Its a good 250 feet from the runway to parking (red circle is where I was) so gotta go slow. Of course, the Stearmans were taking off and landing on the grass parallel to the runway. 

 

I go in and out of grass all the time. A runway I personally know, and compete some during the STOL competitions. Good shock discs, stable approaches, and staying light is key. If ya want a short takeoff load the baggage compartment down and keep the nose light (also helps with any grass operations) 

[Raptor05121]

I'm no stranger to grass. I can't wait to try my new tires on the grass

 

[RLCarter]

A well maintained grass strip is easier on an aircraft than concrete/asphalt. A buddy has a grass strip at his house, looks like a 2500ft putting green

[Raptor05121]

Last flight for this year's annual. 175 hours in the past 12 months, and that is with 4 months of downtime due to random MX, I probably could have eclipsed 250 if I wasn't grounded so long. A whole lot of laundry list is in the works for 44U, stay tuned as we start next week!

 

Not a bad tailwind today at 6500!

 

Laundry list for next week:

Standard annual inspection
Comply with reoccuring ADs
Replace halogen wingtip nav lights with Whelen Chroma-series bulbs
Install LASAR landing light lens
Strip & recover wing walk
Remove wheels and send for powdercoating
Install new tubes & tires
Reweigh airplane for new W&B (17 years old, GULP)
Rebuild fuel selector
Replace cowl flap handle
Install basic clock (IFR)
Replace ELT battery
Change oil
Change air filter
Clean and ohm test plugs
IFR recert


I'd REALLY like to re-rig the airplane because if you let go, she will go into a 20 degree bank to the right after 10-15 seconds. I have to fly by resting my left hand on the yoke to hold straight and level. But I'm lost on how to go about doing this.