Tail strobe - position light on older M20 (J's)

[Vref]

On some mooney you see rotating beacons/anti collsion lights on the bottom on others you don't.

Maybe this is a no brainer topic for an expert Mooney engineer...anyway here I go..

First I am wondering if all of them are within the 360 degrees anti collision regulation?

I was wondering if there exists an STC to change the bottom rotating beacon to a tail strobe/position light in order to cover the 360 degrees visibility requirement and get rid of this artificial speedbrake. From technical point of view I would imagine that an additional flash box is required to install the Whelen strobe/position tail light....?

I noticed today that Aveo has recieved international certification TSo and STC for Pipers and Cessna's for there Galactica and Red Baron strobe's...(no further details though..)

http://www.aveoengineering.com/Aviation/Airplane_LED_Lights/anticollision_LED_lights/RedBaronXP/index.php

This red baron beacon looks very promising low aerodynamic profile, low weight and all steering electronics in the box (would be a great replacement for the older rotaing beacons...if it would get approval for the Mooney..?

With the posi-strobe you could do it even without the additional weight of this old technology flasf device..?

http://www.aveoengineering.com/download/InstallationManual_PosiStrobeCP.pdf

 

Did anybody perform the Whelen mod?

thanks

PS mine is broken thats' why I am concidering other options

 

 

[scottfromiowa]

What are regs on this?  I have a functioning belly strobe as well as nav lights and wing tip strobes.  Can I add a tail strobe and remove the belly strobe?  Can I remove the belly strobe and just have wing-tip strobes and nav lights?

[1964-M20E]

I'd like to see more on this as well.  I want  to replace my wing tip lights with 3 in 1 LEDs (Nav, position, strobe) and maybe LED tail light with strobe.

How can we legally get rid of the rotating beacon (speed brake)?

[Vref]

Quote: scottfromiowa

What are regs on this?  I have a functioning belly strobe as well as nav lights and wing tip strobes.  Can I add a tail strobe and remove the belly strobe?  Can I remove the belly strobe and just have wing-tip strobes and nav lights?

[Vref]

Quote: 1964-M20E

I'd like to see more on this as well.  I want  to replace my wing tip lights with 3 in 1 LEDs (Nav, position, strobe) and maybe LED tail light with strobe.

How can we legally get rid of the rotating beacon (speed brake)?

[OR75]

Having the possibility to upgrade the position / strobe lights on the "square" wing tips Mooneys would be great.

The A650 was never STC'ed for Js as Mooney developped its own plastic lens strobe light (most have noticed how it looks yellow, opaque and uggly on most early J's). 

Hopefully Aveo will provide the option.

[KSMooniac]

I only have wingtip strobes on my J.  No beacon...it came that way to me and I presume it is legal, but haven't chased the paperwork.

[carusoam]

My favorite source of lighting regulations can be found here.

http://www.whelen.com/_AVIATION/catalog/Anit-Collision%20Systems.pdf

Is your plane...

1957 - 1971, or 1971 - 1977, or After

Three ranges, three sets of increasing requirments....

Whelen solutions for mooney.... (not as modern looking or as small as the aveo, but improved over the original)

http://www.whelen.com/_AVIATION/catalog/Mooney.pdf

 

[scottfromiowa]

Thanks Carusoam.  So, in reading the information it would appear that for my '66 M20E I would satisfy requirements for position with wing tip strobes and that the belly strobe is re-dundant.  I will likely remove when it fails vs. repair/replace as it is a pretty big drag item on the belly. 

[flight2000]

Mine came to me with wing and tail strobe lights and the belly whoopy light.  I prefer as many lights on the aircraft as possible to help with being seen at night. 

I'm still looking at the possibility of adding the LASAR wingtips with recognition lights at some point.  LASAR said they are close to finishing the new STC paperwork and should be back in production by the end of the year. 

Brian

[Vref]

I removed the whoopy light assy from the bottom and just installed  a/c sheet metal round disc with some screws. I am concidering two options now, after recieving the positive news from Christian Nielsen from aveo that even EASA STC paperwork will be handled:

Go for the the BaronXP blitz light its only 4cm (1.5") hi and 6 cm round so I guess not affecting a lot the drag curve... just use the existing wiring (most easy solution) and drill a couple of small holes after that  hook up the wires and done..

or

just install the posistrobe tail position/strobe light (this would require some modification I think as the the) rot beacon switch in cockpit would have to become tail strobe switch...(the posi-strobe has three wires to enable different functions). Or rewire the rot beacon wire from the cockpit to the strobe light switch...and disable/remove the rot beacon  switch

the rot beacon wire in the tail needs to go to the posi strobe light of course...

For the wing tip lights I keep them as they are (though they are opaque ). When a light fails I guess I would go for the Aveo lights then.. Anyway the Hoskins flash box is very hard to find if that one fails (only whelen has a replacement part but heavier). the Aveo solution also reduces the weight a bit if this boxes go out ....In addition all these LED lights would significantly reduce the load on the battery/alternator..

A  good LED landinglight and then no more changing light bulbs/flashboxes hopefully..

btw in europe (Belgium) the classical edison light bulb is fading out quickly (can not officially be sold in the shops anymore)

 

[scottfromiowa]

Vref,

Thanks for the education on the Red Baron.  Looks like a strong candidate for replacing my belly strobe when it craps out some day.  Scott

[DaV8or]

Quote: Vref

btw in europe (Belgium) the classical edison light bulb is fading out quickly (can not officially be sold in the shops anymore)

[OR75]

Do I understand correctly that the Galactica wing tip position/strobe light does not require a strobe power supply box ?

could be a great option when those old hoskins box break.

 

 

[Vref]

Quote: DaV8or

Wow. That sucks. There is no good "green" replacement for it. You guys are now stuck with ugly, expensive lighting. Soon we will too. The new deal is as Europe goes, so goes the US.

[Vref]

Quote: OR75

Do I understand correctly that the Galactica wing tip position/strobe light does not require a strobe power supply box ?

could be a great option when those old hoskins box break.

[OR75]

looking forward to the STC. Talking to Wheelen recently  (Oshkosh), I think heat dissipation was the main issue with LED systems but that they had a good grip on it.   looking forward to an STC that covers all Mooneys.