Landing Light for Taxi

[slowflyin]

Gents,

I'm replacing my PAR 46 landing light and considering upgrading to an HID or LED.   I've been lost for days in all the blogs, youtube videos, and PIREPS comparing the alternatives.  My mission was to find the brightest on the planet.  This morning it occurred to me that brightest might not always be better.  My F has a 201 cowl with only one PAR 46 light.  Therefore I use it for landing and taxi.  My concern is that a really bright LED or Boom Beam may not be the most courteous during taxi  on a busy tarmac.  I love the idea of being able to spot a deer on the runway at an extended distance but will such a powerful light be considerate while taxiing?  

[TWinter]

I went through the same thoughts and ended up with this. Merry Christmas to myself. I have not had it installed yet, just waiting to get through all the holidays and recent bad weather. I like the wig/wag safety feature.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/ledlighting_zaeroleds/sunspot46hx.php

 

 

-Tom

[Guitarmaster]

It's always good to be considerate when taxiing around other aircraft. Things like turning off the strobes is a good start. It doesn't matter how bright the light is, if it pointed towards another aircraft, it's going to be irritating. A bright landing / taxi light is in no way an annoyance to other pilots if you use it properly.

My advice is to get the brightest thing you can put in the nose of the airplane!

I have the Prometheus light in my nose, well, in the nose of the airplane. It is at least as bright as the incandescent but only draws 2 amps. I think there are brighter LED bulbs on the market now. You will not regret spending the money to put an LED bulb in there!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[LANCECASPER]

12 hours ago, TWinter said:

I went through the same thoughts and ended up with this. Merry Christmas to myself. I have not had it installed yet, just waiting to get through all the holidays and recent bad weather. I like the wig/wag safety feature.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/ledlighting_zaeroleds/sunspot46hx.php

 

-Tom

My airplane does not take a PAR46 but a 36, but I installed the Aero LED PAR36 on a previous airplane and they are the brightest on the planet. If you only have only light, it better be the brightest you can get. A bright light on a taxiway at least allows others to see you and on short final and just before flare it's priceless.

Edited January 24, 2016 by LANCECASPER

[slowflyin]

1 hour ago, TWinter said:

I went through the same thoughts and ended up with this. Merry Christmas to myself. I have not had it installed yet, just waiting to get through all the holidays and recent bad weather. I like the wig/wag safety feature.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/el/ledlighting_zaeroleds/sunspot46hx.php

 

 

-Tom

I found these in my search.  Seems like a good compromise between taxi and landing.   Anyone have a PAR 46 size of these installed that could offer a PIREP.

[smwash02]

I've experienced that the Whelen PAR-46 Flood works well.

[Zwaustin]

Just put two alphabeam led's on my 231 and they are much brighter than the 14 year old boom beam that was on there. Was going to go boom beam again (latest version) but price was just too high for me. Alphabeam's were a good compromise and im very happy with the set up at night.