Mister_Bevilaqua Posted June 26 Report Posted June 26 Does your Pre-J model M20 have a beacon light? I am surprised by how many I see that simply don't have them, especially when so many of the other makes from the same era do. Learning to fly, it was always stressed that the beacon had to come on before startup and remain on until the engine was off. I realize that the strobes can do the same job in terms of letting others know that the plane is occupied and possibly running, but they aren't ideal in low light or night conditions when on the ground and not departing the field. Quote
Hank Posted June 27 Report Posted June 27 My 70C has a belly beacon, no strobes. It's now LED. P.S.--I've never turned off the beacon switch even before it was LED, and now I also never turn off the LED landing light. Quote
Pinecone Posted June 27 Report Posted June 27 My 1986 M20K 252 did not have one. I added one. Both for safety as a warning and as a quick check that the master is off. I leave the beacon on all the time 3 Quote
Echo Posted June 27 Report Posted June 27 (edited) Wing tip strobes. No coffee grinder Edited June 27 by Echo 1 Quote
FlyingDude Posted June 27 Report Posted June 27 Though legally strobes are sufficient, they're a PITA for other pilots when taxiing at night. They can be distracting for the offending pilot, too. You won't get the 5kt speed increase. Quote
Mister_Bevilaqua Posted June 27 Author Report Posted June 27 Yea, I have considered adding one at the annual, but I'd have to find the factory beacon switch as well so that I can run it separately from the strobes. I agree that running strobes at night while taxiing is extremely obnoxious. Quote
Jim Peace Posted June 28 Report Posted June 28 I have a 64C with a beacon and strobes....all by Aveo engineering... Nav light and beacon switch never turned off....also my landing light is on from takeoff to landing.... I dont understand a lot of pilots who even with LED lights turn everything off in cruise.... see and be seen....BWTFDIK...... 2 Quote
hoot777 Posted June 29 Report Posted June 29 Had the bubble gum belly beacon and strobes on my m20f. Replaced with belly strobe recently. 1968 model 1 Quote
Firefly Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 I have a 67F with belly beacon and strobe. also had a 66c with strobes and belly beacon. Quote
Mister_Bevilaqua Posted July 9 Author Report Posted July 9 Thanks for all of the replies, looking into adding a beacon at annual. Quote
DXB Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 11 minutes ago, Mister_Bevilaqua said: Thanks for all of the replies, looking into adding a beacon at annual. unnecessary, probably a waste of money, unless you don't meet minumum legal lighting requirements https://flywat.com/pages/aircraft-lighting-regulations Low draw LEDs let you keep strobe and nav light switches on all the time, even before startup. The belly beacon adds nothing here. I had my factory beacon on the belly removed on my '68 and the hole sealed when I went all LED including stobes several years ago. 2 Quote
Mister_Bevilaqua Posted July 9 Author Report Posted July 9 5 minutes ago, DXB said: unnecessary, probably a waste of money, unless you don't meet minumum legal lighting requirements https://flywat.com/pages/aircraft-lighting-regulations Low draw LEDs let you keep strobe and nav light switches on all the time, even before startup. The belly beacon adds nothing here. I had my factory beacon on the belly removed on my '68 and the hole sealed when I went all LED including stobes several years ago. I've also considered this alternative. I have been considering going to LED's all around. I am not a fan of running strobes at night while taxiing if others are present. Quote
Pinecone Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 22 minutes ago, DXB said: unnecessary, probably a waste of money, unless you don't meet minumum legal lighting requirements 1) Running strobes on the ground at night is annoying to everyone around that is not inside your plane. 2) On some models running the nav lights in the daytime dims the gear down indicator making it hard to see. 3) With a beacon that you leave on, it is a quick check that you turned off the master. As you walk away, turn and see if the beacon it on. 4) Beacon on is a sign that the plane is live and the prop is turning or will shortly be turning. 1 Quote
Slick Nick Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 I thought taxiing around with strobes on was a "Cirrus-idiot" only affair? Don't tell me it's made it to the Mooney world now! 1 2 Quote
FlyingDude Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 1 hour ago, Mister_Bevilaqua said: Thanks for all of the replies, looking into adding a beacon at annual. I have a coffee grinder if you don't want to spend big bucks. 1 Quote
DXB Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 1 hour ago, Pinecone said: 1) Running strobes on the ground at night is annoying to everyone around that is not inside your plane. 2) On some models running the nav lights in the daytime dims the gear down indicator making it hard to see. 3) With a beacon that you leave on, it is a quick check that you turned off the master. As you walk away, turn and see if the beacon it on. 4) Beacon on is a sign that the plane is live and the prop is turning or will shortly be turning. 34 minutes ago, Slick Nick said: I thought taxiing around with strobes on was a "Cirrus-idiot" only affair? Don't tell me it's made it to the Mooney world now! To be clear, I agree taxiing around with strobes on at night when other planes are operating is annoying. However, I always start up on the ramp with LED strobes on - the attention divert at that moment is appropriate, day or night . They are far more more effective than an old coffee grinder - particularly at the belly location on Mooneys, whose low stance makes it even less effective. Quote
DXB Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 2 hours ago, Mister_Bevilaqua said: I've also considered this alternative. I have been considering going to LED's all around. I am not a fan of running strobes at night while taxiing if others are present. Just use them before you hit the starter, then turn off at night if other planes are operating nearby. And you'll be glad you went LED all around! Brighter, minimal battery load, last forever so you'll never be caught with them inop when you want to fly. I was happy to junk my belly light after the bulb blew at an inopportune time, and bulb replacement was $40+. 1 Quote
Andy95W Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 1 hour ago, Slick Nick said: I thought taxiing around with strobes on was a "Cirrus-idiot" only affair? Don't tell me it's made it to the Mooney world now! Exactly! Additionally- if you have a beacon, you’re still legal at night if one (or all) of your strobes are inop. Quote
Pinecone Posted July 9 Report Posted July 9 https://www.faa.gov/media/13821 Letter of interpretation from FAA. VERY convoluted, but 91.209b requires the use of anticollision light system must be used when operating the aircraft, except when the PIC determines that it compromises safety. What is weird is that the reg on the anticollision light state either a beacon OR strobes are acceptable. But the above letter somehow decides that they are parts of the same system (not what OR means) so both must be on if equipped with both. I can see the argument that the the strobes do a better job of attracting attention, so may go to Strobes - ON just before engine start, but will turn them off after starting. 1 Quote
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