FlyLED Beacon Mounting

[U2fletch]

3d Printed a mounting system for the FlyLED red beacon. I wanted it mounted inside with minimal stickout under the aircraft. They supply some nice rubber grommets, but I needed a nice way to hold the LED in place. So I 3d Printed a mounting flange that could be bonded to the aluminum bracket. Then a top piece is screwed on with 3mm screws and nuts.
I attached a STEP file if anyone wants to duplicate/modify.

FlyLED2.jpg
Fly LED.jpg

[Have-Purple]

Nice work. What made you choose to go with beacons?

[U2fletch]

I have Aero LED Nav and strobes on the wingtips, but I come from a military background, and also big civilian jets turn on the red rotating beacon before engine start. Kind of like that.

[jaredyates]

U2fletch When I saw your post it alerted an internal uneasiness that I couldn't identify at first. After thinking about it, I realized that it touches on a topic that I propose that we should each spend a lot of effort thinking about: what do we bring to Bearhawk flying from our other types of flying? Some priors serve us well, some will kill us. Most of my own undesired outcomes in GA flying have included an aspect of me getting this wrong, and based on the frequency of jet pilots bending taildraggers, I'm not alone.

Obviously the decision to eqiup with a red beacon is a personal style choice as much as is an IFR GPS, FLIR, starter, etc. I just worry any time the decision is too heavily weighted on '"because we did it that way in the other planes." I don't want to say this is what is happening in your case or imply that you in any way have to justify anything to me or anyone else. But I also didn't want to pass up an opportunity to share how poorly that approach has served me personally at times, so that you can note it or dismiss it as you prefer.

[U2fletch]

Appreciate your comments. I like being seen when in a small airplane. That is the only reason I thought a beacon would be nice at night. I have over 1000 hours of tailwheel time, and am an FAA Safety Team Rep so am well versed in negative transfer.

[TJ_Slice]

I am going to install the flyLED red light as well.

I have never flown an airplane without a red flashing light, and I just can't bring myself to build an airplane without one.

Not that I am going to be flying into a major airport at night, but I damn near ran over a Cape Air twin Cessna in Boston one night. They were holding short of an alleyway and had no flashing lights. I had just started my process of clearing the gate area to begin my turn and had to make an abrupt stop when I finally saw the 402. The taxiway was very dark and, from above, their nav lights were almost invisible and got lost in all the other airport lighting. I estimated that I was about 30 feet from hitting him. ATC never said anything to us because they thought it wouldn't be a factor. There was enough room for the 402 to pull up and remain clear of both our gate and the alleyway, they had just stopped a little short. That was their prerogative, because ATC only told them to hold short of the alleyway. (That all happened before we switched to ground frequency.)

For the record, the 737 nosewheel taxi light is known to be very bad. The newer models have LED lights in the wing root and are far superior.

You can never have too many lights.

As far as negative transfer, I will start a new thread. It's an important topic, and I'd welcome input on my specific plan to get re-current.

[U2fletch]

Yikes! Yeah, night ops can be scary. Driving by Braille praying you don't hit or get hit by something. I am very thankful that we have our TW Sportsman to play in the backcountry with before finishing the Bearhawk.




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[Untainted123]

I have bought the flyLED red light to retrofit into my 4-place as well (just have't gotten to it yet). I have the nav lights that are supposed to be legal for night flight with the white position light shining back from the wingtips, but at our airport, there are just too many cars and people on the taxiway's where the lights are above their line of sight, so I figure it will help even in the daytime to have that light on the belly when taxiing around.