LED Strobe/Nav Lights?

Bartman

Bartman

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Has anyone installed or switched over to LED strobe/nav lights? I have the Aeroflash strobes currently and was encouraged to replace them with the self contained LED units.

Are there any options aside from Whelen that are worth looking into?

Thanks!
Bart
 
Spruce had $35 bulbs that fit a standard aircraft nav socket. Unfortunately, like most modern flashlights, they have a sequence "on" program - steady, flash, off. I would rather select what I want.
 
I just ordered the Whelen Orion 650 strobe/nav units.

https://www.whelen.com/aviation/product.php?head_id=10&prod_id=161

The Aeroflash strobe power supplies in each wing can be removed along with the rib doubler plates that the power units were mounted to. As I understand it, the LED units should last multiple times longer than the Aeroflash bulbs and power supplies.

Approximate price, $900.

:) / :( , haven't decided yet!
 
Bartman said:
I just ordered the Whelen Orion 650 strobe/nav units.

https://www.whelen.com/aviation/product.php?head_id=10&prod_id=161

The Aeroflash strobe power supplies in each wing can be removed along with the rib doubler plates that the power units were mounted to. As I understand it, the LED units should last multiple times longer than the Aeroflash bulbs and power supplies.

Approximate price, $900.

:) / :( , haven't decided yet!
Click to expand...
Reviving an old thread here. What are y’all using to replace nav and strobe lights on your Citabria. There are several options and I can’t decide which to choose.
 
Laytonl said:
Reviving an old thread here. What are y’all using to replace nav and strobe lights on your Citabria. There are several options and I can’t decide which to choose.
Click to expand...

Orion 650 on my Decathlon. Drop in fit for old Whelan nav/strobes. I believe they are current ACA spec, which I think means no STC or 337 required.

IMG_20200916_151635.webp
 
Did you guys do the WAT tail light on the rudder too? Right now I have my old Thomas Edison bulb in there, but probably going to upgrade that so I have a matched set.
 
yes I did. The tail light barrel is bigger than the hole in the rudder, so you will have to grind the hole a little bigger.
 
I'm curious too as I didn't think this one would fit in our rudders
flywat.com

ORION 500 Series Forward Position/Anti-Collision Tail Lights | Whelen Aerospace Technologies

The Orion 500 Series Forward Position / Anti Collision Tail Lights Incorporate Both The WHITE Flashing Anti-Collision light, & Tail Position light functions.
flywat.com flywat.com

but I'm pretty sure this one will but it isn't a strobe :(
flywat.com

71554 Series LED Aircraft Position Light 14v and 28v | Whelen Aerospace Technologies

The 71554 series in our newest LED Tail Position Light. Exact Footprint for Whelen Models A555A and 71011 Taillights. Available in horizontal or vertical mount.
flywat.com flywat.com
 
I was hoping to have a strobe on the tail in addition to the wing tips. The tech support guy at WAT said to sync the two tip units and then have them flash out of sequence with the tail strobe for max visibility.

If it doesn't fit though, then that resolves that. ACA sells rudders without the light fixture in it, I had to ask for one special with the fixture.
 
I have installed that orion 500 in many a rudder. You do have to grind out the hole some. There is plenty of meat in the light socket. I use a side cutting bit that fits into a dremel type tool.
 
I called asking how to sync the tail strobe with the wing tips so they'd all flash at the same time. Can't be done he said, and then I realized the strobe probably won't fit in the trailing edge of the rudder anyway so it's likely just going to be a position light.

WAT stuff is pretty nice and not crazy overpriced, IMHO.
 
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I agree, if their stuff was overpriced then someone else would be selling something better for less.
 
FWIW, I think a strobe on each wingtip and position light on the tail will be plenty visible for the kinds of flying these aircraft do, which by definition will be 100% VFR.
 
The tail strobe can absolutely be synced to the wing strobe. Done it many times. Just have to run a wire to connect the 3.
 
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