Kevin Jarvis posted (from somebody else): > Hey All, please be advised. We had an RV on the field that was denied > > > Airworthiness because of LEDs. It is not universally excepted by all DAR's. > > > I like the look and the power consumption but DAR used a luminosity testor > > > and it did not meet lighting requirements. Im just the messenger. Buyer > > > beware of sales pitches.
That is interesting, as I have a set of those very LEDs that the RV crowd is using, but I already have my airworthiness certificate. I talked to the Whelen guy at SNF, and he showed me their new line of 24V LED nav lights, and even LED "ground recognition lights" (beacons). The problem is that they don't have 12V version yet, mainly because of the logistics of dumping the extra current (as heat) out in the light itself. I asked "why not put the power pack in the fuselage and just run wires to each tip", but he said the numbers just aren't there for the experimental market, and these are designed for particular planes, and the wiring that comes along with them. I don't think he's seen the numbers on where all the new GA aircraft are coming from though! Perhaps he meant the $ numbers, but it is entirely possible to do, because Whelen has proven it. (See http://aviation.whelen.com/catalog/LED%20Lighting.pdf ). I remember several folks posting that they had done it in the last few years, and by appearances, the LEDs were far brighter (and burned less current) when placed right next to certified nav lights. I'm still going with LEDs, myself. Knowing what little I know about electricity, I'd say there's no reason that it wouldn't be sufficient for 12V to use exactly the same LEDs that Whelen is using, in the same configuration, but a solid state power supply in the fuselage. Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net --------------------------------------------------------------
