Active control of landing light aim

[PilotjohnS]

Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY

That's where a FlyLEDS single lamp module with a "flood" diffuser on it comes in handy. Mounted in the cowl, it has the capacity to provide a wide, evenly lit area directly in front of the airplane, making taxi operations considerably easier on that proverbial dark and stormy night.

I planned to do this, any examples out there?

[rv6n6r]

Just get one or two of those FlyLEDs 7 stars nova-blasters and you can light up the whole county without having to steer at all

[mbauer]

Plans for a Christavia MK4 said to use a simple bowden cable to raise lower a landing light.

Simple enough to mount the light on a pivot and then the cable to push /pull it up and down.

Mike

[Rallylancer122]

Enstrom F28F helicopters use a cable to change the angle of the light up and down. The 480 series use a servo with a switch on the collective. It's a nifty feature that I rarely use. Usually about the time during a landing that I decide I'd like a different angle I've got more important things to do and just live with it. Like another poster said the new LEDs throw out so much light it's usually not an issue.

A couple times we've installed a Nightscanner, which is basically a retractable, gimballed landing light controlled by a 4 way coolie hat switch. Again, pretty cool but last I checked I thought they cost around $13k!

In the helicopters we use multiple approach angles. In the airplane I really try to fly the VASI/PAPI, so once the correct light angle is set you really shouldn't need to change it. But if you want to see some examples of how it's done you can check out those helicopters. (Full disclosure, I work for Enstrom.)

Dennis Martin

[FinnFlyer]

I intend to use small model servos, controlled by an Arduino. Plan is to have a toggle switch on the stick that changes the function of the hat switch between trim and light control. (May change my mind and instead of using a toggle switch, make it so when the hat switch is held down the hat switch directly points the light, when released the light remains where pointed and hat switch again controls trim servos.)

Only requires two additional thin wires (24ga or thinner) -- one wire for each model servo. Servos to be powered by same wire as light.

I'm already using an Arduino and a 4x20 character LCD display for trim indication.

Will probably be a while. My priority is to get the RV-4 ready for inspection (which doesn't require lights) and then, while waiting, work on lights, gear leg fairings and pants and maybe even paint prep.

Finn