Duckworks landing lights

[prkaye]

i'm going to go with the Duckworks leading edge landing lights, supplied through Vans. Two questions:

1) I'm going to go with either the rectangular or the round ones (not the super-expensive HID ones). The "round" ones cost are $115, instead of $75 for the rectangulars. Is it worth the extra money? What's the main advantage of the rounds.

2) I want to keep weight down, so I'm wondering if one landing light would be sufficient? Of course, it would be asymmetric, having one light on one wing... but maybe this isn't a big deal? Has anybody installed one of these, and found it to be enough, or not enough? If I go with one, which wing should it be on?

Thanks!

Phil

[dan]

What % of your flying to date has been at night? Gotta ask yourself if you'll honestly do a lot of night flying.

But hone the goal as well. In my case the goal is daytime recognition more than anything else, and I like having two in order to wig-wag.

[prkaye]

I intend to do a lot of cross-country flying, which will inevitably include a lot of night flying.

Wig-wag?

[randylervold]

Phil,

I had the regular rectangular Duckworks lights in my RV-8, then when they introduced the round version thought I'd try them. I installed the round version in one with and lived with it for a while. In the end I didn't like the light dispersion pattern as well as the the rectangulars... it was more tightly focused, to narrow for me. Also, the rounds are of course heavier.

Personally, I'd put two lights because there is little weight penalty and you get the benefit of better lighting and the ability to install wig-wags which I'd highly recommend.

[prkaye]

Originally Posted by randylervold

Phil,

I had the regular rectangular Duckworks lights in my RV-8, then when they introduced the round version thought I'd try them. I installed the round version in one with and lived with it for a while. In the end I didn't like the light dispersion pattern as well as the the rectangulars... it was more tightly focused, to narrow for me. Also, the rounds are of course heavier.

Personally, I'd put two lights because there is little weight penalty and you get the benefit of better lighting and the ability to install wig-wags which I'd highly recommend.

Cool, probably two rectangulars then. Should I cut the hole in the skin prior to riveting the skin to the skeleton, or after? What are wig wags?

[kentb]

Originally Posted by prkaye

Cool, probably two rectangulars then. Should I cut the hole in the skin prior to riveting the skin to the skeleton, or after? What are wig wags?

Cut the hole after.

Wig wag lights switch on and off like turn signals. They do this opposite each other. This really makes your plane stand out when view from the front. The wig wag is just a small box and you will want a switch to turn it on and off. Weighs only a couple of ounces.

Kent

[Mike S]

Just think back to the last time you looked in the rear view mirror, and saw a cop commin' up on you in a big hurry---------headlights flashing side to side.

Real attention getter aint it??

Mike

[rv8bldr]

Hi Phil

I got the wig-wag switch from Perihelion Designs. It was dead simple to install (which is good because I'm a S/W guy, not a H/W guy ) and really works well.

Here is the link:

http://www.periheliondesign.com/wigwagdmnl.htm

Cheers

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by prkaye

Cool, probably two rectangulars then. Should I cut the hole in the skin prior to riveting the skin to the skeleton, or after? What are wig wags?

Phil,

I just finished doing both leading edges. I cut the holes while everything was clecoed together prior to riveting. While the directions from Duckworks say it can be done in a finished leading edge, I wouldn't want to do it that way. I painted the inside of the leading edge white, thinking that it would look better than the bare alclad, but after doing it I'm not so sure I'd do it again.

[IowaRV9Dreamer]

I just bought the round halogen DW lights. I chose them over rectangular because the upgrade path to HID is easier. The kit seems very high quality, and the directions are excellent. I will be putting them in during construction; starting with the nutplates in the ribs really soon!