Landing lights in cowling?

[N130WN]

I'm thinking of mounting a pair of HID lights in the RV-7 no scoop cowling instead of the wing. Can anyone recommend or discourage this idea? I've only seen this on an RV-8 and didn't have a chance to ask the owner about it.

Thx.

[Mel]

Mostly a personal thing, but I have never liked landing lights in cowling. Reasons are heat, vibration, and disconnect every time you remove the cowling. Also I think you get better depth perception with the lights in the wings. At least I do. Not to mention illuminating the back of the prop.
Just my opinion.

[Low Pass]

Originally Posted by Mel

Mostly a personal thing, but I have never liked landing lights in cowling. Reasons are heat, vibration, and disconnect every time you remove the cowling. Also I think you get better depth perception with the lights in the wings. At least I do. Not to mention illuminating the back of the prop.
Just my opinion.

Same comments above from me, plus there may be some added visibility benefit of having the landing lights out some distance from the central axis of the plane. I.e., out on the wings.

2 cents

[svanarts]

The only thing I do not like about having my landing lights in the wings is the dark spot directly in front of my while taxiing at night. I've often wondered about putting a light in the cowling. I would probably want to put a quick disconnect in a convenient spot if I did something like this.

[Ironflight]

I had a landing light in my Yankee cowling (for over 20 years...) and was constantly replacing bulbs due to vibration.....and it was a pain every time you had to pull the lower cowl. I'm really happy to have them in the wings on the -8!

(Just one man's experience...)

Paul

[Bob Martin]

I have my taxi and landing lights in my RV-6 cowl.
500 plus hours on original bulbs, disconnection is easy, after taking top cowl off, unplug connector and you are done.

[kentb]

I would look at installing high intensity LEDs. The extra vibration would not effect them.

Kent

[svanarts]

The high-intensity lumileds still don't seem to put out enough light to taxi by. Do you have a good source for REALLY bright WHITE LEDs? I tried LED foglights and they weren't bright at all, mostly just decorative.

[N130WN]

Originally Posted by Bob Martin

I have my taxi and landing lights in my RV-6 cowl.
500 plus hours on original bulbs, disconnection is easy, after taking top cowl off, unplug connector and you are done.

Any pictures?

Thanks, Bob.

[N130WN]

Originally Posted by kentb

I would look at installing high intensity LEDs. The extra vibration would not effect them.

Kent

Wouldn't HID's be almost equally durable? (filement-less, aren't they?)