Wing tips: Clearing up the fog
I'm all over this topic, since I'm in the process of switching from one type of tip to the other. I've taken the liberty of directly quoting from the latest (5th issue 2006) of the RVator. I hope this isn't against any copyright laws and I want to state that this information is not mine - but that of Van's Aircraft, INC.
That said, here is the rather long direct quote. This is the entire write-up in the newsletter. I apologize for the length, but it will serve to clear the air here.
"Wingtip and lighting guide
Over the years we have shipped three different style wing tips for our two-seat aircraft. In the beginning, there was the W-415 Hoerner-style tip with the flat top. this was used on RV-4's, RV-6's, and many RV-8's. Then, at approximately the same time the RV-7 was introduced, came the W-715 tip with the "bat-wing" trailing edge and a molded-in cove that accepted the Whelen A-650 position light/strobe units included in our Lighting System 6, which had become the de-facto "standard" for most new RVs.
This survived until 2005, when we introduced the W-715-1 on the RV-7 and RV-8. This is distinguished from the W-715 by the straight trailing edge (easier to make) and the larger cove on the leading edge that can accept a landing light as well as the usual position/strobe lights.
All of these wingtips will physically fit all short-wing 2 seat RVs. RV-3, RV-9 and RV-10 use a different tip altogether.
Now, the lights: the W-415 (still supplied with RV-4/6 wing kits) has no cove in the leading edge.
Those with W-415 tips and who want a recessed light installation may install the Airtech Lens kit (LN AT TIP LITE) or the smaller lens kit (LN CLEAR LENS KIT). Both these kits will accommodate position lights, but are not designed for strobes. The larger LN AT TIP LITE might have anough room for a strobe, but we haven't tried it, so we don't know for sure.
W-415 users who do not particularly care about the drag penalty of protruding lights can forgo the lens kits and simply put W-1285 position lights or A650 position light/stobe units on the outside of the tip. They can also install the 3-way A600 unit, which combines the position light, stobe and aft-facing rear light into one exterior unit.
We have never provided a landing light kit for the W-415 wingtip, although there is at least one aftermarket kit that may still be abvailable.
Builders using the W-715 tip will find that the cove in the tip will accept either a W-1285 position light or A650 position light/strobe unit. However, we sell no landing light that will fit in the cove.
Builders using the W-715-1 can install a W-1285 position light or A650 position light/strobe unit, and have the option of installing a pair of small circular landing lights in both tips. For the landing light option, order LL 7/8 MR-16.
RV-9 builders can use all the same options as those using W-715-1. No wingtip landing light option is available.
RV-10 builders have all the same options as W-715-1 users, except the landing light kit is LL 10 MR-16 and has just one circular lamp in each wing tip.
In addition to the wingtip landing light kits, there are various options for landing lights mounted in the leading edge of the wing. Some builders worry about cutting into the metal leading edge, but they needn't...it's a well proven, simple, strong installation. If you really want to throw light, for instance, you're landing on unlit grass strips, the leading edge lights (especially the HID version) are better. If you want a moderate amount of light, or just want to let other pilots see you coming, the wingtip landing lights work well."
