I can remember talking with the late Mike Valentine about the concept of using strobe lights on aircraft in general. His comment was that a single non flashing light was more effective than a strobe. This was quite easily demonstrated with aircraft flying with their landing lights on were much easier to see from much further away than ones just with the strobe on. Try it sometime, particularly around a GA airport.
I believe that with the new LCD lights, which draw low power and a fixed to a wing tip would be much more effective than a strobe. They would be visible when turning and or head on. I read a safety article in US Soaring mag once, that pointed out the following. And take note. The letter o at arms length, represents the front on fuselage profile of a glider approximately 200 metres away. Try it. A fixed beam of light from a wing tip would highlight this dot much quicker. As we scan the sky we can very easily miss the flash of a strobe. Finally with paint, when the VMFG operated Kookaburras,the lower surface of one of our Long Wing Kookas was painted orange, the other one was white. Even I can remember the orange one was much easier to see in any sort of sky. 3 of my gliders have darker lower fuselages, orange and blue under white and even this stands out better than one colour. The early PIK 20 came with optional White, Yellow, and even Green finishes. The only trouble with the green one was, when flying in the British Nationals and landing out , the retrieve tug couldn't find it from the air and it very quickly had orange stripes painted on. Cheers all Patch. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben Jones" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:15 PM Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Keeping Visible > Most Strobes in GA aircraft, require a fair wack of power, during the day > all they do is keep the pilot awake with annoying pings and zips in your > headset speakers. > > IIRC the battery operated ones use Xenon? Globes, but as always I could > be > wrong.......... > > Flight trials may provide answers to see if they increase visibility. > > Regards > > Ben > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Scott Penrose" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." > <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:50 PM > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Keeping Visible > > >> New technology has allowed us to build battery run flashing light >> (damn can't remember what they are called) - like those found on light >> aircraft. I believe in the past we were limited by power. >> >> I wonder if they would provide extra safety. >> >> Scott >> _______________________________________________ >> Aus-soaring mailing list >> [email protected] >> To check or change subscription details, visit: >> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1332 - Release Date: > 17/03/2008 10:48 AM > > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
