From: "Graham" <grahamn@mpx.com.au>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Lights, sensors
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 19:01:19 +1100
Message-ID: <000301be0bb7$334604a0$6a0082be@nuteye>
Importance: Normal
Mime-Version: 1.0

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I have read various submissions re landing lights but have more questions -
have the light systems discussed been used for their intended purpose ie
landing at night as opposed to flashing them to increase aircraft
visibility - if so are they satisfactory.
I have extended wingtips with about 12 inches removed and winglets fitted to
these (L360) and would really like to have a taxi light and landing light in
the inboard end of each tip. This limits me to a max of about 3 inches
diameter. I have tested some rectangular section 100W halogen lamps (with
all the surplus metal and plastic removed) but I am not happy with the light
output. However  testing on the ground may not be indicative of their
performance in the air which is why I am looking for some practical
experience. What is the size of the GE 12v 50W units mentioned (and is 50w
adequate)?
Does anyone have a good starting point for the angle the lights have to be
set at so that they may actually illuminate something useful (like the
runway) first time out.
The latest Lancair Mail newsletter has a 360 on page 10 belonging to Cliff
Carse and Marv Vanderpool with neat looking round 100w halogens mounted to
the gear legs - does anyone know of these or alternatively where these guys
can be contacted.

I am also constructing my own "glass cockpit" with 2 or 3 displays run by 2
Pentium 233 computers - ultimately I would like to advance this to the point
where the primary gyros are replaced (or possibly include some 2.25" standby
instruments). My question is does anyone know of any light weight solid
state sensors or other neat technology that would supply pitch and roll data
for the typical ranges and rates experienced in a 360.
I have considered DGPS with sensors at the extremities but unfortunately the
1 sec update rate is a bit slooooow. Many years ago there was an
electrostatic autopilot developed using radio controlled gliders as the test
bed - it used mildly radioactive pads at the wingtips, nose and tail and
actually sensed the difference in the Earth's magnetic field between
sensors. Don't know what happened to this technology but surely in this
electronic age there must be something out there.

Re separate plenum chambers for cooling, what construction methods have been
used (all glass, glass top with metal sides, all metal etc etc etc). How
much clearance has been kept from the cowling on top of the plenum?, how has
intercylinder movement been catered for?

Graham Nutt (grahamn@mpx.com.au)