Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

Hi all,

I've googled the web several times now in search of a site where they reveal the different light patterns in use on different aircraft. Till now I've been unable to succeed.

I'm aware of the [link=http://www.whelen.com/aviation/catalog/Anit-Collision%20Systems.pdf]FAA Position Light And Anti-Collision Light Distribution Patterns Requirements PDF[/link], but no (flash) patterns are mentioned in there.

The detail I'm looking for would describe how often which strobe/light flashes including intervalpatterns in ms (milliseconds).

[link=http://www.mes-avions-rc.net/PagesGB/PagesGBAirbus/GBairbusfeux.htm]Here's[/link] an example for an Airbus. I expect the builder uses the original lightpatterns.

All help is appriciated.

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

There doesn't appear to be a specification regarding the interval of the strobe. The specification provides only that it is visible which determins its mounting and number on the air craft.

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

It varies by manufacturer, you need to find out for the specific model you are working on.

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

On US civil aircraft the position lights do not flash. On military aircraft they do and it is used for signalling between aircraft in flight. Also we used them to signal on the carrier when we were ready to unfold the wings, or start engines.

Hope that helped.

Dave

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

BobH - That's what I was saying

BarracudaHockey - That's what I was thinking. But nevertheless still hoping there would excist a source in which a large group of aircraft types or manufactures would be mentioned with matching data on this issue.

c550 - regarding civil aviation: position lights never blink that's true, but anti-collision strobes do! And the latter is just the one i'm interested in regarding the blinking pattern.

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

I suggest you email a few manufacturers of air craft strobes and ask them for their specifics. Thats the only way you are going to know.. And if you create your own strobe and have it flash.. who's going to know if you are 1 or 2 ms off?

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

Nobody, but that's why we build scale. To perfect!! :)

But serious. It's not that one ms, but there are complete different patterns in use. That's worth searching for.

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

Once you know the strobe rate on a full scale aircraft, what would you like the strobe rate to be on the scale plane? Same rate or a slower scaled rate?

Brian

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

Wouldn't that be a FASTER scaled rate?

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

You can't scale time.. So the rate should be the same.:D

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

I recently came across a mention of 85 strobes per second as being an FAA standard. This was in an article about making a flashing circuit using a microcontroller for a model nav light setup.

Scott

RE: Position- and anticollision lights distribution patterns
 

Hmm that's pretty fast.. thats 85 hz, faster than the eye can discern as separate visual images I would think.