Landing lights

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c140flyer » Sun Jul 06, 2014 2:52 pm

Also, at cruise my plane is almost 3 knots slower with the left light down. Would I be 6 knots slower with two down.

Yes, it probably would.
Back in 1985, I got my multi rating in a 1957 Cessna 310 down in Florida. I did all the training during the day, so I never experienced night flying in the plane before I took some folks on a trip to New Orleans from Crestview, FL. This was a mistake. On the return flight, it was dark. I took off and retracted the gear and flaps. I turned off the landing lights, but never retracted them into their respective wings... It took me a while before I figured out why I was cruising 30 m.p.h. slower than on the flight down. At one point the controller asked me if I was a twin engine Cessna. Once I retracted the lights, she went from 155 to 185! There was also the sparks from the over-wing exhaust, but that was another story...
The next morning, I mentioned the incident to the person I rented it from. He said it was common to use the lights as speed brakes to slow down from cruise!

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Mike Smith » Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:15 pm

I know that airplane, I think that was the 310 from Sunshine Aero at CEW.

I gave some instruction in a C-310I (1964 model) yesterday, and yes, even that airplane has the drop down landing lights.

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jliltd » Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:14 pm

I installed AeroLED Sunspot 36LX landing and taxi lights (the "non wigwag" models). Expensive but less stress on my generator-based electrical system (or at least that's the excuse I used). Note that Cessna specifies landing light inboard, taxi light outboard.

Jim
Cessna 140 NC77442

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pittsdriver » Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:01 am

So, the advantages of the LE setup vs swingdown are that it is lighter and has two lights, one aimed for Taxi and one aimed for landing?

The swingdown has just one aim point but is more "original" and requires less install effort (if there is already wire and a plate covering the old hole for it.

Do I have that right?

The Grimes has a three position switch. As the light comes down it turns on and you can stop it at any angle so you can aim it wherever you want.

[editor]Some lights have been modified to do this, as do some later versions. Original lights only come on in the full down position.