RV-10 Navigation Lights

While scrounging around the many websites created by fellow RV-10 builders, I came across a different way to install navigation lights. NAV lights allow other pilots in other aircraft to determine whether you are going away, coming towards, or passing across their flight track at night. There are specifications regarding these lights, but mostly they need to be bright and visible, yet not obnoxious to the pilot and passengers in the plane. The tips of the wings are made of fiberglass and have a cutout area to mount the lights.














Jeff Bordelon (www.jeffsrv-7a.com/LEDPROJECT1.htm) created a simple and clean installation. Very impressive. I placed my order just before he decided to pack up his house, build a new one, and move. I had plenty of other things to do, so I patiently paced the hangar. Upon their arrival we tore open the boxes and laid out the parts. After a little figuring, I couldn't see why we couldn't give them a little test.


"Jim" from a few doors down showed up (finishing an RV-9a) and with Becky's supervision they "lit" one up with a 12v source set to deliver less than 2 amps. The lights themselves draw less than 1 amp per assembly!! This pic is taken with all the hangar's 8ft fluorescent lights on!




There's basically a strobe plate and a NAV plate assembly consisting of an aluminum base plate with the LED's, an attached heat sink, and all the electrical wires. Over the base plate a mirrored piece of Plexiglas is placed with cutouts that line up with the LED's on the aluminum plate. Each plate is trimmed to not interfere with the lens which is placed over the lights to protect them.




The wingtip is cut to accept the mounting of the two plates.





After being satisfied with the placement of the plates, the lens is trimmed to fit the wingtip and taped in place.




Now, just for kicks, we turn off all the hangar lights and turn on the Cessna's NAV lights. Then, without looking at the LED's, we light up the Bordelon Beauties and compare the outputs. NO COMPARISON! Clean, simple and bright installation. Very impressive.