Wiring

[xtricity]

Bril

[xtricity]

Skry

[xtricity]

Blue

[xtricity]

Marc

[xtricity]

77.7

[psalter]

There is one other place where you have to watch the wiring at the rear tooling hole, and that is by the aileron counterbalance weight on the far outboard end of the spar.

[PlaneDan]

I asked about wiring for lights, not because I plan to fly at night, but I did not have them on my KR and regretted not installing them. I was out a bit late on one flight due to poor planning. It was not night, but not legal day either. Also flying just before dark can be really nice. I flew with a friend once on a night flight and will NEVER do that again on purpose.

Thanks to Dan for the answer I was looking for. I would like to know why the objection for some kind of conduit, like a very light plastic tube thru the snap bushings. I always like to know the WHY of just about everything.

SN020 building flaps and ailerons.

[av8shar]

Dan, thank you that was the info I needed. I’ll look for some sort of ½” or smaller solution and plan on using the aft tooling holes.

To the larger group “philosophical question” of position lights on a day VFR aircraft… in my opinion… circumstances may vary. While I do not intend to purposely fly at night, I do expect to occasionally be airborne after sunset until EENT. If the newer LED position/strobe systems weren’t so light, compact, and draw so little current I may give up on that extra amount of time to fly at the end of the workday. However, for me, the juice seems like it will be worth the squeeze by adding one of these simple systems.

Andy

[Tony Spicer]

Great opportunity for some discussion on lighting. In all the years I've been flying, I've seen only one benefit of flying at night. Much easier to see 23mm tracers. Don't think that will be an issue with the Panther.

I'm reminded of the story about the guy that went out to buy a rowboat and came home with the Queen Mary, the victim of a good salesman. "For just $5 more, you can add this."

Nav lights alone gain you the time between sunset and end of evening twilight. Fly after that and you'll most likely want landing/taxi lights. Ditto flying early morning.

Here's a link to some inexpensive lights: http://www.whelen.com/pb/Aviation/Produ ... _Flyer.pdf

If you drive around with your headlights on during the day, then do like Dan suggested and stick a strobe on the airplane.

No runway lights at the home field, so I've never had lights on any of the airplanes I've built. Besides, sunset is when the deer start grazing on the runway.

Tony

[danweseman]

To answer a few questions, first
We do not recommend any lighting on the Panther. The only exception may be a small high intensity LED strobe for added visibility. The Panther is designed as a Day VFR sport plane. Especially when flying experimental engines like the Corvair, Jabb,UL etc night flying should be avoided. The added weight and complexity of lights are against the core design.
a 13/16 hole is MUCH bigger than could possibly be needed (unless you are planning a tube a conduit which is highly discouraged) drilling the rear tooling hole to a max of 1/2 inch and installing a snap bushing (1/2 OD x3/8 ID ) is more than sufficient for space and protection. You will need to use caution at the aileron pushrod tube to eliminate interference.
Dan W