A guy I know bought one of these flasher units
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... ckkey=6599
and cut it into the landing light lead, for a low-budget wig-wag (actually just wag) daytime anti-collision light. Simple, and cheap at about $27, but for experimental use only. Small, about 1/3 the size of a pack of cigarettes-- he mounted it in the landing light bay out on the wing. Flashes at 75 beats per minute.

hotrod180 wrote:A guy I know bought one of these flasher units
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... ckkey=6599
and cut it into the landing light lead, for a low-budget wig-wag (actually just wag) daytime anti-collision light. Simple, and cheap at about $27, but for experimental use only. Small, about 1/3 the size of a pack of cigarettes-- he mounted it in the landing light bay out on the wing. Flashes at 75 beats per minute.

As you say, for experimental use only. A friend was in a club with an Archer many years ago, and to save bucks, their IA (also a member of the club) replaced the alternator with a duplicate for all practical purposes that he'd gotten at NAPA--same manufacturer, same size, same mounting, etc., just didn't have an FAA/PMA label. Ford parts cost a whole lot less than Piper parts. Then one of the members had a glitch that sparked an FAA investigation--had nothing to do with the alternator, but the Ford alternator was noticed by the Inspector.

It took a long time before the club could fly again--don't ask for more details, because I don't know them, other than it caused a hassle for every member with the FAA. So best not to save money by putting in parts which aren't approved for a certificated airplane.

Cary

I love it when these discussions come up. Curiously enough, although I've never tried it myself, the alternator belt on a Mooney M20C has an exact analog made by Gates rubber company for various Craftsman yard maintenance devices. Or so I'm told. Gates pulls them randomly off the assembly line, inspects them, and then stamps them with a different number for use in aircraft. It's in that quick additional inspection that the value lies.