I saw this product on Facebook and it looks interesting. Made to replace a fabric wind inspection cover. I read that versions will be coming out for metal aircraft applications. A bit Pricey at $85. A LED lamp that you can hang or stick onto a surface or even a headlamp is ten times cheaper. Might be something to check out. WWW.fly-lite.com

Those are cute. A lot of money for that application, but I've spent more on a bent wire spring for my door latch.

Too bad there's only one brightness setting. The inability to dim it is a deal killer for me.

Would be super easy to make one of these with a dimmer switch out of an inspection cover and $5.00 of stuff from Amazon.

Bagarre wrote:Would be super easy to make one of these with a dimmer switch out of an inspection cover and $5.00 of stuff from Amazon.

x2.

I need some extra inspection covers anyway - I might try this as a rainy day project.

I may be a bit biased because I have been fortunate to have been a beta-tester for the fly-lites for Cessnas which will be released soon. I will say the price point seems a bit high, but they are SUPER high quality, corrosion proofed, and sealed so they are pretty dang water resistant, which is nice especially since they get sprayed when doing water assisted landings in the cub. I too was concerned at first about not being able to control the brightness level, but after using them for a while I have never felt the need to adjust the brightness level. Overall, they are a game changer for camping convenience IMHO.

Just my experience using them.

A few pics of them in use...

RKTX wrote:... I will say the price point seems a bit high, but they are SUPER high quality, corrosion proofed, and sealed so they are pretty dang water resistant,...

Quality is usually worth more than you spent on it. You can buy a LED flashlight off the gas station counter for a few dollars, or you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a good flashlight. Personally, I'm happy to spend the money for quality, or just go without.

Since I can get a decent LED headlamp for the same price, I don't really see a need for these. But if I did, the price isn't unrealistic if the quality is there. Pretty inexpensive for airplane bling...Pilot Ryan, are you there??

I’ve got one on my cub and they are fantastic. They are great if your camping, and work great for getting stuff out of the plane. There is no wiring, just slip in the inspection cover and your done. They are awesome!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good idea. A dual function (power + dimming) roller wheel such as those to control car dashboard/speedo/tach lighting would be ideal and easy to implement. $85 seems like they are making about $75 profit, but then again I’m also selling handmade sewn goods on this forum for about the same price and those are going like hot cakes, so I think these will be a hit.

I’d like to request a strobing version with a built in Bluetooth speaker for under wing parties.

asa wrote:Good idea. A dual function (power + dimming) roller wheel such as those to control car dashboard/speedo/tach lighting would be ideal and easy to implement. $85 seems like they are making about $75 profit, but then again I’m also selling handmade sewn goods on this forum for about the same price and those are going like hot cakes, so I think these will be a hit.

I’d like to request a strobing version with a built in Bluetooth speaker for under wing parties.

Ohhh bluetooth. I could hook it up to my audio panel

asa wrote:Good idea. A dual function (power + dimming) roller wheel such as those to control car dashboard/speedo/tach lighting would be ideal and easy to implement. $85 seems like they are making about $75 profit, but then again I’m also selling handmade sewn goods on this forum for about the same price and those are going like hot cakes, so I think these will be a hit.

I’d like to request a strobing version with a built in Bluetooth speaker for under wing parties.

Those Piper (Univair) inspection covers are something like $36 alone...

Ah, but how to match color.....

MTV

Will they keep me from ground looping?........................Sorry

Hafast wrote:Will they keep me from ground looping?........................Sorry

I’d bet they do. They illuminate the patch under the wing, which is really the best place to be staring at during the landing phase.

I've seen Cessnas with factory-installed underwing courtesy lights similar to thig.
Cessna should take a page from Garmin's book
and sue you for stealing their technology.

I replaced the stock wired underwing courtesy light on my P172D with a battery operated LED light, several years ago. Where I got it, I don't recall, but I remember that it was a pricey thing, around $100. I thought it would be a good thing for airplane camping in spite of the price, because it was bright, it could be lit without opening the airplane or turning on the master switch, and it automatically shuts off after a preset time--I forget how long. I was right about all those things, but it has a "feature" that is annoying. In addition to the main LED light, it has a very tiny and not bright flashing LED that is supposed to guide the user to the switch in the dark. That's a good idea, but it also means that over a time, which I've found to be about 6 months, it runs the 9v battery down. So whether I've used it or not, I have to replace the battery periodically.

Overall, though, having a usable underwing light for airplane camping is a pretty good idea, I think. So I'll keep replacing the battery in mine--might try a lithium battery to see if it lasts longer.

Cary

Cary wrote:... So I'll keep replacing the battery in mine--might try a lithium battery to see if it lasts longer.

Cary

http://www.tenergy.com/10003

At this point rechargeable batteries are so good you really need a very specific reason to use anything else. Inertia is the only reason non-rechargeable batteries are even around any more.

hotrod180 wrote:Cessna should take a page from Garmin's book
and sue you for stealing their technology.

Innovation in aviation and you take a dump on it. Funny thing is you don't even know who your shaking your finger at.

Cessna has no patent on an underwing light... Moreover, if they had gotten a patent, it would be utility, and this one has a battery, so it's different. Besides, Mike's a sharp kid. I bet he even went and got themselves a utility patent before he started selling them.

I appreciate you posting. I ordered two to support the effort. Looks killer.

How do we pre-order the Cessna ones or get on a list to get notified when they’re available?
——
EDIT: Found them on IG and full stalker mode has been activated [emoji41]

https://instagram.com/flylite.led?utm_s ... pyl7bgehti

*BCP donation will be made once I can buy these bad boys. I’d never have learned of them if it wasn’t for this thread.

Mike said that the Cessna ones are ready, just not on the site yet. Just add a note in the comments that you want them rather than the fabric wing ones and they will send em...

Thanks Greg. I hate money so this is wonderful news.