Day Varieze to Night Varieze?

[walter]

Can a day varieze be modified to a night varieze? If so, how hard would it be? Any references to previously accomplished mods would be great! Thanks.

[Drew]

Do a search on line for the day/night requirements in the FARs (be sure you comply with each item).  Basically what you will need to add is strobes and position lights.  There is a nice LED assymbly that you can get that has the position/tail/strobe in one unit for each wing----and cheaper than whelan.

You will also need a generator or alternator.

Landing/taxi light not required----but desired

You will need to be able to see your instruments in the cockpit----but I don't believe this is part of the FARs.

Last thing you will need to do is check your operating limitations.  You will probably have a line that says "day/vfr" only.  But you should have another line that says that if you comply with the appropriate FARs (this is where you can check the exact FAR number to look on the internet), that you can fly night/imc/ifr.

No difference in these particular rules between cert and exp.  Once again, I am going from memory----check the FARs

[walter]

Thanks Drew! I guess my question has more to do with how the actual work to add the lights would be done versus the regulation portion. Anyone have any ideas?

[Drew]

Varieze Manufacturing Manual Section III----the whole section is about 9 pages long.  The only thing different thing that I would do differently from this section is to make the wingtip light all one unit---instead of the separate tail light.

[fpullanojr]

Here's an excerpt from FAR 91.205 and pertains to equipment required for night flight in VFR conditions.  The instruments are listed elswhere in the reg.  From this excerpt you can see that the requirements are not much at all.  You dont NEED a landing light and you don't NEED strobes either.  I would strongly recommend the landing light though.
The mention of a fuse is silly since some airplanes have circuit breakers instead of fuses.  Of course, you had better have the friggen fuses on board though!  I'm not certian why they also feel they need to point out that you must also have adequate power for everything but they do.  The placement of the lights is another matter all together.
 
------------snip--------
(c) Visual flight rules (night). For VFR flight at night, the
following instruments and equipment are required:
    (1) Instruments and equipment specified in paragraph (b) of this
section.

    (2) Approved position lights.

    (3) An approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light
system on all U.S.-registered civil aircraft. Anticollision light
systems initially installed after August 11, 1971, on aircraft for which
a type certificate was issued or applied for before August 11, 1971,
must at least meet the anticollision light standards of part 23, 25, 27,
or 29 of this chapter, as applicable, that were in effect on August 10,
1971, except that the color may be either aviation red or aviation
white. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light
system, operations with the aircraft may be continued to a stop where
repairs or replacement can be made.

    (4) If the aircraft is operated for hire, one electric landing
light.

    (5) An adequate source of electrical energy for all installed
electrical and radio equipment.

    (6) One spare set of fuses, or three spare fuses of each kind
required, that are accessible to the pilot in flight.

[fpullanojr]

I forgot to add 91.209   This has to do with more interesting info for those that will say that you DO NEED strobes.  Check subpart (b) below.  They tell you that if you're flying a plane with *strobes* , you have to have them turned on in flight - unless you feel that they are presenting a safety of flight issue.  In other words, they have to work, but you don't have to use em. LOL  I love the FAA!

--------snip----------
Sec. 91.209  Aircraft lights.

    No person may:
    (a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in Alaska, during
the period a prominent unlighted object cannot be seen from a distance
of 3 statute miles or the sun is more than 6 degrees below the horizon)-
-
    (1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;
    (2) Park or move an aircraft in, or in dangerous proximity to, a
night flight operations area of an airport unless the aircraft--
    (i) Is clearly illuminated;
    (ii) Has lighted position lights; or
    (iii) is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights;
    (3) Anchor an aircraft unless the aircraft--
    (i) Has lighted anchor lights; or
    (ii) Is in an area where anchor lights are not required on vessels;
or
    (b) Operate an aircraft that is equipped with an anticollision light
system, unless it has lighted anticollision lights. However, the
anticollision lights need not be lighted when the pilot-in-command
determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the
interest of safety to turn the lights off.

[GlennBob]

The reason the FAA suggests that the strobes may be turned off when the pilot determines that it is in his best interest is that when flying in haze or in close proximity to clouds, the reflection off of the visible moisture can be very distracting and can in fact contribute to vertigo.  This time the FAA isn't so dumb, but rather misunderstood.  This is more applicable to an instrument rated pilot flying in IMC.

Glennbob