VariEZe Landing Light

[Ghost-Rider]

I am interested in installing a Landing light on my VariEZe project. I purchased the Ken Brock kit and as many of you know it doesn’t come with instructions.

The VariEZe plans don’t include instructions for this installation either, but I know many of you have installed KB LL on your VE’s and I was hoping someone could give me some good advice or point me in the right direction.

I am also interested in any insider tip that could facilitate a more effective installation.

I anticipate installing the switch on the control stick which is an Infinity Control Stick and installing an indicator light on the panel.

Ghost.

[Alan Laudani]

Mr. Ghost,
I can almost see what you are about.
The Varieze is a day, VFR aircraft. That said, you can add a landing light to your craft by bracketing to your front landing gear leg. Therefore not complicating your plane with a  retraction system. Or move the pitot from the nose and install it there with a plastic lens. Some will put it into the belly under the thigh support and swing it out with a lever. Some have added two, to the ends of the canard. Remember to provide for cooling and switch load current. Think of adding pulsing circuits to attract the control tower's attention. Go to some airshows where experimentals show up. You can adapt a lot of good ideas. There isn't any one way. Have fun. (the last is my permission, sometimes no one ever gives it.  

[Drew]

In the last issue of CSA there was an article about installing a landing light in the nose.  They modified the nose access panel for landing/taxi lights.  Mine are in the outboard strakes---and work quite nicely.

If you look at Berkut 13's website, you can see some good pix from inside and outside the cockpit in regards to the landing light

http://www.berkut13.com/berkut31.htm

[Ghost-Rider]

Alan & Drew,

Thanks for the relpies, I know the VariEZe was designed to be a Day VFR aircraft and I am not interested in making it an IFR Nighthawk.  

I would however on long cross country flights be able to take-off before dawn.  While some would argue that you don't gain that much by doing this, I am an early riser and I love to fly in the morning to different places for breakfast. I also operate out of a very busy airport with lots of students and I like the idea of extending the Landing Light on final prior to every landing.

Drew, the photos were great and very helpful, I would agree that the best way is going to be via research at the next fly-in, so I plan on doing exactly that, Digital camera and ruler in hand.

Ghost