Wing tip lights can be and often are recognition lights, but
they could be ice lights, navigation lights, but each type
of light has an official name and purpose.

On a King Air 200/300 recognition lights are located at the
wing tip behind the cover but on the leading edge. They are
high intensity white lights that are about 2x3 inches. They
are designed to allow traffic and persons in the tower to
see the airplane and the bank angle. They also work as an
ice detector because the ice builds on the light shield and
if the recognition light is ON it really makes any ice
shine.

But the ice light is located in the engine nacelle, just
along the leading edge to light up the wing so the pilot can
see the ice build up.

The navigation lights are colored lights of international
treaty approved colors and location.


"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in
message
ink.net...
|
| "Cub Driver" usenet AT danford DOT net wrote in message
| ...
| On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:35:14 -0500, Cub Driver usenet
AT danford DOT
| net wrote:
|
|
| I've always called the lights on wingtip and tail
"navigation lights,"
| but of course they aren't for navigation; they're to
mark the aircraft
| to avoid collision, or so that one plane can fly in
formation with
| another.
|
| What's the name that suggests this purpose? Recognition
lights?
|
|
| For what it's worth, I've decided to call them "wingtip
lights".
|
|
| Why?
|
|