On Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 12:30:07 AM UTC-4, Surge wrote:

Will it only flash when another FLARM unit is nearby or will it also work with ADS-B and Mode-C/S traffic?

If you factor out the potential to annoy other pilots, there is little reason to not have the strobe flashing for the entire flight. By my reckoning a four hour flight would consume 2.25 AH That said, it might make sense to turn it off in a gaggle and have it turn back on with a Flarm alert, but outside of a gaggle it could run continuously (especially while flying ridge or in a cloudstreet).

RedBaron MiniMaxi Specifications

Power - strobe (Watts): 6.6 W (33 W peak)
Current - strobe (@12V): 0.56 A (2.77 A peak)
Repetition Rate of Strobe: 50 cycles per minute

The flashes project in a hemisphere of directions.

I've noticed that the strobe makes it easier to find the towplane at a distance when scanning. (I like to know where the towplane is headed when I'm doing my initial 'climb out' near the airport.)

I also seem to notice the strobe in my peripheral vision when the tow plane is quite close and before I see it with my scan. The strobe 'draws the eye'. I find it easy to completely ignore the towplane strobe while I'm on tow.

On one occasion I shared a short ridge with several other gliders. One of the gliders had wingtip strobes and it really made a difference.