Can I fly it at night?

See an aircraft mechanic who will ...
install a legal anti-collision light (LED strobe uses the
least power)
fabricate a proper battery box for a battery,
perhaps install a voltmeter,
fabricate an electrical bus, circuit breaker and switch,
perhaps an external power connection for charging,
do the weight and balance and update the paperwork and
aircraft logs.

The airplane may have had an external wind-driven generator
originally, you could restore that with a modern alternator
at the cost of a 1 or 2 mph.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"bstanton" null.com wrote in message
...
|I have a 1941 Chief with lights on it. There's one light
on
| each wingtip and one on the top of the fin. There's no
| anticollision light/strobe or landing light. There are
| wires from the 3 position lights to the cockpit, where
they
| end. The engine has no alternator or generator and never
| has had one. There's no battery, battery compartment,
| starter or electrical system. I do have a portable
sealed
| lead acid battery that I charge between flights to power a
| radio and intercom.
|
| There's nothing in the paperwork about "day VFR only" and
| there's no AFM or even any POH.
|
| I've looked at 91.209 and 91.205 (c). I've got position
| lights, I won't be operating for hire, so I suppose a
| landing light is not legally required. I suppose a larger
| battery would be an adequate source of electrical energy
for
| short flights. Can I fly at night if I install an
| anticollision light? Anyone want to comment on what I
need
| to legally fly at night for short local flights? Does
| anyone think the disconnected lights have made the
aircraft
| legally unairworthy for the last 65 years? Does anyone
know
| how these were originally powered (Dry cells?)
|
| Thanks for any information.