self contained streamlined strobe?

It is a GREAT idea, not sure why it is not standard! A strobe faired into the leading edge of the vertical fin (no aerodynamic loses) with a controller, that lets you set to off, on, or strobe with Flarm alert. Why would tht not be a good idea. Check out the Schleicher fin strobe, it is great safety idea and in my view should be a standard item.

What would be the downside?


On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 5:57:00 AM UTC-8, Tango Eight wrote:
On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 7:04:30 AM UTC-5, Dan Daly wrote:
runs the strobe when there is a FLARM alert.

Does this actually strike anyone as a good idea?

-Evan

Is the motivation one of managing power consumption? Honestly, the idea of only switching on the strobe when a flarm contact is received sounds so dim to me that I hardly have the words. Outside of contest flying, far less than 5% of the traffic I see is flarm equipped... Those are the guys I am *least* concerned with bumping into. A) we're flarm equipped, B) they're the experienced guys with good lookout discipline.

I've seen the Schleicher fin mount LED strobe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMdGXX11Bs4

It looks quite amazing lit up on the ground and it's a nice clean installation. However, the rumor I hear -- though I stress I am at the end of a long grapevine -- is that it isn't bright enough to be useful except under deep cloud shadow. Perhaps still useful under cloud streets...

best,
Evan Ludeman / T8


On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 10:59:32 AM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
It is a GREAT idea, not sure why it is not standard! A strobe faired into the leading edge of the vertical fin (no aerodynamic loses) with a controller, that lets you set to off, on, or strobe with Flarm alert. Why would tht not be a good idea. Check out the Schleicher fin strobe, it is great safety idea and in my view should be a standard item.

What would be the downside?


On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 5:57:00 AM UTC-8, Tango Eight wrote:
On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 7:04:30 AM UTC-5, Dan Daly wrote:
runs the strobe when there is a FLARM alert.

Does this actually strike anyone as a good idea?

-Evan

Evan, ironic that you use the word "dim" to describe a bright idea such as a strobe with no aerodynamic penalty. The strobe is very bright and can be seen much better than the typical strobes on airplanes, as it is a strip of LED lights, perhaps 12 inches long. I also, turn on the strobe when say crossing Banning Pass, a well known air carrier route. Running the cloud streets of the west it helps others with over a 250 mph closure rate see me, and I have been told that. It is a different visual cue that helps others spot a glider flashing a 12 inch or so long strobe of LED lights. With all due respect, as for so dim you do not have words, frankly that is insulting (I am surprised you do not have more social graces), short sighted, linear thought process that apparently cannot accept a new application of a proven idea. Merry Christmas


On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 8:54:50 AM UTC-8, Tango Eight wrote:
Is the motivation one of managing power consumption? Honestly, the idea of only switching on the strobe when a flarm contact is received sounds so dim to me that I hardly have the words. Outside of contest flying, far less than 5% of the traffic I see is flarm equipped... Those are the guys I am *least* concerned with bumping into. A) we're flarm equipped, B) they're the experienced guys with good lookout discipline.

I've seen the Schleicher fin mount LED strobe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMdGXX11Bs4

Slow down, read it again.

It's the flarm dependent bit I'm stuck on. It seems to me that making the action of the strobe dependent upon flarm defeats 90+% of the potential utility of the strobe. Why not leave it on? That's all. Bad pun intended, of course.

best,
Evan






On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 12:49:30 PM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
Evan, ironic that you use the word "dim" to describe a bright idea such as a strobe with no aerodynamic penalty. The strobe is very bright and can be seen much better than the typical strobes on airplanes, as it is a strip of LED lights, perhaps 12 inches long. I also, turn on the strobe when say crossing Banning Pass, a well known air carrier route. Running the cloud streets of the west it helps others with over a 250 mph closure rate see me, and I have been told that. It is a different visual cue that helps others spot a glider flashing a 12 inch or so long strobe of LED lights. With all due respect, as for so dim you do not have words, frankly that is insulting (I am surprised you do not have more social graces), short sighted, linear thought process that apparently cannot accept a new application of a proven idea. Merry Christmas


On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 8:54:50 AM UTC-8, Tango Eight wrote:
Is the motivation one of managing power consumption? Honestly, the idea of only switching on the strobe when a flarm contact is received sounds so dim to me that I hardly have the words. Outside of contest flying, far less than 5% of the traffic I see is flarm equipped... Those are the guys I am *least* concerned with bumping into. A) we're flarm equipped, B) they're the experienced guys with good lookout discipline.

I've seen the Schleicher fin mount LED strobe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMdGXX11Bs4

I've seen an ASG-29 equipped with a fin mounted strobe in the air several times over eastern and central PA. Evan is correct, the strobe isn't very bright. Flarm alerts me about the glider, and I see it well before I see the strobe.

-John, Q3

On Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 11:54:50 AM UTC-5, Tango Eight wrote:
I've seen the Schleicher fin mount LED strobe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMdGXX11Bs4

It looks quite amazing lit up on the ground and it's a nice clean installation. However, the rumor I hear -- though I stress I am at the end of a long grapevine -- is that it isn't bright enough to be useful except under deep cloud shadow. Perhaps still useful under cloud streets...

best,
Evan Ludeman / T8

Feedback I got in Uvalde was that the strobe on the vertical of the Silent 2 Electro was very easy to see and appreciated. The nice thing about having the giant batteries for the FES is that power consumption isn't much of a concern.