Stan Protigal
ECLIPSE AVIATION
111 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301-2322

Eclipse is Proudly on the Saudi Arabian Boycott List!

STC'd Halogen Landing Light for Mooney Aircraft
M20, M20A, M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K (models with 5.7" landing light) *

The Eagle is a trademark of Mooney Aircraft Corporation

$175.

Uses field-replaceable H3 quartz-iodine bulb, available in 12 volt (55 and 100 watt) and 28 volt (70 watt). This provides a meaningful bulb lifetime, and a lot less drain on the battery, making it ideal as a landing identifier light. (The H3 bulb is commercially available, and doesn't have to say "airplane" on it!)

The lighting pattern is ideal for landing. The "clean" lighting gives better illumination and is desirable because it makes objects easier to see both within and outside of the beamspread.

The longer lifetime and lower current draw make it more suitable as an identifier light. Your controller will appreciate it, and if you land in an uncontrolled field, you definitely will appreciate it.

This light is STC'd for Mooney aircraft using a PAR 46 (145 mm dia.) landing light. Other aircraft (eg., some Beech, Aztec, some Cessnas) can apply for a 337 based on the STC or get in touch with me. There is no PAR 36 (3.5") equivalent.

Technically, the light broadcasts its light as a combined result of a "modified Fresnel" (fluted) lens, the reflector, and the bulb position. Unlike sealed beam lights, the STC'd light has each of these components separately manufactured, resulting in a more precise and desirable lighting pattern. When selecting the components, the Fresnel lens was originally considered to be a mere cosmetic feature, but it is now believed to reduce glare and provide a favorable beam pattern.
The H3 bulb is the common type of halogen replacement bulb, distinguished by the fact that it has a pigtail connector.

FAQs

What is the meaning of life?

You're a pilot and fly a Mooney, and you still need to ask that?

How much more speed can I expect?

This light should give you an extra 5 kts because of reduced optical friction from the light. If you install one of these on a Piper, Bonanza or Cessna, you should get an additional 20 kts because the air molecules see the Fresnel lens and figure it's a Mooney coming at them.

Where is the nearest Eclipse Aviation showroom (where I can see one of these)?

here are images of the lights.

"Blazer" makes a lower cost copy of the lens which can be seen at discount auto parts stores as 6 inch driving lights. The lens used in the Eclipse H3 light is of suitable quality for installing on an airplane. It used to be U.S. made but they apparently moved the assembly to Poland. This probably relates to a major EC market for automotive applications, but the unit remains high quality.

What's included?

The purchase price covers the STC, the lamp assembly (lens and reflector), an H3 bulb, and appropriate connectors. Airplane and battery (Gill 35 or equivalent) not included.

What else do I need for the installation?

Expect to perform a splice repair on wiring due to wear on older airplanes. A new breaker is not necessary because the original 20A wiring is retained (14v), even though the current draw will be under 8A. (Light bulbs don't need breaker protection - just the wiring.)

Tools required include screwdrivers, wire crimper (Amp tool), a wrench for the existing ground terminal attach point, and a small drill to drill new mounting holes in the bezel. (Drill bits for a power screwdriver will suffice.)

Will the light be a pain to deal with during annual?

After the installation, the plug-in blade connectors will make cowl removal slightly easier - one less thing to unscrew.

I have two landing lights. Do I need to replace both? Do I need two STC's?

Replacing both is not required, but the STC gives you three options:

1. replace only one
2. replace both. The additional cost for a second light is $35.
3. The STC permits a second light to be replaced with one having a wider beamspread. Order the second light with a wide beamspread (a clear foglight lens). This is consistent with the beamspread of a taxi light. This is the preferred option. Who knows - maybe you can use it to land in zero-zero. (It sounds good, but I doubt if foglights work airborne.)

Is it worth 175 bucks?

1. Its lifetime is more than the 20 minutes of the old 250 watt (#4522) lamp, meaning that you can use it as an identifier light. I sometimes use it for the whole flight. It also makes it easier for tower controllers to spot you.
2. On aircraft with generators, you can even taxi with it on, and not drain down the battery. More importantly, using it in the pattern will not run down the electrical system, even on a generator equipped aircraft.
3. The only reason to convert to an alternator is to reduce weight.
4. It's more dependable.
5. On the other hand, with good LED flashlights going for $10 - $30, having a landing light on an airplane is becoming an anachronism.

I need something right away.

If all you want to do is test the circuit, find an automotive high beam light. preferably with holes in the contacts. Wagner #7365 is a 50 watt sealed beam light, but it is not an approved replacement, and has been reported to be inadequate as a light source. Driving (not fog) lights provide a good beam pattern. Of course all of these need to be aimed.

I want to look cool like those teenagers with their weird trucks and about 30 lights on top.

Eclipse feels your pain. Not only is the assembly certified to withstand the shock loading of your subwoofers, but you can also get the way-kewl bluish white bulb. These are supposed to resemble the plasma discharge lights used on some high-end sportscars.

NOTE - The bluish lights are still available but not recommended unless you have two lights. Read on...

The bluish-white lights look great, so if you are ever attracted to the voice of a controller, here is your chance to get to know her/him/whatever!

I didn't think the bluish-white bulbs make any difference in the ability to see, and bought a bunch. They're crap. The bluish-white light bulb is identified by the bulb being a bluish colour.

I then tested a set on a 1981 W123, by replacing the headlight bulbs. True to form, they are blue, but the lighting is less than standard. A W123 is not a new style Mooney (a Benz Mooney) but I get a lot of high speed taxiing in. The result was that a bluish 90W/100W H4 bulb puts out less light than a standard 55W/65W (or whatever they are) H4. Since much light is lost, the bulbs must be building more heat and therefore have a shorter lifespan. In an airplane, I suspect the bluish-white bulbs produce about half the lighting as a standard white H3 bulb.

Outside test information confirms what I found: www.overboost.com/story_asp?id=102 Once there, search for the word"blue".

More consise information on blue lights is found at Dan Stern Lighting, www.danielsternlighting.com (old link - vrx.headlamp.netlighting.mbz.org/faq/) and more specifically at www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/blue.html (old link - lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/blue_bulbs)

Have you run any tests to compare the lighting effectiveness of the Eclipse H3 landing light to the GE 250 watt light?

Much of this is subjective. In order to obtain the STC, tests were run to determine illumination, visibility and other effectiveness issues. The 250 watt light puts out greater light intensity (duh), and this is in a spotlight pattern. If either type of light is properly aimed, center of beam illumination will be good, so there is no major advantage to the Eclipse H3 here. I found that overall illumination to be superior with the Eclipse H3 because of the light pattern and the fact that it is easier to see objects which are not in the center of the beam.

Tower controllers seem to like it, so it makes a good identification light. The light seems superior for taxi use because of its reduced glare. These two features gives the Eclipse light better utility.

In the airspace around Boeing Field, it is common to see opposite direction traffic. (If you see any landing light in focus, assume that you within 6 or 11 degrees of the flightpath of that airplane!) I found it advantageous to leave the light on while in such airspace.

Current draw? What about my existing 20A circuit breaker?

For H3-100, current is 8 amps. The test aircraft is a '62 C and has a 50A generator. I have no problem with leaving the light on while taxiing.

The existing circuit breaker switch is used unless the 20A wiring (12 or 14AWG) is replaced with thinner wire. Since the actual current draw is less with the H3 lamp, early tripping of aging breakers is avoided.

Since the current draw is less than 20A, it is possible to "ident" by flashing the landing light off without subsequently having to wait for the breaker switch to cool down enough to turn the light back on.

Do they work with Pulselight®?

I have not personally tested this but I understand they are fully compatible.

Are PAR 36 (3") lights available under the STC?

No, in part because the PAR 36 components aren't readily available. I'm still looking, though.

Note that these lights do not replace the 4.5" lights on newer aircraft. This may include most K models and later which have two lights mounted adjacent each other in a single cowl opening. I am looking for a source of smaller (PAR 36) lights.

The Eclipse lights replace the PAR 46 lights (145 mm dia. or 5.7" at the outer rim).
The #4509 PAR 36 (114 mm dia. or 4.5" at the outer rim) are not replaced by the Eclipse light. I don't know all of the model years, but a 1979 231 takes these newer lights and will not accept the Eclipse light.

NOTE: Checks should be made out to Stan Protigal, since corporate accounts are not available at my bank.

Stan Protigal
ECLIPSE AVIATION
111 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301-2322

(phone by request)
Email link is here: email me

I have no business relationship to Eclipse-Pioneer aircraft instruments and Bendix Eclipse starters. Those products are manufactured by Allied-Signal Aerospace. I wouldn't mind having one of those Eclipse private jet planes.

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Yes! I want to be the first on my airport to have one of these! (How to Order)

No. I want to crash and burn upside down in the weeds.

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