mike.smith wrote:Note that if you plan to fly at night your lights MUST be TSO'd units to be legal (one of the only things on an experimental that needs to have a TSO). And if you install on the wingtips you need to put them on pods so they meet the angle requirements for viewing:
https://www.whelen.com/pb/Aviation/Syst ... ystems.pdf.
This produced an interesting debate in the CERTIFICATED world when LED drop in bulbs became available to replace the incandescent bulbs.
The general OPINON here was that TSO and PMA was NOT a requirement. Meeting the BRIGHTNESS and color temperature requirement of the FARs was the requirement.
In a NON-WRITTEN / NON-OPINON from the Boston FSDO about 4 years back I was asked if the lights were "brighter and the right color?" On confirming this the inspector said he "liked the safety of the brighter lights"...……
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A similar debate used to occur with the old PAR 36 incandescent landing light bulb. Did you by one from Aircraft Spruce for $60 or the same thing from Tractor Supply for $12? They both met the brightness requirement (as they were the same thing) and could conceivably meet the "Standard Parts" definition.
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In the end I think we all want to be "BRIGHT" and "SEEN" so I doubt if anyone is going to put in a bulb that is not bright enough for the standards.
YMMV