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Showing results for tags 'beacon'.
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My recent efforts with the usual 'net search methods have proven mostly fruitless, so I thought I'd ask here- When exactly were aircraft anti-collision lights (beyond the red/green wing tip navigation lights and possibly white or red tail light) first used or mandated? If known at all, this could include different answers by civilian/military and country/region also. What I've found so far- In the FAR's: "Aircraft for which type certificate was applied for after April 1, 1957 to August 10, 1971: These anti-collision systems must produce a minimum of 100 effective candela in aviation Red or White, 360 degrees around the aircraft's vertical axis, 30 degrees above and below the horizontal plane." In 1971 and later amendments the requirements improve the direction and brightness of the lighting, but I haven't found any U.S. requirement prior to 1957. According to the Whelen website, "Whelen Engineering began in 1952 when George W. Whelen developed a rotating aircraft 'anti-collision beacon.' " According to the Honeywell website (Honeywell now owns Grimes Manufacturing, another aircraft beacon maker), "Some of the contributions we have made to aircraft lighting include the ... first anti-collision lights ... first xenon strobe ...", but no dates are given. The reason I ask is that I have several WWII and earlier birds for flightsims with various flashing/rotating beacons and strobes and I believe that these are all anachronisms. I want to fly the most accurate representations possible, at least in simulations. The MAAM-SIM XC-47C even has physical elements of the 3D model to represent the rotating beacons. It's quite likely that other sim vintage aircraft have lighting systems modeled after modern planes rather than the way they really were. Sometimes this can be due to copying the appearance of an existing airframe that has been retrofitted, but I think it's more often due to ignorance on the part of the model designer(s). I don't blame them so much though, as info on the evolution of aircraft lighting systems just doesn't seem to be readily available.
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Radio stack defaults
MertZhang posted a topic in FSX/FSX-SE Aircraft and Panel Design Forum - How To
Each time I start with default aircraft, after I start the engine radios turns on and that happens: COM1 is selected (It's normal) and MRK Button is selected (I do not want this)... How can I settle radio stack defaults? Can you change the default radio frequencies? I don't want my MRK button selected after I open the avionics master switch, I'd appreciate for quick responses. thanks. -
When I load the PMDG 737-800 NGX, the fan blades and spinners in the engine intakes are missing, the beacons appear as steady burn lights rather than flashing lights, and the landing lights have different combinations of being on or extended (often different between the left and right sides) in disagreement with the landing light switches. I've tried reloading the aircraft many times, restarting FSX many times, restarting the computer, reinstalling the liveries, and even repairing the entire 737 8/900 installation. The problem persists. I've had the for a few months and did not experience these problems until a couple days ago. I've considered reinstalling FSX, but frankly, I'd rather not if there's a better way of fixing this. Thank you for your time. -Nathan Theriault
