Thread: Rota-beam hill light

Just when you think you've got it all down pat, you learn something new.
Interesting thing on version 3 Aircraft Rota-Beam is that it has 6 extra glass lenses under the dome. Other than the 3 round main magnifying lenses, in the 3 connecting sides of the lens cage, (see picture), there are half circle glass magnifying lenses in each of the cut-outs. These lenses catch the bulb filament at high and low angles, while the main lenses catch the horizontal.
This gives HIGH, LEVEL, and LOW beams, 3 of each, on each rotation.
Almost a HILL LIGHT effect.
The automotive version of this light, (Model 66), does not have this feature.

That is a cool light! Why do I have a feeling you will have a blue dome on that at some point?

Originally Posted by MESDA6

That is a cool light! Why do I have a feeling you will have a blue dome on that at some point?

Good thought!
But I think I'll keep it as an aircraft light, in the original aircraft red.

That's Sharp...Any Vids?...

I think that'd be pretty sick to see in some snow or fog.

Sorry, youv'e never seen a video from me. I'm a video challenged, low tech kinda guy.

WoW, never seen one like that before, very cool!

Ditto. Never knew that; thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by guy m.

WoW, never seen one like that before, very cool!

and that my friends, is what makes aircraft lights cost at least $500.00 more than their automotive counterparts...




beautiful light. . send it my way, I have a great video camera. I'll do the video for ya.

Neat, I'd never really paid any attention to the holes in the cage.

Original style lens cage with top rect. cut out.
Newer style lens cage with cut outs.

Originally Posted by unlisted

and that my friends, is what makes aircraft lights cost at least $500.00 more than their automotive counterparts...




beautiful light. . send it my way, I have a great video camera. I'll do the video for ya.

Actually the certifications are more expensive to maintain for the production of aircraft parts.

Hills and aircraft mean trouble .....

You might be able to date the light from the Federal Air Regulations for anticollision beacons:

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 (REF. FAR 23.1397), 360º around the
aircraft’s vertical axis, 30º above and below the horizontal plane (REF. FAR 23.1401).

Aircraft for which type certificate was applied for After August 11, 1971 to July 18, 1977:
These anti-collision systems must produce a minimum of 400 effective candela in Aviation Red or White (REF. FAR 23.1397), 360º around the
aircraft’s vertical axis, 30º above and below the horizontal plane (REF. FAR 23.1401).

Aircraft for which type certificate was applied for After July 18, 1977:
These anti-collision systems must produce a minimum of 400 effective candela in Aviation Red or White (REF. FAR 23.1397), 360º around the
aircraft’s vertical axis, 75º above and below the horizontal plane (REF. FAR 23.1401).

I would suspect your light was made to meet the 3rd spec, but that was the time that strobes were starting to take over the market and I'm sure there weren't a whole lot produced of that model. Very nice!

Christ on a pogo stick.

More pics of added magnifiers in aircraft Rota-Beam.

Video please!

Just found another lens cage with the extra magnifying lenses.
Ended up overpaying, but couldn't resist.

I have an extra one of these!
Is there a Rota-Beam efficianato out there that has thought of making a hill light out of their Corporal or Model 66?
Read the above posts for an explanation.