AntiCollision Strobe

lwford

lwford

New member
I attemped to install a belly strobe on the belly of my Cruisemaster. I used the original belly location from Bellanca and a Universal Flt Strobe 4400. It was a complete failure. I went thru 4 strobes and countless fixes but the vibration back there is to much! I got my money back from Universal and bought an Aero Flash which is approved for 14-19-3A but not a 14-2. We will see how this goes. Has anybody out there been thru this? I saw s/n 4085 Cruisemaster in Ohio and he had moved the strobe from the aft belly to under the forward cowl. I wonder why? LYNN N9818B :?:
 
Two hours on the bird and the strobe( Aero Flash )is still working! This is the best so far. LYNN N9818B :lol:
 
I got 10 hrs on the AeroFlash and it failed. I sent the whole thing back to them and they repaired the power supply but neglected to send back the strobe! I reinstalled the strobe once they sent me another and the system was working again. This was in Nov. last year from the winter from hell. Well 4.6 hr this year into flying and the strobe failed again. There was a pool of electrolitic oil on the fabric under the power supply so I knew the high voltage capactors had failed. I sent the power supply back to be rerepaired under warranty again. this time the power supply only as the strobe seems to be taking the punishment well. AeroFlash service is not as good as Universal but their flash tube assembly is much more robust. the crate is now working well and the flash venture is the only recurring problem. To be continued! LYNN N9818B :cry:
 
I went thru 3 aeroflash strobs in 350 hrs. I now have a wheln strob with the box mounted to the frame. I now have 35 hrs on it and it is still working. If you open an aeroflash strob they leave wires loose and the board will vibrate. I am not sure how they got an STC with such bad quility work inside the case. I now have wheln strobs on the wing tips and belly and I no longer here the wine when the bottom strob flashes. :lol: :lol:
 
I still have the old rotating beacon on the underside of mine. It provides a distinctive grinding/static backround in my headset :lol:
 
The Aeroflash failed again with 3 hours on it. I'm packing it up and sending it back with a money back request. I'm now going to install a Whelen rotating beacon from a Cessna 180. the Bellanca blues continues. LYNN N9818B
 
AeroFlash would not refund my money! They told me to return it to the place I bought it sooo I'm sending it back to Aircraft Spruce. Needless to say I will never consider anything from AeroFlash. Let the buyer beware. My Whelen beacon is still working perfectly! LYNN N9818B
 
Aircraft Spruce called and they are having trouble getting my money from AeroFlash. the Whelen beacon continues to work perfectly besides it looks more 1958.
 
Well, after your unfortunate account, Lynn, I don't think any of us will be buying anything from AeroFlash.

I've still got the old rotating beacon on my 'Master as it also works, after a fashion, and it looks more 1950 :)
 
Today Aircraft Spruce finally gave me my money back as a credit 08/04/04. That is provided Aero Flash accepts the strobe-- talk about BS this is number 1. :twisted:
 
You are 2 ahead of me. I purchased 2 in one year and they are both no good. I could not get them to take them back. Spread the word to all Don't by Aeroflash I am. :cry: :cry:
 
I installed a Universal Strobe in mine about 10 yrs ago for $99 on the belly. Replaced it with another new one last year and about 500 hrs later. Seems inflation jacked the price up to $130 or so. Guess I'm satisfied.

Glenn - N7695B
 
The old Whelen quit rotating this year. I got another one on e-bay. I topped the OPEC 470 in Dec and have much less vibration on the old crate. I picked up 5 mph indicated. I bet this will help my beacon blues. I had 584 hrs on the OPEC and it had considerable blowby. I sent 6 cylinders down to Sentry in Texas for nickle ECI. They did a great job at a cost of about 650 a cylinder that includes a new coated piston, and all the upgrades. The crate now has 22 hrs on it since top ( there are few blue skies here) and I used 2 qts oil that included the breakin. I'm a happy boy :D :D Lynn N9818B
 
Lynn:

ECI did a terrific job on my O435 jugs....after they rejected a bunch of mine (you just start collecting such things if you own an aircraft like this). The cermi-nil provides a wonderful seal and it did not suffer from my "still" oil and water discriminator. Much better than channel chrome regarding break-in too, and not the mirage that cermi-chrome turned out to be.

And old man beacon....that rotating beacon....it must know somethin, but don't say nothin....it keeps on grinding, just keeps on grinding ahhhhhlong. It don't plant taders....it don't pick cotton...oops - it got away from me there. :oops: Sorry...I have a weak spot for Showboat and Paul Robeson. Wish I could sing that low when I get the bill for my annual.

Jonathan
 
Ok Jonathan, take it from the top. We have a Blues Bros. group called the Bellanca Bros we all sing the Blues on our toys but Ohhh so much fun and no pain ---no gain. I wouldn't trade my old crate for any Spam can out there. She is a labor of love and a love of my life. Lynn N9818B :) :) :)
 
One minor problem, Lynn.....I CAN'T SING. Growing up, birthdays with their traditional ditty were absolute proof of the complete absence of the pleasant vocal gene in our family :roll:
 
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