Landing light

I fitted an LED landing light on the Savannah not long after I acquired it but never really managed to get it very well secured. I started just by sealing around it with white silicone and hoped that that would be enought to hold it in, but it wasn’t.

I then tried using the ULMiste’s friend, cable ties, to stop it dropping out but they have never remained tight enough to firmly hold it for very long, to the point that a few days ago I arrived at Malbec to work on the instrument panel and found the landing light hanging out of the Savannah’s nose. Evidently the cable ties securing it had eased sufficiently in the direct sunlight to release it.

So I needed to do something and now was the ideal time, while I’m waiting for the items I need to complete the instrument panel. I’ve been thinking about alternative methods that didn’t involve screwing through the Savannah’s engine cowling and came up with an idea that uses two specially made aluminium securing collars and a large jubilee clip. Here are some shots of the finished job.

The light can’t move backwards into the cowling because there’s enough of a lip around its lens to prevent it going through the hole. I can’t get the little collars tight enough to stop the light moving a little bit in its mounting but I think it’s quite secure enough. Only time will tell, but at least for now, that’s another little job crossed off the list 😉