VFR Warbird anti-collision, rotating beacon question.

[Speeddemon651]

I have a question about VFR regulations for a T6-G model certified in standard category around 1960 pertaining to anti-collision strobe / and a rotating beacon. The aircraft in question has a single wheelen strobe on it's belly and a red rotating beacon on the top aft of the fuselage. Is the red rotating beacon required for VFR along with the belly strobe ? I've asked several people and it seems the red rotating beacon was added in the past to meet IFR requirements with the plane but since it's strictly VFR now is it still required ?

[Stoney]

If you leave the switch on and forget the batt switch you will see your mistake after you walk away form it:)

[Tinker51]

Have you checked the TCDS? I believe Boeing holds it now. Available on the FAA website.

[mustanglover]

Have you checked the TCDS? I believe Boeing holds it now. Available on the FAA website.

TCDS Link -

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet

You will also need to refer to CAR 4a for any additional requirements that may have been in effect.

[Scott 'Gunny' Perdue]

VFR Day flight does not require a Anti-Collision/Rotating Beacon. VFR-Night does (as well as a few other things). If you leave out the beacon then you cannot legally fly at night. The best reference is FAR 91.205 not the TCDS. Given the age of the airplane it can be red or white.

I'm with Stoney, I leave the strobe on as a dumb-guy switch. That way if I leave the battery on I can tell when I walk away that I've been a dumb guy. It happens.

[Stoney]

find A-2-575 for type cerificate

[mustanglover]

VFR Day flight does not require a Anti-Collision/Rotating Beacon. VFR-Night does (as well as a few other things). If you leave out the beacon then you cannot legally fly at night. The best reference is FAR 91.205 not the TCDS. Given the age of the airplane it can be red or white.

I'm with Stoney, I leave the strobe on as a dumb-guy switch. That way if I leave the battery on I can tell when I walk away that I've been a dumb guy. It happens.

You obviously do not work with Limited Airworthiness do you?

The TCDS A-2-575 (click on my link above for the TCDS) and Car 4a (not 91.205) are what control that airplane configuration.

[Speeddemon651]

There are multiple T-6's setup with Wheelen wingtip nav light/strobes which takes care of having a belly and fuselage marker. I've also seen single belly strobe setup's so I figured I'd ask.

[phil65]

It's nice to have the beacon on before you crank the engines; especially at night, lets people near you know to look-out for props.

Last edited by phil65 on Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[RobC]

Speeddemon, congrats on your T-6 ownership. WIX can be useful and it also can be frustrating. You ask a simple question and get 10 wrong answers. Your question was, can you eliminate the red rotating beacon in favor of your already installed strobe. The correct answer is yes. As you have no doubt read, the TCDS does not address your question and the FAR specifying anti-collision lighting is addressed by your strobe. However, since it provides additional visibility, I would question why you want to remove the beacon. Re: your question on the other re: the APU plug, I side with BDK. Having been stranded with a dead battery in a plane with no APU plug, I would have given a lot to have had a plug. I agree with what you are doing removing old dead wiring, but you can go too far.

One old dude's opinion.

[Scott 'Gunny' Perdue]

VFR Day flight does not require a Anti-Collision/Rotating Beacon. VFR-Night does (as well as a few other things). If you leave out the beacon then you cannot legally fly at night. The best reference is FAR 91.205 not the TCDS. Given the age of the airplane it can be red or white.

I'm with Stoney, I leave the strobe on as a dumb-guy switch. That way if I leave the battery on I can tell when I walk away that I've been a dumb guy. It happens.

You obviously do not work with Limited Airworthiness do you?

The TCDS A-2-575 (click on my link above for the TCDS) and Car 4a (not 91.205) are what control that airplane configuration.

A bit testy here. Reference the original post... the T-6G is a Standard Category airplane. Your comment does not add to the conversation.

[Speeddemon651]

I ask because this T-6 is the only one I've ever seen with a red rotating beacon on the top aft fuselage. It was added post 1/1963 well after it left active service. For me I want the plane as original as possible except for a few added safety features. If I can get away running just the belly strobe I would like to and if I have to put wing tip strobes on, that would be my second choice.

[famvburg]

IIRC, prior to a certain date (1963 maybe, since the beacon was installed then?) most (or all?) aircraft didn't have beacons, but all three nav lights flashed. The nav light switch was three position: off, on and flash. At some point that was deemed illegal and in some fashion the flash position was supposed to be disabled and some sort of anti-collision light installed. Of course, as pointed out, Day-VFR requires no lighting. I have worked on and flown a few early 1960s and earlier Cessnas that had the flashing nav light set-up disabled. It has been so long since I have been around a T-6 but my guess is this is what it had, so, IMHO, the best way to keep it with its most original look would be wingtip strobes and a combination tail nav-strobe light.