Scope of Delivery:
- SteFly canopy flasher with red LEDs and black aluminum / polymer housing
- Control Box for automatic on/off switching of the flasher when airborne and increasing of the flash intensity according to FLARM® collision warning data (not included in the scope of delivery of Canopy Flasher Essential!); Integrated Bluetooth® (can send FLARM® and position data to a mobile device) and WLAN (for updates)
- On/off switch with integrated 4 A fuse and labeling panel
- All required cables (12 VDC power supply to on-off switch / on-off switch to control box / control box to canopy flasher)
- Masking foil template for precise alignment of the canopy flasher in the direction of flight
- Yaw string with clear adhesive pad and alignment template
Highlights of Function and Design
- 6 red LEDs of the latest generation, which can be operated at a very high current for maximum brightness thanks to the aluminum heat sink
- The light beam formed by the lenses warns oncoming aircraft, especially from the front
- At the same time, the high-performance LEDs produce enough light to widen the angle of reflected beam, so that aircraft appearing diagonally in front of your own glider are also warned
- Stray light is not absorbed by the housing, but is instead reflected by the high-quality Reflective foil, as used on road signs. Therefore all the light coming out of the LEDs contributes to warn other pilots.
The elegant canopy flasher with the “curved design”
The development goal was to design the brightest red canopy flasher. Nevertheless, the housing had to be smaller than that of other canopy flashers on the market. How can that be achieved?
FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
By arranging the individual LEDs at the smallest possible distance from the canopy glass and having the housing follow this curved contour, maximum space is left under the housing, e.g. for the ventilation flap. The flasher can be mounted far forward on the canopy. Together with the small dimensions, this allows the pilot to maintain a full view to the front. The canopy ventilation is also obstructed as little as possible.
There are again several housing shapes to choose from so that we can always offer the best solution for the individual canopy curvatures and space requirements of different aircraft types.
Aluminum Housing for Thermal Management
Red LEDs produce a lower luminous flux compared to green LEDs with the same energy input. The energy that is not converted into light must be dissipated into the environment as waste heat. This requires an efficient waste heat concept and, in particular, a heat sink with a large surface area made of a material with high thermal conductivity. All plastics have a very low thermal conductivity of 0.23 W/(m*K) for nylon, for example. Aluminum, on the other hand, has a thermal conductivity of 220 W/(m*K) - that is 950 times better! A heat sink made of plastic is nearly useless and can only be used as a design element. Thanks to its greater thermal mass, an aluminum heat sink absorbs the heat emitted by the LEDs with every flash and continuously transfers it to the cooler outer surface of the heat sink. From there, it is absorbed by the ambient air.
In a nutshell:
- We rely on a milled aluminum heat sink for optimum cooling of the LEDs
- Perfect heat transfer for long LED life and high light output even in summer temperatures and with high solar radiation, because a cooler LED has a higher degree of efficiency
- Thanks to the heat sink, the 6 high-performance LEDs can be operated with a current and brightness that would be far from possible with a plastic heat sink
- The housing of the flasher is black anodized and provides the SteFly logo .
The housing also convinces with many other details:
- The front part of the housing is manufactured in a 3D laser-sintering process made from high-performance polyamide .
- To visually check whether and exactly when flashes of light are emitted, an optical light guide was integrated into the heat sink
- Double-sided 3M VHB acrylic tape reliably connects canopy flasher and acrylic glass
Every glider is unique.
- With several housing shapes and a variety of canopy connectors, we offer solutions for a variety of aircraft types. And our range of products continues to grow.
- Inquiries for aircraft that are not yet listed in our standard range are welcome!
Control Box: Data Center, Security Gain and USB Charger all in One
- Evaluates FLARM® signals of aircraft in the surrounding area
- Ensures that the canopy flasher only emits light signals when the aircraft is flying, which prevents dazzling of start helpers or children on the ground looking directly into the canopy flasher
- Intensity of flash frequency increases, as soon as there is an airplane in the vicinity on potential collision course , which further increases the perceptibility
- Integrated Bluetooth module allows the transfer of FLARM®-data to mobile devices, so e.g. XC-Soar on the smartphone is able to show®FLARM traffic as well as your own GPS position e.g. in XC-Soar on the smartphone
- Thanks to Bluetooth Low Energy, this data can also be sent to Naviter SeeYou Navigator .
- In addition WLAN Both comfortable setting of the baud rate as well as firmware updates
- In addition WLAN Both comfortable setting e.g. of the baud rate as well as firmware updates
On-Off Switch
- The included Switch needs to be integrated into the instrument panel to activate the flasher
- The switch module has an integrated 4 A fuse as well as screw terminals for the cables
- The package includes the required label in form of a black cover, which can be used also as drilling template
Why does a Flarm connection to the canopy flasher make sense?
What is good for visual awareness also has a disadvantage: the more powerful the LEDs, the more care must be taken to ensure that no one (especially children) looks directly into the flash light from a short distance. We have therefore decided to only offer our LED flasher for gliders in combination with a control box. It evaluates FLARM signals and enables the LEDs to begin flashing automatically as soon as the aircraft is in the air. After landing, the canopy flasher switches off automatically. This only requires that the ACL switch on the instrument panel is set to "On". We deliberately did not use a control LED, which is usually attached to the back of the canopy flasher, to avoid reflections in the canopy. However, when the ACL switch on the instrument panel is flipped, the SteFly Canopy Flasher signals that it is working properly by two short, reduced-brightness flashes.
However, make absolutely sure that nobody is looking directly into the canopy flasher or into the reflected beam when the canopy flasher is switched on! This could possibly damage the retina temporarily or even permanently.
EASA believes that canopy flashers and other LED visual awareness lights contribute to flight safety and allows installation in accordance to EASA Standard Change CS-SC036b (INSTALLATION OF VISUAL AWARENESS LIGHTS). Accordingly, e.g. the effect on mass and center of gravity must be taken into account and the canopy must of course still be able to be ejected. The acceptance is carried out by an examiner.
Overview of the installation process:
- Determine the approximate position of the canopy flasher (ensure that the flap controlling the ventilation has enough clearance!)
- Degrease the canopy in the area of the adhesive surface (for the canopy flasher and the yaw string)
- Tension a thread from the nose of the fuselage to the top of the vertical stabilizer
- Use a measuring tape to align the thread in the middle of the canopy
- Optional: attach the yaw string using a template
- Stick the adhesive template with the outline of the canopy flasher on the outside of the canopy
- Remove the protective film from the canopy flasher and stick it to the canopy according to the template
- Position the on/off switch in the instrument panel
- The labeling board of the switch also serves as a drilling template (drilling diameter 6 mm)
- Fasten the control box in front of the instrument panel (screws and clamps / cable ties / Velcro)
- Plug in the cables and connect the cables to the screw terminals of the on/off switch
- Function Test
- by switching on the flash (it only flashes twice at a lower intensity when you are on the ground)
- Activate test mode in the SteFly canopy flasher web application
- Or, if Power Flarm® Fusion is installed, the Flarm®simulator app simulates a dangerous situation
Quick and Easy Installation - Even During the Gliding Season
Degrease an aircraft canopy made of acrylic glass / PMMA / Plexiglas® only with water with dishwashing detergent, isopropanol or benzene-free petroleum ether, but never acetone or other alcohol as these solvents may cause micro cracks!
Canopy Contact for Side-Opening Canopies
Connecting Canopy Flasher and Control Box by cable is complicated for sideways opening canopies, because clamping the cable during closing needs to be avoided. Sideways opening canopies are common for gliders manufactured by Schempp-Hirth. That's why we offer a special canopy contact. A module with three spring contacts is attached to the canopy near the frame using double-sided 3M VHB adhesive tape. The counterpart is screwed onto the instrument cover. When the canopy is closed, electrical connection is implemented between control box and canopy flasher. For ease of maintenance, the canopy contact has a connector.
Special Connector for the Canopy Jettison
On all aircraft types where the instrument panel is fixed to the canopy (e.g. Alexander Schleicher) or types where the canopy is hinged at the front (e.g. LS), the control box and canopy flasher may be connected with the cable included in scope of delivery, which has a special connector serving as predetermined breaking point.
When having selected the connectors we made sure that they separate automatically with little force in the event of an emergency release of the canopy. The locking lug has been removed as well. Therefore, please do not use cable ties to secure the plugged-in connectors and bind them together! Secure only the connector that goes to the control box, as this will remain connected to the aircraft even during canopy jettison.
If cable ties are applied during the canopy flasher installation, there must be provided a cable loop (at least 10 cm) in the area of the predetermined breaking point connector. The reason is that in the event of an emergency jettison, the canopy is now able to detach about 10 cm from the aircraft until the connection cable between Control Box and Flasher is fully tensioned. This ensures that canopy and fuselage disconnect from each other under all circumstances.
Installation / Operating Manual
The current version 1.4 (July 2023) of the instructions for installation and operation can be found here!
Installation Manual and Operating Instructions
Installation Manuals for Canopy Connectors
For side opening canopies with connector on the right side, e.g. Discus, Ventus, Janus, Duo Discus, Arcus, Nimbus, Pilatus B4:
DG doubleseater, e.G. DG 500, DG 1000, DG 1001:
Twin 1
Twin 2 and Twin 3
Astir CS
Technical Data
LEDs: 6 red high-power LEDs; high current without overheating possible thanks to aluminum heat sink
Canopy Flasher Standard Housing: mass 51 g (incl. 40 cm cable), dimensions length x width x height 51 mm x 66 mm x 18 mm
Control Box: Gewicht 53 g, Abmessungen LxBxH 64 mm x 44 mm x 23 mm
On-Off Switch: mass 10 g, dimensions width x height 15 mm x 31 mm
Connection Cables: mass 57 g
Input voltage range: 9 to 17 V DC
Amperage: 140 mA for canopy flasher Essential @ 13,5 V
130 mA total for canopy flasher and Control Box @ 13,5 V and flashing frequency "low";
200 mA total for canopy flasher and Control Box @ 13,5 V and flashing frequency "medium";
Interfaces: 2 serial interfaces: 1x FLARM®-input and 1 x FLARM®-repeater (e.g. for AIR Traffic Display or FLARM®-Display), Bluetooth, WLAN
Operating Temperature: -30°C to +60°C
Material: Control box housing and heat sink of the canopy flasher made of black anodized aluminium; canopy flasher housing made of SLS-printed polymer, painted matt black; housing lined with reflector foil for maximum efficiency
Internal Fuse of the On-Off Switch: 4A