SteFly Canopy Flasher Red
357,00 € – 611,99 €
incl. VAT plus shipping
Delivery time: 5-7 Werktage / Business Days
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 Wi-Fi (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)
- 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.
Der elegante Haubenblitzer mit dem "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: The smart connection to FLARM
- 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
- Flash frequency increases, as soon as there is an airplane in the vicinity approaching 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 XCSoar oder SeeYou Navigator on the smartphone
- In addition WLAN Both comfortable setting the baud rate, flash frequency, and energy-saving modes via a web app
- firmware updates are implemented via Wi-Fi
- The control box has two RJ45 sockets.
- The incoming Flarm signal is processed by the control box and forwarded to the canopy flasher
- A FLARM display, for example, can be connected to the “REPEAT” port, so no splitter is needed for the installation.
On-Off Switch
- The included Switch will be integrated into the instrument panel to activate the canopy 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
Web Application – Continuous Development
- The Control Box web app can be accessed from a smartphone or computer
- Here you can set the baud rate, for example, and choose whether position and FLARM data may be shared with other devices via Bluetooth Classic or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) .
- The “Test” button starts a 30-second test program, so you can check that the flasher is working correctly.
- You can also choose between different flash programs. By default, the flasher starts as soon as you take off. To save energy, you can set the Control Box to start flashing only when another FLARM-equipped aircraft is nearby.
- The firmware is continuously being developed, and updates can easily be installed on every Control Box, including older units.
Why does a Flarm connection to the canopy flasher make sense?
What’s good for visibility also has a downside: the more powerful the LEDs, the more care is needed to make sure that nobody, and especially no children, looks directly into the flash from close range. We therefore recommend installing the LED canopy flasher together with our Control Box. It evaluates FLARM signals, so the flasher switches on automatically once the aircraft is airborne and switches off automatically after landing. For this to work, the flasher switch on the instrument panel must be set to “On”.
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 and clean the canopy in the area of the canopy flasher (only with water / dishwashing liquid mix, isopropanol, or cleaning gasoline).
- 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 and fix the thread with adhesive tape
- Remove the protective film from the adhesive tapes of the canopy flasher and attach the housing very lightly to the inside of the canopy. The center of the canopy flasher is marked by a raised line on the polymer housing at the front; at the rear, simply align it with the center of the 6 LEDs. Then, from a short distance away, check that the canopy flasher is positioned in the center of the canopy and aligned in the direction of flight. Finally, press the two adhesive surfaces of the flasher firmly onto the acrylic glass.
- 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 for the version with Control Box:
- Turn the on/off switch and watch for two low-intensity flashes
- Activate the test mode of the web application within 3 minutes after switching on the canopy flasher (For details, see the installation instructions)
- Or, if Power Flarm® Fusion is installed, the Flarm®simulator app will activate the flash mode
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.
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.
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
Firmware Updates Control Box
V01r15 April 2024:
V2.0.1 February 2025:
V2.0.2 April 2025:
V2.5.2 February 2026:
Technical Data
Electrical
LEDs6 red high-power LEDs
Aluminium heat sink for high current without overheating
Input voltage range9 to 17 V DC
Current draw at 13.5 V130 mA
canopy flasher and Control Box, “Low” flash rate200 mA
canopy flasher and Control Box, “Medium” flash rate140 mA
canopy flasher Essential
Fuse protectionInternal 4 A fuse in the on/off switch
Operating temperature−30 °C to +60 °C
Interfaces
Serial (RJ45)1× FLARM® input, 1× FLARM® repeater
e.g. for an Air Traffic Display or FLARM® display
WirelessBluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi
Components, Weight and Dimensions
Canopy flasher (standard shape)51 g incl. 40 cm cable
L × W × H: 51 × 66 × 18 mm
Control Box53 g
L × W × H: 64 × 44 × 23 mm
On/off switch10 g
W × H: 15 × 31 mm
Connecting cables57 g
Materials
Control Box and heat sinkAluminium, black anodised
Flasher housingSLS-printed nylon, matt black paint
Lined with reflective film on the inside for maximum efficiency
Pre-Flight FAQ
Can I remove the canopy flasher and fit it to another glider?
Yes. Pull the housing downwards at the heat sink, away from the canopy. Start at one corner and pull slowly. After a few seconds, the 3M VHB tape will gradually come away from the canopy. Peel off any adhesive residue, then clean the acrylic with a damp cloth and dish soap, isopropyl alcohol or naphtha. Often the flasher can be refitted with its original adhesive pad. If not, we’re happy to post you a new VHB pad.
Does the canopy fog up behind the flasher in winter or on wave flights?
Practical experience says no. The heat sink is curved, so our housing is particularly slim and disturbs the airflow as little as possible. The curved shape also follows the contour of the ventilation flap, so the flasher can be mounted very far forward. On top of that, the heat sink gives off warmth during operation and gently heats the canopy.
Why don’t you offer a fuselage-mounted flasher?
At first glance, a fuselage flasher seems like a good solution because it is visible from many directions. Our canopy flasher, however, uses lenses to focus the light of 6 high-power LEDs in one direction: forwards. Head-on approaches are the most dangerous because of the high closing speeds. A fuselage flasher spreads its light in all directions. To be clearly seen from a long distance, it would need many times more LEDs, pointing in every direction. In gliding, that’s hardly feasible: the flasher has to stay small for aerodynamic reasons, and battery capacity is limited.
Instead, we keep adapting our canopy flashers to more glider types. They are now also available for types with a removable canopy, such as the Libelle, K 6 and ASW 15.
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