AeroFlash BASIC

AeroFlash BASIC

An all-in-one, cost-effective and simple AeroFlash kit. One CanopyFlasher. One FuselageFlasher. One PowerBox PRO.

SLOW- and FAST-Flash Mode

Stand alone, but very smart. We call it BASIC.

CanopyFlasher LITE

Stand-alone, canopy mounted forward-facing flasher

Six extremely bright red CREE™ LEDs built into an elegant, low profile Space Grey (Nextel like) enclosure, mounted in the front of the canopy. CanopyFlasher is made from a high strength, UV resistant ABS based polymer. Out of sight for you, but not for others:

Extremely bright

The heart of the CanopyFlasher is the array of 6 extremely bright CREE LED’s emitting approximately 4000-4500 lumens, with powerful, oval lenses; two beams orientated vertically, and 4 beams orientated horizontally. This makes the Flasher well visible at distances of even up to 3500m, ±30 degrees above and below- and up to ±45 degrees left and right of the nose.

Safe to install

The CanopyFlasher system incorporated many safety features, like heat sinks, a temperature sensor to prevent overheat conditions and two status LED’s for indication of the operating mode and warnings.

Suitability

CanopyFlasher is suitable for almost every glider, with canopies opening vertically and sideways.

PowerBox PRO

PowerBox PRO is fully stand-alone. It powers the CanopyFlasher, one FuselageFlasher and provides synchronised flashing sequencing logic. This PowerBox PRO is not connectable to Flarm and does not have Bluetooth features. It’s a simple, cost-effective solution for those who do not need all the “luxury” features.

Temperature protection

PowerBox PRO continuously monitors the temperature of the CanopyFlasher system. If an overheat situation is present, it automatically shuts down the system to prevent damage to the system and to your expensive canopy. After a short cooling the system will restart automatically if conditions permit. Don’t worry, the system generally doesn’t get very warm in flight, but in summer conditions on ground without air flow your glider is well protected.

SLOW and FAST Flash Timings

PowerBox PRO can be manually (switchable) selected in a SLOW-Flash or FAST-Flash mode. SLOW-Flash features 3 100 ms flashes, followed by a 1750 ms pause, and FAST-Flash pauses 750 ms, which creates a more rapid pattern. Comparable with Nexus logic, SLOW is similar to ON-mode, and FAST is similar to a Flarm medium-warning timing. Up to you to decide when to use slow or fast, keeping in mind power consumption versus visibility. Included with the device is a cable set with OFF/SLOW/FAST switch with label/marking.

Easy Connection

A neat removable screw-terminal system allows a quick connection of the power wires, and easy removal when needed. No need for soldering; everything is plug-and-fly.

Compact

PowerBox PRO is compact and lightweight: it measures 100 x 63 x 31mm (including mounting flanges) and weighs only 190 grams.

Power Consumption

Due to PowerBox PRO’s synchronised flashing logic, power consumption is very reasonable and should not be an obstacle to installing AeroFlash.

Red or white LEDs? Your choice…

Let’s explain the pros and cons:

Red:

+ Better visibility of a white glider against a grey/white background. This is the most dangerous situation. Red clearly stands out.

+ Red means danger.

– Slightly less brightness than white LEDs.

White:

+ Slightly better brightness compared to red LEDs.

+ Better visibility against a brown/green background.

– Reduced visibility of a white glider against a grey/white background (in clouds, haziness, snowy terrain, etc).

Conclusion:

We recommend RED. This gives the best result in the most dangerous situations, where it would be very difficult to be seen otherwise.

Scope of Delivery

Complete as you’d expect.

1x PowerBox PRO device.
1x FuselageFlasher (Red or White LEDs) with 4m cable.
1x CanopyFlasher with 3M double sided adhesive foam tape pre-applied and cable set.
1x 100cm DB9-DB9 extension cable (if required for your glider).
1x PowerBox cable set with OFF/SLOW/FAST (or reverse side: OFF/LOW/HIGH) switch with marking/label.
1x 3M Dual Lock adhesive tape for mounting of PowerBox.
1x Vinyl template for aligning the CanopyFlasher during installation.
1x Mini-USB cable for updating.

Simply connect it to your power supply.

Plug-and-Fly.

Complete.

Vertical opening – universal

Vertically opening canopies need an easy to attach, but most importantly, easy to DETACH connector. When jettisoning the canopy in case of an emergency, our connectors are designed to easily separate.

The AeroFLASH installation consists of commonly seen male and female DB9 (D SUB 9) type connectors for the data cables (status LEDs and temperature sensor), and for the power supply of the CanopyFlasher. It is sturdy, easy to attach, separate (locking screws removed), and highly suited for the currents.

The Flasher cable length is 100cm, suitable for every installation. Included as well is a 100cm extension cable.

Side opening – universal

Each glider type requires a specially designed connector solution. This is unique to every different glider type. A brief installation instruction manual together with installation example pictures will be delivered together with these orders.

On the side are a few examples suitable for Grob G102 Club/Standard Astir and G103 Twin Astir gliders.

If your glider is not yet supported, please contact us to develop a solution together.

Side opening – Schempp-Hirth type

For Schempp-Hirth panels we designed a special 7-pin spring loaded connector to be mounted on the glareshield/instrument panel cover and the canopy edge, which requires absolutely no force to separate. The connectors have two alignment pins, to avoid mis-alignments causing short circuits. There is no need to solder any wiring, however you will need to install the connector in a suitable location and drill some holes in the instrument panel cover. We include a mounting position and drilling template to make this a little easier. Also included are a few mounting support plates with various angles for optimal installation in your specific glider. Schempp-Hirth glider owners may also choose a panel mounted DB9 connector option if they have a lot of play in the instrument panel cover, as this should be fairly sturdy. Please refer to the installation manual for more details, or contact us.

Other glareshield/panel mounted DB9-connection solutions for side-opening canopies on special request.