Custom Landing Lights are Fitted to the New Vans RV-15

Experimental aircraft light manufacturer Flyleds debuted its third series of specially designed tailragger landing lights at the 2025 EAA Oshkosh AirVenture. The product is custom-fitted to Van’s Aircraft’s new high-wing kit, the RV-15.

Beginning in 2015, Van’s RV-series has been an inspiration for Flyleds founder and CEO Paul McVitty. He was helping a friend with an RV-10 build when he decided to create a fully do-it-yourself, LED position and strobe lighting system. In the decade since, Flyleds has earned 4,000 customers and completed three versions of its product.

Traditional taildragger landing lights are configured to have one wing’s light pointed straight ahead for landing and the other pointed lower for taxiing. The result of this uneven setup is having to look at only one side of the plane at a time during different phases of flight. McVitty’s symmetrical design, however, makes for a well-lit landing without sacrificing visibility once the tail touches down.

Flyleds’s innovative tech has met its match, now being paired with one of sport aviation’s most innovative aircraft: the new Van’s Aircraft RV-15. The machine features a Lycoming IO-390 EXP-119 powerplant swinging an 80-inch composite Hartzell Trailblazer propeller. These come together for a backcountry-capable, high-performance, two-seater aircraft with a cruise speed of 140 kts.

“The RV-15 is a game changer for the backcountry flying community and Van’s Aircraft,” said Mikael Via, Van’s Aircraft CEO. “Our design engineers have worked tirelessly to create an airplane that takes Van’s idea of ‘Total Performance’ into the utility category.”

The aircraft, which entered production on Day 1 of the 2025 EAA Oshkosh AirVenture, uses two Tail Dragger Max lights. These give 6500 lumens of white light aimed straight ahead, with another 2500 lumens aimed 20 degrees downwards. The landing light uses a collimating lens for extended range, while the taxi portion has a diffuser lens to widen its path. And, yes, the landing light can be turned off on the ground so you don’t blind your fellow pilots.

The lights can be easily retrofitted to most older RVs, Murphy Rebels, Supercubs, and other aircraft with 4-inch round holes.

FMI: https://flyleds.com