Should I keep or eliminate the strobe mount on my tail?

[Subsonic]

The little threaded stub on the top of my rudder annoys me. It's a water trap. It wants to rust. It creates drag. I don't use it. (No strobe) Thinking about grinding it off, smoothing the top out and cover/patching the remains. Thoughts and comments appreciated.
-Subsonic

[Kenlsa]

I have just recovered my rudder and took the opportunity to remove the stub. I had an envelope in 102 and stitched up the sleeve that was sewn in. Looks a lot better. I am yet to paint it though

[RRHall]

I have debated putting the strobe on or leaving it off. I have the old rotating strobe and mount but with the issues on rudders breaking and bending over am debating putting it on. Any thoughts? Safety of having a strobe vs not? I think if I had a 4130 rudder I would be less worried about it but mine is original.

[Steve Pierce]

I builtmy Super Cub for a customer and then ended up buying it after he decided he wanted something faster. He wanted to retain the beacon on top of the rudder. I wanted to remove it since we installed AeroLED strobes on wing tips and rudder. We installed the Whelen LED beacon and I have to say now I see it before I see the strobes in daylight. If it was mine and I had a tail strobe I probably wouldn't install one but it does stand out.

Cut it off and patch or fill the tube with sealant and hate it every time you walk by it.

[akflyer]

I kept mine. See and avoid is aided by as many bright flashing lights as you can run. In certain conditions, my tail strobe (LED) is the first thing my brother can see when we are buzzing around. The wig wags in the wings take care of anyone coming at me head on. In my younger years I was all about stealth and not giving away my position, but the older I get and the more we have guys with heads down looking at the ipad, the more I like to have the bird lit up trying to be seen. And yeah, I refuse to install ADSB in or out.

[Subsonic]

I kept mine. See and avoid is aided by as many bright flashing lights as you can run. In certain conditions, my tail strobe (LED) is the first thing my brother can see when we are buzzing around. The wig wags in the wings take care of anyone coming at me head on. In my younger years I was all about stealth and not giving away my position, but the older I get and the more we have guys with heads down looking at the ipad, the more I like to have the bird lit up trying to be seen. And yeah, I refuse to install ADSB in or out.

Agree with you on having a Christmas Tree vs. stealth. Curious why no ADS-B in or out??!!! I almost feel naked without my ADS-B In data, now. Maybe its the area you fly in?

[akflyer]

Agree with you on having a Christmas Tree vs. stealth. Curious why no ADS-B in or out??!!! I almost feel naked without my ADS-B In data, now. Maybe its the area you fly in?

Because I see way too many local guys relying on the fish finder and staring at it instead of looking out the window and spotting the planes with their eyeballs. The vast majority here are not using ADSB out so the guy that is staring at the screen will never see the vast majority of traffic. I have witnessed more than a few close calls, and when questioned, the guys that almost hit someone else almost always say the same thing, "I didn't see them on my IPAD".

Yes, there are some scenarios where the fish finder will show you traffic that you wouldn't see with your naked eye (traffic closing behind you) but then the guy that's closing on you would have a better chance of seeing you if you are lit up with bright flashing lights. If both are relying on the fish finder to see and avoid, bad things happen.

There are some who still maintain a good visual scan, but way too many quickly become complacent and spend more time looking at the fish finder than looking out the window.

This can be argued every way from sunday and we all have our opinions on it, mine and 6 bucks will get you a cup of coffee these days,

[Frank Green]

I have a belly strobe on the hell hole cover. I'm more worried about what's below me than what's above. When I recovered cut it off as it was never used. Removed the VOR antenna too.

[Glen Geller]

I have a strobe on the rudder of my 55 PA22, it flashes 'blink-blink blink" every two seconds and I'm told by others is quite visible in the air.
It's also useful on the ground so people walking at the airport see it up there and might know that the plane is alive and maybe starting the engine soon.
And on more than one occasion over 20 years, I have been walking from the plane to the café etc and someone will yell "Master!" and I go back and turn off the master switch.
It probably eats at least a knot at cruise, but that's not a big deal since I have a climb prop and for me, departure performance is more important than top speed.
Depending on your budget (and since you appear to have only the stud and no strobe mounted on top) I would put good wingtip & rudder position light strobes, and maybe add an LED belly strobe to the hell hole cover like Frank mentioned above, and remove the stud on top of rudder.

[Subsonic]

I would put good wingtip & rudder position light strobes, and maybe add an LED belly strobe to the hell hole cover like Frank mentioned above, and remove the stud on top of rudder.

I like this suggestion. Thx Glen.