Hi Jim

Unless you are planning to use the ashtrays, consider this a great alternative -

http://www.pinnacleproducts.biz/

I bought mine after a recommendation by a contributor to the rec.aviation groups and I am very impressed and consider them to be great value for money - plus they picked up the shipping to Canada because I bought two.

I don't have anything to do with them other than being a very happy customer.

Tony
C-GICE

Hi Jim

I was going to buy one, and I phoned them and asked whether people usually bought one or two. They told me that people who bought one often came back for a second one, and that If I wanted two they would pickup all of the shipping - which was quite generous on such a low-priced item as they were shipping to Canada, so I bought the two.

I'm glad that I did. They make great courtesy lights but because they are designed to illuminate all around instead of being projected forward, they don't give sufficient concentrated light to illuminate all of the instrument panel sufficiently to use standalone (i.e. it fades off with one as you look across the panel.
The all around illumination, which they say is great for chart-reading, is in my opinion their weak point, as the units themselves look too bright to me when I am flying at night as they are not shielded from my direct vision.  I have bought some smoked plexi and will be putting a piece behind them so that they will illuminate the instrument panel without being distracting. That being said, they are still a great product, and they look very good installed - clean and neat, and they are great after shutdown when I'm packing up headphones/gps etc.

Tony

Tony,

My '56 172's rear ashtrays were turned into intercom ports by installing jacks on the inside of them.  A nifty use for those who fly non-smoking planes. Something else to consider for your back seat passengers...

Andy