Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Glider Canopy Flasher require an air gap for cooling?
The aluminium plate acts as both a heat spreader and a heatsink. It spreads heat away from the LEDs and extends towards the lower front part of the flasher, where internal ventilation channels and the bottom grille assist heat dissipation.
A specific air gap is not required, and the unit may be mounted reasonably close to the cockpit binnacle. Where practical, leaving some free space around the flasher will naturally improve heat dissipation. The ventilation grille at the bottom of the unit must not be directly obstructed.
The Glider Canopy Flasher is highly configurable, with many predefined flash patterns and the ability to create custom ones. If the available mounting position is not ideal for heat dissipation, this flexibility allows a suitable lower-duty-ratio pattern to be selected or created so that the system is not thermally overstressed, provided that the bottom ventilation grille remains unobstructed and the installation is otherwise suitable.
What should be considered when operating the flasher in hot conditions?
The temperature inside a closed canopy can become relatively high, particularly on hot and sunny competition days. Flash patterns with a high duty ratio also generate more heat than lower-duty-ratio patterns.
In unusually hot conditions, particularly when using a high-duty-ratio pattern, the user may select or create a pattern with a lower duty ratio.
The chosen pattern should be tested after installation under conditions representative of the intended use.
The mounting tape should not normally be the limiting factor. The specified 3M VHB tape has a stated long-term operating temperature of up to 121°C.
Is a cable included for connecting the control box to FLARM?
Yes. A 50 cm RJ45 patch cable is included for connecting the FLARM device to the FLARM IN socket on the control box.
The physical connector is RJ45, while the electrical data interface is RS-232. References to RS-232 describe the electrical signalling standard and do not mean that a traditional D-sub RS-232 connector is used.
The control box would normally be installed behind the instrument panel and remain stationary. The RJ45 cable between the FLARM and the control box therefore does not normally move when the canopy is opened or closed.
Canopy movement is accommodated by the separate cable between the control box and the canopy-mounted flasher, which also provides the required disconnect point.
Where the FLARM device does not have a spare RJ45 socket, a suitable custom RJ45-to-conventional-RS-232 cable may be used, provided that its wiring and electrical compatibility have been verified.
What are the female threads on the control box for?
The female threads on the top face of the control box are M3 threaded mounting points. They provide one optional method of securing the control box to a suitable bracket or mounting surface.
Their use is not compulsory. The control box may also be installed using other suitable mounting methods appropriate to the particular glider and installation location.
How does the Glider Canopy Flasher compare with other available devices?
I do not normally favour product comparison tables, as specifications do not always tell the whole story. However, after receiving many questions, I have prepared a straightforward comparison based on publicly available information and comparable product configuration
More Control. More Connectivity. Exceptional Value.
Compare complete red canopy-flasher systems with FLARM integration. Basic standalone flashers without the required control electronics are excluded. All displayed prices are gross retail prices including VAT.
Function-by-function comparison
The highlighted column shows the Glider Canopy Flasher. Competitor functions are based on the manufacturers’ currently published product information. Where an equivalent function is not published, it is marked as “not advertised” rather than assumed to be unavailable.
| Function or feature | Our system Glider Canopy Flasher | SOTECC Canopy Flash Connect | AeroFLASH CanopyFlasher + Nexus NG | SteFly Red flasher + Control Box | GlideWise FLARM-integrated system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross retail price | £220 Complete introductory price, including UK VAT | From €598 Including VAT | €499 FLARM version, including VAT | €539–€611.99 Including VAT; price depends on canopy contact | £459–£529 Including UK VAT; price depends on canopy type |
| Front light array | 6 high-power red LEDs Two independent three-LED driver channels | 6 red CREE LEDs | 6 red CREE LEDs | 6 red high-power LEDs | 4-lens optical array Two fewer front optical positions |
| Independent LED driver channels | 2 independent channels Partial flashing remains possible if one complete channel becomes unavailable | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Predefined flash patterns | 22 selectable patterns Includes lower-duty-ratio ECO choices | Configurable frequency No published pattern count | Manufacturer-defined modes Automatic escalation with FLARM warnings | Selectable programmes No published pattern count | Adjustable patterns No published pattern count |
| Create your own flash sequence | 4 fully programmable patterns Set pulse time, spacing, flash count and sequence interval | Equivalent editor not advertised | Equivalent editor not advertised | Equivalent editor not advertised | Equivalent editor not advertised |
| Choose a separate pattern for Normal, FLARM L1, L2 and L3 | Yes — individually selectable | Normal and alarm behaviour Threshold and frequency can be configured | Fixed automatic escalation | Equivalent assignment not advertised | Intensity and frequency follow alarm level Individual pattern assignment not advertised |
| Automatic activation after take-off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Classic FLARM output | Yes | Not advertised | No | Yes | Not advertised |
| Bluetooth Low Energy FLARM output | Yes | Not advertised | No | Yes | Not advertised |
| Wi-Fi UDP FLARM output | Yes | Not advertised | Not advertised Wi-Fi is provided for setup and updates | Not advertised Wi-Fi is provided for the web app and updates | Not advertised |
| Wired FLARM pass-through or splitter | Yes | Not clearly advertised | RJ12 and RJ45 FLARM connections | FLARM repeater port | Built-in unpowered splitter |
| Configuration method | Web browser — no app required Phone, tablet or computer | SOTECC Configurator | Wi-Fi web configuration | Wi-Fi web application | Android application iOS support is advertised as forthcoming |
| Wireless firmware updates | Yes — Wi-Fi OTA | Not clearly advertised | Yes — Wi-Fi or USB | Yes — Wi-Fi | Through the mobile app |
| Pattern duty-cycle display | Yes | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Estimated current consumption for the selected pattern | Yes | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Competition flash-rate check | Built into the interface | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Input-voltage range | 9–28 V | 9–17 V | 10–18 V | 9–17 V | 6–28 V |
Configure the warning, not just the frequency
Choose from 22 predefined patterns or create four completely individual sequences. Any pattern can be assigned independently to Normal operation and FLARM Levels 1, 2 and 3.
A FLARM data gateway is included
Send FLARM and position data to navigation devices through Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy or Wi-Fi UDP, while retaining the wired FLARM connection.
Two independent light channels
The six LEDs are divided between two independent three-LED driver channels, providing useful functional redundancy within the front light array.
Advanced capability. Sensible pricing.
A complete six-LED flasher, FLARM-aware Control Box, wireless FLARM gateway, browser configuration and all required connection cables — currently £220 including VAT.
Prices and publicly published specifications checked 28 July 2026. All prices shown are gross retail prices including VAT; shipping is excluded. Prices may vary by canopy type and selected options. “Not advertised” means that an equivalent function could not be confirmed from the manufacturer’s public product information. No claim of relative measured brightness is made solely from LED or lens count.