Simviation Forums

As you watch a plane fly at night, do the strobes ID the plane? I have seen med helo's that have a red strobe flash 4 times rapidly pause then repeat. Tonight I saw a small jet leave the airport. Wing tip stobes flashing at the same time, 4 quick flashes than pause.
Basicly I am asking if there is a way to ID a plane by its strobes at night?

No, all planes have those lights, and they all do the same thing... well, strobes and Nav (red green and white).  And they're not for ID other than knowing which direction they are going.  Red light on left wingtip, green on right, and white on tail.  

Now, if you can accuratly know the distance between them... then you may have a chance.  But otherwise they're just flashing lights to catch your attention.

The only real difference I've ever noticed is that choppers don't have the red and green wingtip lights. But there's usually a red beacon on the belly and a white one on the tail, so one can still determine their direction from a distance. But no, I don't think strobe flash rates are specific to any particular aircraft.

No, all planes have those lights, and they all do the same thing...  .

Welp........yes and no.......ie:

Tonight I saw a small jet leave the airport. Wing tip stobes flashing at the same time, 4 quick flashes than pause.

..........I can say without a doubt that this airplane was an early Citation.
Even Nav lights vary. In the US just remember "red-right-returning". This means that if you see a red nav light on the right and a green light to the left, the aircraft is approaching(returning).
In Europe, I think most aircraft have intermittent Nav lights now(they flash on and off)......any of you guys feel free to step in and chastise me on that info.....in addition to strobe lights. I know for a fact that Russian aircraft have this setup for the Nav lights.
On the some of the 30 series Lears a "recog" light is mounted in the nose of one or both of the tip tanks and on the 55 and 60 it's mounted in the upper tail facing forward. These lights are as bright or brighter than landing lights.
Although the helicopter you saw may have been a lifeflight helicopter, the only identification required by the FAA is a note on the flight plan, no special lights or markings.

The only real difference I've ever noticed is that choppers don't have the red and green wingtip lights.

.....look a little more closely

helo red/green are on the tailplane or on the largest thing that sticks out from the fuselage

For the different sequences
the flashers are controlled by a central unit that can be programmed to a set of sequences

Airbus and boeing use different sets

As I thought....No you cant. Thanks

Like Ivan said, Airbus and Boeing Strobes aren't really the same, so the trained eye can during the nights easily separate the two of them  :)