[nuklhed808]

there are basically 4 types of external lights used. 1) anti-collision lights; 2 rotating red lights. 1 located on top and and 1 located on the bottom of the AC near the center. these two lights are the first to be turned on and the last to be turned off whenever the AC is put into operation. 2) position lights; 1 red and 1 green constant illumination lights. green on the starboard side, and red on the port side (in relation to the pilot) placed on the leading edge of the wing tips. these are used to tell the direction of flight of other AC. 3) navigation lights. white constant illumination lights placed on the trailing edge of both wing tips. they can also be placed on the trailing edge tips of the horizontal stabs and the trailing edge tip of the vertical stab. 4)strobe lights; high intesity white lights placed just aft of the position lights, used to further increase the AC's visibility. these 4 types of lights must be on whenever the AC is in operation. modern military AC use one other type of external light. formation lights; low intesity electro-luminescence strips (with dimmer capability) placed on the vertical fin/stabilizer, wing tips, and fore and aft of the wing root on the fuselage. these are used for spacial orientation during formation flying.
the military can fly in a "lights out" mode, but only in select military operations areas (MOA), using NVG, and under very strict FAA flight rules