Used to fly to Mexico about 20 years back in a fabric covered
Tri-Pacer without a transponder. Once, we came back into the US,
cleared customs at Bisbee, AZ and continued on to Albuquerque, NM. We
were met there by customs again, wanting to count passengers. Our leg
to Albuquerque had been very slow with a headwind and they apparently
were not sure that we had not slipped back into Mexico.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.



Just some ramblings on stealth.

When the Air Defense Command was in high gear with Radars all over the
States and over lapping coverage, we used 'skin paint' (vs beacon/IFF
or transponder) to located and track aircraft (we didn't think the
Russians would come in squawking for us). The FAA always used
beacon/transponder to make a large blip on their scope for traffic
control purposes.

With that background, what does FAA use today? If they do not use
'skin paint' why can't the 'glass' birds with a wooden prop, turn off
their transponder and fly through all the restricted areas unseen?

I'm not up to speed on current traffic control radar and if they both
'skin paint' and look at transponder returns?.

Anyone want to comment on this thread and expand?

Big John