Chris Nicholas wrote:

Eric, my point was - and remains - that package and weight are issues
which should not be overlooked.

True, especially if it involves a battery, the majority of the weight in
the installation. It must be properly installed and accounted for in the
W&B. The rest of the items aren't a problem.

snip

And in priority lists, avoiding being killed has several other dangers
more prevalent than collision with airliners, judging by the accident
statistics.

Part of the reason is a lot of pilots in high risk areas use
transponders. We'll never know how many collisions are avoided because
of this, of course. Your situation sounds like it isn't in a high risk area.


I am not one of those determined never to use transponders. As it
happens, I can see the day coming when I will want one for my sort of
flying in the place I do it, and I will have to solve the
cost/package/weight issues then - but we are not yet there. I hope the
technology then available will make it easier - but I am not holding my
breath, as I said.

The glacial pace of change is disappointing. It took a _long_ time for
the small Microair and Becker transponders to actually hit the shelves,
and the Filser has been a mirage for even longer. It looks like it will
actually be available this year! So, something so very different, like a
low power portable unit you can stick to the canopy with a suction cup,
is likely years away.

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA