Emily wrote:
Jim Macklin wrote:

Sometimes drug smugglers sell their airplanes [if they didn't just
steal one for the trip]. If the DEA gets a chance they will hardwire
their own transponder in the airplane so it is always on so they can
track them. The new owner finds out that their regular panel mounted
transponder isn't working and then they find the DEA's mounted
somewhere in the belly.

Is that legal? Adding a transponder kind of affects w&b and is supposed
to be written in a logbook somewhere. I know they're the government, but
somehow I don't think the FAA would overlook it.


The FAA is in on it.