randall g wrote:

On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 19:32:20 -0500, "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.



?? How would the DEA get a chance to do that? Do they get a warrant to
break into a suspect aircraft and install additional avionics?

Yes.