CindyASK wrote:


And for Eric G., as often as he and I agree, in this case I personally
disagree. To avoid heartburn and grumpy FAA folks, install more battery
capacity. If you are flying around Class A/B/C airspace, you wanted those
systems for that access, so please supply them well.

Sufficient battery capacity is the best answer, but I've seen several
pilots procrastinate on a transponder installation because of their
worries about battery life and the "gotta have it on" regulation. My
intent is to encourage these pilots to install a transponder sooner
rather than later, even if they can't leave it on all the time with
their current battery capacity.

If you think you need a transponder, install it now, even if you haven't
figured out how to get more batteries into the glider. By using it
around the airspace where it's needed, you and others will be safer; in
the meantime, you can deal with the design, installation, and approval
issues (and cost) of another (or larger) battery box.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
* "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org