I hope that transponders are a requirement for that Minden contest. And yes I am not aware that a CD can require transponders, but peer pressure can do amazing things. And there is no excuse for open class toys not to be equipped with transponders and enough battery capacity. Holding a contest in the Reno area without a transponder equipped glider (and towplane) fleet would be a risk. We've had a few too many incidents with non-transponder equipped gliders there already. If something happens, even if not the glider pilots or organizers technical fault, the SSA, contest organizers etc. would likely be damned by the media and general public.

Not flying in places like around Reno, I don't care what you do, and we certainly don't need rules or regulations to force transponders on other folks.. But choose to fly in these high density/fast-jet traffic areas and we need pilots to carry and use transponders.

Darryl