"noel.wade" wrote in message
...
Here are some questions that help clarify the answers to this issue:
(as annoying as this can be)

1) Is a radio "required" equipment for a day-VFR flight?
(which covers 99.99% of all Glider flying; at least in the USA)

2) How is the glider in question certified (standard vs.
experimental)?

What do the FARs say about items #1 and #2 above? More importantly,
what do they _not_ say about radios?
(Hint: see 91.205, the sections of Part 91 that apply to the airspace
you expect to fly in/through, and Part 43).

--Noel
P.S. Don't forget this "gotcha": Your weight and balance is
technically affected by instrument changes in the cockpit. See the
FARs about how you can re-calculate your W&B based on an "equipment
list" and the instrument location (i.e. Arm or Datum point).
Insurance companies or FAA inspectors may not look kindly on an
incorrect equipment list or a W&B that doesn't take new items - like
radios - into account.


Just a reminder---
The FAA and the FCC have someting to say about this. Many radios that were
found in gliders a few years ago are no longer legal for the FCC. Has to do
with channel separation and stability. I don't recall the details anymore,
but be wary of 360 channel radios and old radios.

Hartley Falbaum