Trig are running a series of ads in the GA mags. It amazed me just how small the head is - about the size of a matchbox. Doubtless there are some gliders who dont even have space on their panel for a matchbox but presumably many do.
As to the approval we did several mods on an aircraft I owned. We worked with the other operators of the same type (less than 10) and shared the cost. I dont know how many types of gliders there are but if the glider fraternity were willing I suspect this could be done legally and without the cost being out of hand. Who knows a firm like Trig might even help - it is in their interest to do so.
As to the power consumption, and the comments about 100 hour corss country flights it is all irrelevant - I dont think anyone is suggesting you should transpond all the time but there are clearly times it would be helpful - in cloud, in and out of cloud etc. If the flight is less than three or four hours of which I suspect many are then leave it turned on.
ADS-B is the answer, but not for now. Realistically GA is not going to invest in FLARM, so transponders are the only game in town that are used by nearly everyone else.
In short your arguments are unconvincing. They remind me of politicians trying to shed the responsibility every else, and finding every reason under the sun for not doing what is right.
20 hours flights - great, so turn on the transponder when you are in and out of cloud, or in cloud, switch it off some of the time to conserve power. Investgate Nicads as IO540 suggest,
No panel space - OK so some panels dont have room for a matchbox, but I bet the majority to,
EASA - well work with EASA, band together so that people with the same type of glider get a major mod approval for the type etc.
I know you have convinced yourself it is them and us - but it really isnt. It just so happens powered GA is on the side of the fence where the majority of things that fly have decided (rightly or wrongly) transponders are the only game in town for the time being. Do you think I wanted to pay out £7K for a mode S transponder to be fitted in their early days.
You lot really need to sort yourselves out and work together and lobby together to make transponders happen otherwise you will make yourself very unpopular with those that matter - and I am not one of them! However, I do know for sure EASA are on your case, so do something about it now or you may not like the outcome because I dont want to see gliders being banned from cloud flying, I just want it to be safe for everyone who might be in the same cloud at the same time!
