Silly question maybe; having moved from a girt metal plane with transponder to a GRP/fabric/pole C42, and having been used to using LARs services - west of Heathrow using Farnborogh for example. I presume its going to be hard for them get any significant radar returns from me to know where I am. I would put up one of those diamond shaped kites to increase radar cross section on a boat, does anyone use such things in their planes? Or maybe mode S in the answer if I want to get into Gatwick Byways strip or similar.
your comments appreciated
Graeme G-MROY
Radar Image and LARs
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Graeme Bird
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:14 pm
- Location: Milton Keynes
Actually the C42 (and similar) aren't that difficult to spot on modern 10cm radars. Largish lump of metal up front and the lattice of tubes make pretty good reflectors. Indeed Gliders can be seen reasonbly well with very little metal at all.
So why the need for a transponder then? ATC sometimes need to be able to Identify each individual echo and confirm that it's really you. They also need to be able to keep track of you. Both aren't easy when there are lots of other returns in the same area.
That takes care of mode A / C, Mode S is a very different can of worms.
AndyA
So why the need for a transponder then? ATC sometimes need to be able to Identify each individual echo and confirm that it's really you. They also need to be able to keep track of you. Both aren't easy when there are lots of other returns in the same area.
That takes care of mode A / C, Mode S is a very different can of worms.
AndyA