"Big John" wrote in message
...

Just some ramblings on stealth.

When the Air Defense Command was in high gear with Radars all over the
States and over lapping coverage, we used 'skin paint' (vs beacon/IFF
or transponder) to located and track aircraft (we didn't think the
Russians would come in squawking for us). The FAA always used
beacon/transponder to make a large blip on their scope for traffic
control purposes.


Not always. Radar was used by ATC for some years prior to Project Beacon in
the early sixties. Transponders didn't become the rule rather than the
exception for a few more years.



With that background, what does FAA use today? If they do not use
'skin paint' why can't the 'glass' birds with a wooden prop, turn off
their transponder and fly through all the restricted areas unseen?

I'm not up to speed on current traffic control radar and if they both
'skin paint' and look at transponder returns?.

Anyone want to comment on this thread and expand?


ATC primary radar isn't all that good, especially in the Centers. Some
radar sites have beacon interrogators only, no primary radar at all. As you
say, for ATC purposes aircraft want to be seen and the vast majority have
transponders. Broadband radar provided better primary targets, but a lot of
clutter as well.