Let's look at this last-to-first. You stated: "There is no requirement to
have radios to fly IFR." First of all, this statement is far too broad.
Which radios are you referring to? COM, NAV, ADF, ELT, LORAN, GPS, or
something else?

And that statement is just plain false! See FAR 91.205:
(d) Instrument flight rules. For IFR flight, the following instruments and
equipment are required:
(2) Two-way radio communications system and navigational equipment
appropriate to the ground facilities to be used.

That looks pretty clear to me: you DO have to have radios on board to fly
IFR.

On the next part of this post, you state: "The type certificate states
whether the plane can be flown IFR."

That is not correct. What the type certificate says is that the plane has
met ONE of the sets of criteria required for it to be used for IFR flight. A
plane cannot be flown IFR unless it has IFR on the type certificate, but
just because a plane has IFR on the type certificate doesn't mean it can be
flown IFR. The other requirements must also be met.

A brand new aircraft rolling out of the factory with IFR on the type
certificate but with no radios cannot be flown IFR...



"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
om...
"Bill Denton" wrote in message
...
You can take a "no radio" aircraft and upgrade it to "full IFR capable".
I
think this requires some sort of sign-off.

Conversely, you could remove all of the radios from an aircraft and it
would
no longer meet IFR requirements. I imagine some sort of
"decertification" is
necessary.

I doubt that the type certificate enters into it at all...

The type certificate states whether the plane can be flown IFR. The
certification testing includes hitting it with lightening (in a secure
room) and seeing how the electrons move around the plane. This has
become a challenging thing for the new composite planes. Most every
plane that you will see sitting on the FBOs ramp has met this
requirement. Some planes certified by the old CAA may be graced
though.

There is no requirement to have radios to fly IFR.

-Robert