Soaring in the US is a bit different (more basic?) than in Europe. A
lot of gliding is done at commercial operations, which usually do not
bother to install radios (expense, battery maintenance, etc). Since
this kind of flying is "show up, fly for an hour, go home", there is
little sense of "ownership" in the gliders (which are often basic
gliders like 2-33s or 1-26s, or various Blaniks) so they are not taken
care of very well. There are exceptions, of course, usually where
higher performance gliders are available. As far as US clubs, they
also tend to be a lot more basic than European ones (sorry, I don't
have any experience with SA/Oz/NZ so won't comment on them), so while
radios are more common they are not universal. Private ships,
however, are almost all equipped with radios - required for contests,
anyway.

When I fly commercial rides at the local glider operation, I carry a
handheld, for all the obvious reasons mentioned by others, since only
two of the 10 gliders available for rent or rides has a working radio
- both single seaters. My own glider has a radio installed, as do all
those of my gliding friends.

Performance with a handheld is actually pretty good, especially from a
glass ship. In a metal trainer, it helps to have an outside antenna.
It always helps to hook up to a nice big battery. Then add a headset
and push to talk velcroed to the stick - more wires than an astronaut!
But better than no radio.

We don't cloud fly much here (I know of only one pilot who does - in
Florida), and controlled airspace is not really a problem - yet - so a
pilot can get by for a long time never having to talk on the radio;
and a lot do exactly that! I've even heard some express their opinion
that they don't have a radio because they think a radio is unsafe in a
glider - too distracting. As a result of lack of formal training in
their correct use, radios are not used very well - way too much
chatter and poor radio calls when needed (in the pattern, for
example). Of course, this is not only a glider problem - if anything
power pilots are worse!

Oddly, most US pilots do not feel the need for a radio when
aerotowing, but think it is necessary when winch launching - just the
opposite of my experience.

Cheers,

Kirk
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