Jeremy Zawodny wrote:
Eric Greenwell wrote:

I've got to know: why can't you change codes in the air?

Because there's no room in the panel to expose the transponder controls.
The transponder lives behind the panel of my 304C, so I can change the
code only by removing the canopy. My 304C has the instrument panel
designed for taller pilots, with deeper leg cutouts and less room for
instruments.

Here's a shot: http://flickr.com/photos/jzawodn/34233620/

It was either that or *not* install a transponder at all. Since I fly
most of the summer in the Reno area, I opted for having one.

Well, that's not entirely true. I could have spent hundreds of dollars
to re-instrument my panel the way I'd really like, but I'm not ready to
go quite that far yet.

Yeah, you have plenty of space for another instrument, but it has to be
gathered up into one corner.

You've probably thought of this: if it's a Becker, you just need some
way of pushing the VFR1 (set for 1200) and VFR2 (set for 0440) buttons
remotely to allow switching. A plastic model airplane pushrod might do
the job.


--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
* "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org