Back in my military flying days, only the flight leader squawked; wingmen
set their transponders to STBY. When/if the formation broke up, everyone
squawked an assigned code.


"Mike C" wrote in message
...
On Nov 3, 8:59 am, Dave Nadler wrote:
On Friday, November 2, 2012 8:45:43 PM UTC-4, Mike C wrote:
I am wondering if using Oshkosh as an example applicable to a few
sailplanes, in a thermal, is not a bit of a strawman argument.

Oshkosh was used as an example of where Mode A/C cannot work.

A separate point, it is my impression that traffic is so congested
there that the controllers are overwhelmed, not that the signals are
garbled and unreadable.

"Your impression" ? The controllers are not overwhelmed, they use
appropriate tools and manage the highest traffic density anywhere,
very professionally. As you would know if you've flown into
Oshkosh (or in the airshow ;-)

Mode C is valid, safe and not the worthless tired technology
that it seems to be portrayed as.

Sure, which is why Mode C was phased out in Germany years ago,
with the rest of the world following...

For new installations, get Mode S and we'll all be happier
with the results. And it won't have to be replaced if/when
FAA catches up with the rest of the world (not holding my
breath).

Mode C does work in many cases, but...

Dave,

Are you sure that the reason that formation pilots only have one
transponder on, is not because of collision alerts with aircraft in
close proximity of each other? That is what I was told. Also told the
reason transponders are turned off is because of alerts in heavy
traffic

Mike.