On Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 11:56:17 AM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
But on an experimental glider, can't one have a non-TSO'd gps engine for a transponder that has ADS-B out? Isn't that what Trig is developing? Why have yet another power drain and another GPS when the modern glider already has one to three GPS's?


On Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 8:31:39 AM UTC-8, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
On Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 11:23:00 AM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
Why is it that the GPS from Flarm unit cannot be used? That seems perfect as we would get more Flarms in gliders and obviously they are accurate.


I believe because the GPS is not "TSO'd", meaning nobody has spent a ton of money getting it approved.
It may be even better (in performance & features) than an approved unit, it just does not have "the little stamp" that is a FAA blessing.

Along the lines of, "Speed is money, how fast do you want to go?", the FAA version is, "Legal is money, how legal do you want to be?".

I know there is a voltage regulator for our Super Cub that comes from a ~50's vintage Chevy for ~$40, the "FAA approved part" is a few hundred.
But it has the "little stamp".

My limited understanding is...... "Experimental" means anything goes, just don't try to sue anyone.
Most sailplanes today are certified, thus need TSO'd equipment (meaning, legal for your country)

I'm not well versed on some of this, it's the Internet (thus it may be true), YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).