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on up for the commercially-built transceivers. Most handie-talkies are not recommended, being little more than toys. Their extremely low power and short range will prove unsatisfactory for anything except limited ground-to ground communications. Here again antenna polarization plays an important role. However, Lafayette Radio Co. of New York City is marketing a Japanese-made unit that was been used at Wurtsboro, N.Y., with considerable success. What sort of performance can we expect from this equipment? Performance in terms of range, of course, depends on factors of power, altitude, antenna efficiency and polarization, channel interference and atmospheric conditions. The commercial equipment used on the VHF aircraft frequencies can provide reliable communications between sailplane and a mobile automobile installation of about 50 miles. The author has communicated from his sailplane over El Mirage with sailplanes over Elsinore, California, a distance of 70 miles, using a Skycrafters, battery-powered, commercial transceiver. Amateur equipment on the 144 mcs band should provide similar performance. Citizens Band Equipment installed and tuned for maximum efficiency should provide adequate performance for most soaring and training needs where range distances are not too great. What about transistor equipment requiring small power sources? unfortunately, this equipment is still in the development stage, and as far as anyone can predict it will be expensive. Transistors that will operate satisfactorily at VHF or amateur(144 mes) frequencies cost about $70. Some transistors being used in Citizens Band equipment contribute to their low power and short range, although are satisfactory from a cost angle. How then can we choose a suitable installation? If we have a "ham" ticket, and can find another "ham" to crew for us, we can build a couple of two-meter (144-mcs transceivers at modest cost. If we are eager and bold, electronically, we can buy or build some of the Citizen's Band gear at a very small cost. Or we can purchase battery-operated transceivers, such as sold by Skycrafters of Long Beach, Calif. While they are the most expensive of the equipment described, they are cleverly designed, utilizing low-drain tubes for conservation of battery power, and quick heating tubes in the transmitter section so that battery drain occurs only when talking. They are also small and light. Their present popularity among the soaring fraternity minimizes obsolescence, and purchase by clubs and other groups have made their use almost universal. Caveat Emptor! Beware of throwing money away on cheap but unsatisfactory communications devices. Sooner or later one will regret it. The author is indebted to Dr. Harner Selvidge and John D. Ryan, both radio amateurs and communications specialists of long standing, for helpful assistance in the preparation of this article. SUMMARY — SAILPLANE RADIOS | Freq .(mc) | VHF(Aviation) 123.1,123.3,123.5 | Amateur 144.0-148.0 | Citizens Band 27.0 (22 freq) | | Power (watts) | 1 (air) 5(ground) | 1 (Air) up to 1kw (ground) | .15w (Handie-Talkie) | 5w, 60w (Commercial) | | Station License | Issued by FCC upon proper application | Exam & code test req's prior to grant of license by FCC | Not required | Issued by FCC upon inspection | | Operator License | permit issued by FCC upon application Exam & code test req'd prior to grant of license by FCC | No | No | | Commercial Transceivers | Many types on market. Most designed for powered aircraft. Require high capacity power supply. | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Home—built Transceivers | Must meet FCC requirements. Only FCC-licensed technician can adjust. | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Kit Form Transceivers | Modification of amateur and CB equipment is possible. | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Antenna Length (¼ wave) | 23 inches | 19 inches | 35 inches | 102 inches, can shorten with coils | | Power source | Dry cells, Lead Acid, Ni-Cad | 110v AC, 6v DC, 12v DC | Dry cells 6 or 9v | 110v AC, 6v AC, 12v AC | | Unit cost (Approximate) | $300 $320 $400 | $50 - $300 | $25 - $ 50 | $50 - $100 | | Typical Manufacturer | Skycrafters Collins Collins | Gonset (communicator) Heathkit (Twoer) | Heathkit | Heathkit | --- Paul Bikle's Prue Standard sailplae which first flew in March. It is the second of this model to be finished and differs from the prototype in that half of the dive brakes have been moved t the top of the wings and they are mounted flush. C. M. "Bud" Mears, Jr., has purchased the prototype and is having it similarly modified. Photo by George Uveges [[photo]] Sailplane mentioned above [[/photo]] [[Bottom Left](May...1962)] [[Bottom Right](9[Page Number])]
