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Message text written by INTERNET:lancair.list@olsusa.com
>has anyone had any experience using a radar altimeter as a landing gear up
warning? I have heard that some have altitude alarms that you can set. how
reliable are they? any information on them and pro's and con's would be
appreciated.<

My Dad invented the radar altimiter while working for RCA during WWII.
Generally the RA alarm you mentioned is used for minimums annunciators for
CAT II and III approaches and auto landings.   I suspect that you would get
occasional false gear  warnings due to the fact that when ever you fly over
another aircraft the RA would measure a brief low RA unless it was filtered
to eliminate these brief alerts.  

The AOA Professional includes a gear warner which is based on airspeed and
works nice. This single istrument provides the best L/D, max endurance,
best engine out glide, stall warnings, best approach AOA, critical AOA and
a gear warner all for much less $$ than a RA.  

Jim Frantz
Jim@angle-of-attack.com