For sure it's got nothing to do with a transponder not working! A transponder squawk code is for easier ident when being picked up on radar in controlled airspace, squawking "Ident" will light you up on the controllers screen and they will assign you a number, 1717 for instance that you then set the transponder too, mode charlie will also give the controller height and speed for greater accuracy.
But if your transponder failed, and they sometimes do like radios do, then simply telling the controller where you are, along with your height and speed, they will still see you on radar, even a F35.
There's a lot more to this story imo, you can't just bang out at any speed, and why would you for a simple transponder problem, you'd just land making radio calls into the nearest available field.
For sure it's got nothing to do with a transponder not working! A transponder squawk code is for easier ident when being picked up on radar in controlled airspace, squawking "Ident" will light you up on the controllers screen and they will assign you a number, 1717 for instance that you then set the transponder too, mode charlie will also give the controller height and speed for greater accuracy.
But if your transponder failed, and they sometimes do like radios do, then simply telling the controller where you are, along with your height and speed, they will still see you on radar, even a F35.
There's a lot more to this story imo, you can't just bang out at any speed, and why would you for a simple transponder problem, you'd just land making radio calls into the nearest available field.