X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 03:01:19 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from imo-m18.mx.aol.com ([64.12.138.208] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1c.2) with ESMTP id 1310233 for lml@lancaironline.net; Fri, 21 Jul 2006 02:45:20 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=64.12.138.208; envelope-from=Sky2high@aol.com Received: from Sky2high@aol.com by imo-m18.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v38_r7.5.) id q.3ba.28549d80 (40522) for ; Fri, 21 Jul 2006 02:44:32 -0400 (EDT) From: Sky2high@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: <3ba.28549d80.31f1d1d0@aol.com> X-Original-Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 02:44:32 EDT Subject: Pilot or Poser: An antenna query.... X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-----------------------------1153464272" X-Mailer: 9.0 Security Edition for Windows sub 5318 X-Spam-Flag: NO -------------------------------1153464272 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John, I still don't know which Lancair you are building. Here is my experience with antennae in my 800 flight-hour pre-preg glass LNC2: 1. A single comm antenna is located inside the vertical stabilizer and is antenna-switched between a Garmin 430 and a Terra comm. The Terra picks up ATIS 60-70 miles out if high enough, AWOS/ASOS 25 to 30 miles out. The Garmin picks up air-to-tower and tower-to-air even further out, depending on altitude. 2. A Nav antenna is located inside the leading edge of horizontal stab. VOR reception is adequate (I don't navigate that way much so I can't really rate it) and ILS/LOC reception is excellent. 3. A Glide slope antenna is located inside the outboard leading edge of stub wing (BL40 to BL50). It provide excellent reception on an ILS approach. 4. The ELT antenna is a foil Z on the sidewall behind the baggage bulkhead and has tested well with a comm hookup. An accidental activation while parked at the Sedona airport was quickly noted as the satellite was passing over head at the time. I don't know if it will work with the 406 MHz ELT required in 2009. 5. A Marker Beacon foil strip is located on the centerline floor behind the baggage bulkhead. It receives everybody's marker within 10-15 miles but also works very well on an ILS approach. My only comment is that it is too sensitive but who's using marker beacons much anyway? 6. The Garmin 430 GPS antenna is mounted inside on the ceiling just behind the rollover. It works flawlessly. I don't know how the new GPS/WAAS antenna will work (or fit) in the same location until the GPS WAAS upgrade is installed. 7. The transponder antenna is a Comant high-speed mini blade attached to a 14 inch round ground plane positioned in the right wing inside bottom skin about mid-point between the outboard aileron bell crank rib and the wingtip rib. 90% of the blade sticks outside the bottom skin. It was originally buried in the same wing bay with a ground plane on the inside of the top skin, but didn't test well because the carbon spar caps sucked up the signal. The Terra Mode C transponder works well although there have been ATC signal losses occasionally during flight in remote areas. I blame ATC for having old cheap radars. 8. The Monroy ATD 300 passive transponder reply antenna is also a Comant high speed mini blade located similarly as the transponder antenna, only in the left wing without a ground plane. The accuracy of distance guesses by the ATD varies unless the bogey is within about a 1.5 NM range. I don't think it has missed any traffic and it has often forced me to look out the window instead of at the comic book. It did save me from what clearly would have been a mid-air from a craft at my 2-thirty o'clock. It has to peek around the intervening wing mounted pitot to listen to transponder replies emanating out the other wing (see #7 above). 9. I have abandoned a ceiling mounted ADF antenna and a sidewall mounted LORAN antenna as we moved into this century since the related devices have been relegated to the dust bin. I needed the panel space for more useful equipment although I haven't yet installed a cup holder. 10. I try to minimize flight into p-static conditions as much as possible (Hmmmm sounds like VFR?). I do not have little metal pieces (like hinges) bonded to each other around the huge flying insulator, nor do I employ static wicks. During the occasional p-static flights, only once did I have real static problems - in a very unusual cloud just loaded with noxious electrons, protons, neutrons, gamma-rays, p-particles, etc. 11. The transponder and ATD cables are RG 400 while, unfortunately, other antenna cables are with the lighter leaky RG 58U. If the comm antenna wasn't buried in the vertical stab, I would replace that cable with RG 400. Unless I artfully route the comm cable, a transmission results in every temperature readout going bananas, thus resulting in shock cooling warnings and other toxic indications. Just try and relate EGTs and CHTs to your wingman........... Scott Krueger AKA Grayhawk Lancair N92EX IO320 SB 89/96 Aurora, IL (KARR) Abnegate Exigencies! -------------------------------1153464272 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
John,
 
I still don't know which Lancair you are building.  Here is my=20 experience with antennae in my 800 flight-hour pre-preg glass LNC2:
 
1. A single comm antenna is located inside the vertical stabilizer= and=20 is antenna-switched between a Garmin 430 and a Terra comm.  The Terra p= icks=20 up ATIS 60-70 miles out if high enough, AWOS/ASOS 25 to 30 miles out. =20= The=20 Garmin picks up air-to-tower and tower-to-air even further out, depending on= =20 altitude.
 
2. A Nav antenna is located inside the leading edge of horizo= ntal=20 stab.  VOR reception is adequate (I don't navigate that way much so I c= an't=20 really rate it) and ILS/LOC reception is excellent.
 
3. A Glide slope antenna is located inside the outboard leading ed= ge=20 of stub wing (BL40 to BL50).  It provide excellent reception on an = ;ILS=20 approach.
 
4. The ELT antenna is a foil Z on the sidewall behind the baggage=20 bulkhead and has tested well with a comm hookup.  An accidental=20 activation while parked at the Sedona airport was quickly noted as the satel= lite=20 was passing over head at the time.  I don't know if it will work w= ith=20 the 406 MHz ELT required in 2009.
 
5. A Marker Beacon foil strip is located on the centerline floor=20 behind the baggage bulkhead.  It receives everybody's marker within 10-= 15=20 miles but also works very well on an ILS approach.  My only commen= t is=20 that it is too sensitive but who's using marker beacons much anyway?
 
6. The Garmin 430 GPS antenna is mounted inside on the ceiling just beh= ind=20 the rollover.  It works flawlessly.  I don't know how the new GPS/= WAAS=20 antenna will work (or fit) in the same location until the GPS WAAS upgr= ade=20 is installed.
 
7. The transponder antenna is a Comant high-speed mini blade attached t= o a=20 14 inch round ground plane positioned in the right wing inside bottom skin a= bout=20 mid-point between the outboard aileron bell crank rib and the wingtip rib.&n= bsp;=20 90% of the blade sticks outside the bottom skin.  It was originally bur= ied=20 in the same wing bay with a ground plane on the inside of the top skin, but=20 didn't test well because the carbon spar caps sucked up the signal.  Th= e=20 Terra Mode C transponder works well although there have been ATC signal loss= es=20 occasionally during flight in remote areas.  I blame ATC for having old= =20 cheap radars.
 
8. The Monroy ATD 300 passive transponder reply antenna is also a Coman= t=20 high speed mini blade located similarly as the transponder antenna= ,=20 only in the left wing without a ground plane.  The accuracy of distance= =20 guesses by the ATD varies unless the bogey is within about a 1.5 NM range.&n= bsp;=20 I don't think it has missed any traffic and it has often forced me to look o= ut=20 the window instead of at the comic book.  It did save me from what= =20 clearly would have been a mid-air from a craft at my 2-thirty=20 o'clock.  It has to peek around the intervening wing mounted pitot to=20 listen to transponder replies emanating out the other wing (see #7= =20 above).
 
9. I have abandoned a ceiling mounted ADF antenna and a sidewall mounte= d=20 LORAN antenna as we moved into this century since the related devices h= ave=20 been relegated to the dust bin.  I needed the panel space for more usef= ul=20 equipment although I haven't yet installed a cup holder.
 
10. I try to minimize flight into p-static conditions as much as possib= le=20 (Hmmmm sounds like VFR?).  I do not have little metal pieces (like hing= es)=20 bonded to each other around the huge flying insulator, nor do I employ stati= c=20 wicks.  During the occasional p-static flights, only once did I ha= ve=20 real static problems - in a very unusual cloud just loaded with noxious=20 electrons, protons, neutrons, gamma-rays, p-particles, etc.
 
11. The transponder and ATD cables are RG 400 while, unfortunately, oth= er=20 antenna cables are with the lighter leaky RG 58U.  If the comm antenna=20 wasn't buried in the vertical stab, I would replace that cable with RG=20 400.  Unless I artfully route the comm cable, a transmission results in= =20 every temperature readout going bananas, thus resulting in shock cooling=20 warnings and other toxic indications.  Just try and relate EGTs an= d=20 CHTs to your wingman...........
 
 
Scott Krueger=20 AKA Grayhawk
Lancair N92EX IO320 SB 89/96
Aurora, IL=20 (KARR)

Abnegate Exigencies!
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