N546RV
Well Known Member
I've been pondering where to stick my ELT antenna. I've seen numerous mentions of the Redline approach, where the antenna is mounted to the right rear armrest just ahead of the F-807 bulkhead, with the whip secured so it follows the curve of the bulkhead above the canopy rails and stays clear of the canopy.
However, I was trying to work this out yesterday and having trouble figuring out how to make it work. Since the bulkhead meets the armrest at an obtuse angle (viewed from above), even if I mount the antenna as close to the bulkhead as I can, it'll be a couple inches away from the bulkhead at the point where the rigid base terminates. I suppose I could fabricate some looong standoffs but they seem like they'd be prone to getting hit by the backseater.
An additional problem is the canopy rail - the rigid antenna base stops just short of the rail, but even attempting to position it as far inboard as possible I'm not sure the whip will clear the inside edge of the rail.
Long story short, I'm having trouble seeing how this method can work well, and this seems like one of those times where a picture = 1000 words.
However, I was trying to work this out yesterday and having trouble figuring out how to make it work. Since the bulkhead meets the armrest at an obtuse angle (viewed from above), even if I mount the antenna as close to the bulkhead as I can, it'll be a couple inches away from the bulkhead at the point where the rigid base terminates. I suppose I could fabricate some looong standoffs but they seem like they'd be prone to getting hit by the backseater.
An additional problem is the canopy rail - the rigid antenna base stops just short of the rail, but even attempting to position it as far inboard as possible I'm not sure the whip will clear the inside edge of the rail.
Long story short, I'm having trouble seeing how this method can work well, and this seems like one of those times where a picture = 1000 words.