Skybolt Al
Well Known Member
Thinking about locating the antenna in the fuselage, behind the baggage compartment. That's how I've done it before in the Stearman, will it work OK in the metal airplane?
Thinking about locating the antenna in the fuselage, behind the baggage compartment. That's how I've done it before in the Stearman, will it work OK in the metal airplane?
Yes, for saying you have installed the antenna.
No, for having an antenna that will actually transmit a readable signal.
The Stearman installation may have worked ok due to its fabric skin (but if PloySpray was used in covering process the antenna was under a layer of aluminum powder...).
The RV's aluminum skin serves an an effective RF barrier.
Looking at all the RV's at Oshkosh, I don't remember seeing a single ELT antenna on the exterior. I just hate to put such an ugly thing on the outside.
Just think about whether it was worth the looks and speed as you sit there upside down after your off airport landing into a wet sod field... waiting for someone to come and let you out.
Mine is next to the rear passenger seat back almost touching the canopy. Not as good as outside though.
If you don't have other antennas already mounted inside your fiberglass wingtips, you could mount it inside there too.
If you don't have other antennas already mounted inside your fiberglass wingtips, you could mount it inside there too.
Well.....since you asked, here is where I mounted the antenna in my RV-6:
It ain't "legal", and not sure how well it works, but.........
Looking at all the RV's at Oshkosh, I don't remember seeing a single ELT antenna on the exterior. I just hate to put such an ugly thing on the outside.
.....try finding an external location on an RV-8!
Here's mine, just forward of the VS and I don't think it's that bad/ugly!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Van's-RV-7/1724601/L/&sid=49f0a7dfee6feddd6bf0192fe6c4831b
Here's mine, just forward of the VS and I don't think it's that bad/ugly!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Van's-RV-7/1724601/L/&sid=49f0a7dfee6feddd6bf0192fe6c4831b
...be vertical though...
.... Then I drilled a couple of holes through the vertical bulkheads, inserted snap bushings and ran the coax cable forward to the antenna......
Good point. I guess there really is no simple answer to mounting these units. Perhaps I should look at a mounting bracket somewhere in the baggage compartment for the ELT that would allow a direct antenna connection to the unit without having to run through any of the airframe structure. Perhaps I could devise a mounting bracket just behind the passenger seat where the ELT could reside. That might be a good location in my plane....If there is a major accident, and the fuselage becomes deformed, it would be easy for the antenna cable to get cut...
Then I drilled a couple of holes through the vertical bulkheads, inserted snap bushings and ran the coax cable forward to the antenna.
Dang it Mel. You're right again and just yesterday I ran my cable through one of the big lightening holes in the bulkhead one bay behind the baggage (RV-10). Luckily it's not closed up & will take about two minutes to reroute. I had it suspended like you say & my pea brain said to run it through the hole for "security". I hate this forum.ELT antenna cable should NEVER be run through a bulkhead in the conventional manner. As stated before, if the bulkhead is deformed, it can easily cut through the cable. Whenever possible the cable should be run through the large opening in the bulkhead and secured to the bulkhead loosely.
Mel, without getting in the book, is there still- or ever, a 50 radius limit that precludes an onboard ELT?
Yes, I guess I am going to have to remount my ELT in the baggage compartment so I can avoid running antenna cable through any bulkheads.ELT antenna cable should NEVER be run through a bulkhead in the conventional manner. As stated before, if the bulkhead is deformed, it can easily cut through the cable. Whenever possible the cable should be run through the large opening in the bulkhead and secured to the bulkhead loosely.
"91.207(f) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to--
(3) Aircraft while engaged in training operations conducted entirely within a 50-nautical mile radius of the airport from which such local flight operations began."
Well.....since you asked, here is where I mounted the antenna in my RV-6:
It ain't "legal", and not sure how well it works, but.........