Nav Antenna Placement

[Jim Pensinger]

I am building a metal experimental aircraft that has an all moving
rudder/vertical stabilizer (Zenith Zodiac 601XL). Does the moving
stabilizer present any problems to the VOR antenna? It seems to me that the
bottom of the fuselage under the cockpit would be a better mounting place
but I have never seen this used. Is there a reason?




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[Bruce Bockius]

"Jim Pensinger" > wrote in message >...
> I am building a metal experimental aircraft that has an all moving
> rudder/vertical stabilizer (Zenith Zodiac 601XL). Does the moving
> stabilizer present any problems to the VOR antenna? It seems to me that the
> bottom of the fuselage under the cockpit would be a better mounting place
> but I have never seen this used. Is there a reason?

On my 601HD I mounted my VOR antenna on the bottom of the rear
fuselage just forward of the tailwheel (about 1' from the end if you
have a trike). Seems to work although I use the GPS 99.9% of the time
anyways...

http://home.earthlink.net/~fellrider/nav_ant.jpg
http://www.whiteantelopesoftware.com/zodiac

-Bruce Bockius

[JFLEISC]

>On my 601HD I mounted my VOR antenna on the bottom of the rear
>fuselage just forward of the tailwheel (about 1' from the end if you
>have a trike). Seems to work although I use the GPS 99.9% of the time
>anyways...

Exactly the same here. It gets the same or better reception than any other
plane I have flown. The added benefit is (since the top of the tail isn't as
high as my wife's Cessna) you won't take your eye out during a preflight.

Jim

[Brian Cox]

(JFLEISC) wrote in message >...
> >On my 601HD I mounted my VOR antenna on the bottom of the rear
> >fuselage just forward of the tailwheel (about 1' from the end if you
> >have a trike). Seems to work although I use the GPS 99.9% of the time
> >anyways...
>
> Exactly the same here. It gets the same or better reception than any other
> plane I have flown. The added benefit is (since the top of the tail isn't as
> high as my wife's Cessna) you won't take your eye out during a preflight.
>
> Jim

You could also use the fuselage mounted combination VOR/Comm, "Flying
Lady". I've seen them on V-tail aircraft, and have one on my 310.
Performance is very good, though it might be a bit too large for your
plane. I see them on e-bay from time to time.

Brian
N3827X

[Morgans]

"Brian Cox" > wrote

combination VOR/Comm, "Flying Lady".

> Brian
> N3827X

Huh?
--
Jim in NC


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[Brian Cox]

"Morgans" > wrote in message >...
> "Brian Cox" > wrote
>
> combination VOR/Comm, "Flying Lady".
>
> > Brian
> > N3827X
>
> Huh?

It is an antenna with separate connectors for the VHF comm and the VOR
antenna. It mounts on top of the fuselage, usually over the
pilot/co-pilot location. The antenna looks like a forward swept VHF
blade. At the top is a backward swept V shaped dipole. The blade is
the comm antenna, the dipole is the VOR antenna. I may be wrong, but
I assume that they were originally designed for the V-tail Bonanza
because it did not have a vertical stabilizer to mount the VOR.

Thanks,
Brian

[Morgans]

"Brian Cox" > wrote > >
> > combination VOR/Comm, "Flying Lady".
> >
> > > Brian
> > > N3827X
> >
> > Huh?
>
> It is an antenna with separate connectors for the VHF comm and the VOR
> antenna. It mounts on top of the fuselage, usually over the
> pilot/co-pilot location. The antenna looks like a forward swept VHF
> blade. At the top is a backward swept V shaped dipole. The blade is
> the comm antenna, the dipole is the VOR antenna. I may be wrong, but
> I assume that they were originally designed for the V-tail Bonanza
> because it did not have a vertical stabilizer to mount the VOR.
>
> Thanks,
> Brian

Gotcha. I had never heard them called that before.
--
Jim in NC


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[Jim Carriere]

Brian Cox wrote:
>>combination VOR/Comm, "Flying Lady".
>>
> It is an antenna with separate connectors for the VHF comm and the VOR
> antenna. It mounts on top of the fuselage, usually over the
> pilot/co-pilot location. The antenna looks like a forward swept VHF
> blade. At the top is a backward swept V shaped dipole. The blade is
> the comm antenna, the dipole is the VOR antenna. I may be wrong, but
> I assume that they were originally designed for the V-tail Bonanza
> because it did not have a vertical stabilizer to mount the VOR.

Is it a coincidence that this description resembles the Rolls Royce
"flying lady" hood ornaments?