Airborne antenna platform
First Claim
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1. An airborne antenna platform comprising:
- (a) an aircraft having wing structural elements for the attachment of external equipment;
(b) an antenna housing having a substantially circular configuration and a substantially elliptical cross-section, said antenna housing cross-section having a major axis L and a minor axis D, the ratio of L to D being on the order of about 2.6 to 1;
(c) a plurality of attachment members for flexibly affixing said antenna housing to said aircraft, said attachment members comprising;
(1) a pair of fasteners having a predetermined length such that the distance of the antenna housing beneath the wing of said aircraft minimizes the possibility that said housing will contact the ground during takeoff or landing, each of said fasteners being adapted for pivotal attachment to said wing structural elements and to said housing, said fasteners having at least a load bearing support;
(2) strut extensions for attaching said antenna housing to the nose of said aircraft; and
(3) fastener means for fastening said antenna housing to the afterbody of the fuselage of said aircraft; and
(d) an antenna, housed within said antenna housing, for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airborne antenna platform is disclosed capable of providing near-continuous spherical coverage of the volume surrounding the airborne platform.
10 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An airborne antenna platform comprising:
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(a) an aircraft having wing structural elements for the attachment of external equipment; (b) an antenna housing having a substantially circular configuration and a substantially elliptical cross-section, said antenna housing cross-section having a major axis L and a minor axis D, the ratio of L to D being on the order of about 2.6 to 1; (c) a plurality of attachment members for flexibly affixing said antenna housing to said aircraft, said attachment members comprising; (1) a pair of fasteners having a predetermined length such that the distance of the antenna housing beneath the wing of said aircraft minimizes the possibility that said housing will contact the ground during takeoff or landing, each of said fasteners being adapted for pivotal attachment to said wing structural elements and to said housing, said fasteners having at least a load bearing support; (2) strut extensions for attaching said antenna housing to the nose of said aircraft; and (3) fastener means for fastening said antenna housing to the afterbody of the fuselage of said aircraft; and (d) an antenna, housed within said antenna housing, for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification