Brief Description: Stratus Transponder Antenna Part 1
The ubiquitous transponder antenna…where to locate it? Somewhere on the belly is the generic answer, but where? There were so many opinions and I spent literally HOURS researching the best place for it. After all the wringing of hands was done, I decided the bottom of the belly, aft of the baggage compartment was the best place. Unfortunately, I should have thought about that long ago. It was doable, but the antenna bracket contacting the fabric without a good reinforcement was a problem. It was too late to add a doily on the outside and gluing one on the inside I would risk lifting the paint on the belly because of the solvents in the glue. Plan B was in the boot cowl area. Jim Harden suggested that location, along with others. So I drove around my local airport and there were LOTS of aircraft of every type with the antenna in the lower boot cowl. So, that’s where it’s going to be.
Because the sheet metal in that area has a curve to it I decided to make a neoprene gasket for the antenna. I didn’t want any kind of goop in the outside chance that I would have to relocate the antenna in the future.
