A multiple telemetering antenna system for supersonic aircraft

The existing angle-of-attack indicator spike and ram-pressure tubes on a high-speed aircraft are modified to permit their use as telemetering antenna elements. The antenna system utilizing these elements provides for operation of three airborne telemetering transmitters. Operation of each transmitter and its antenna is independent of damage to or malfunction of the other components in the system, and no multiplexing loss is suffered in the antenna system. Since current flow on the fuselage is limited to the vicinity of the antenna elements, antenna performance would be little affected by variations in configuration of aircraft with similar basic design, and direct adaptation of this system to other aircraft of this type, therefore, is relatively straightforward.