A low-drain distress beacon for a crash position indicator

A new, light, simple and inexpensive radio distress beacon has been developed to survive airplane crashes. A special long-life pulsed transmitter with trickle-charged batteries and an internal capacitor antenna is potted in shock-absorbing foam which is transparent to radio waves and formed to a high-lift wing section. The device is held on the tail of the aircraft and releases automatically upon detection of any structural deformation. It tumbles away from the aircraft in time to clear the danger zone, slows down to a safe landing and transmits a distress signal from any position, under wide environmental conditions, and over any terrain.