I'm wondering if an external solution would be the best way to go.

The Butterfly PF site has some interesting external antennas, but they look kinda hi-drag to my uneducated eye:

http://www.butterfly-store.de/en/Col...LARM/Antennas/

Seems to me that a streamlined bottom-fed dipole mounted on top of fuselage just behind the canopy would provide the best coverage (nothing in front or back of it) and minimal drag (less than the TE probe), without cluttering up the cockpit. For gliders with carbon fiber fuselages, might need to add a bottom antenna. What we need is an antenna that can be removed easily from it's socket, so it will not interfere with the top of the trailer when the glider is derigged.

Make the socket a pass-through, plug in the antenna (held in place with an O-ring?), connect the co-ax in the fuselage, done.

Nothing in the field of view in the cockpit (whiskey compasses on the glareshield? really? when was the last time you ACTUALLY used that relic), easier to clean the inside of the canopy, etc. After all the point is to make it EASIER to see traffic!

Anybody know someone who makes custom antennas? How about an SSA non-profit initiative? Or better yet, Bumper, you reading this?

Kirk
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