Antennae

Actually, putting the Flarm antenna in the vertical stabilizer works well. Of course, how well I "see" another glider depends on their Flarm installation. For example, I "see" K4 and DZ consistently at 8-10 miles. DL and 4AF at not more than one mile. 5E and L6 at 4-5 miles.

The SZD 55-1 has a battery box at the base of the vertical stabilizer. I took the battery out, and put the Flarm in the battery box. The Flarm and ADS-B antenna are mounted in the gap between the rudder and the vertical fin.. The Flarm antenna is located as high as possible but below the metal components of the horizontal stabilizer. The ADS-B antenna is located as low as possible, but above the mass balance weight. This gives a very short distance between the Flarm and the antennas. The trick was running the data cable forward to the Butterfly display.

The comm antenna is located in the vertical fin, the transponder antenna is bonded to the inside of the fuselage aft of the main gear.

P9