Abstract: A new type of thin-walled dielectric loaded antenna which is capable of fh mounting to almost any surface contour. This very thin wrap-around antenna consists essentially of 2 modified cavity-backed slot radiators, spacially positioned 180.degree. apart. Typically, a stripline feed network is used to couple the microwave energy to the individual radiating slots. A plurality of plated through holes define the boundary for the stripline feed network.

Abstract: A streamlined electronic-component-containing pod is mounted on the exterior of a military aircraft in subjection to the airflow past the aircraft during flight. An evaporator in the pod is close coupled thermally to the electronic components for cooling. The outer skin of the pod acts as a condenser for return of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator during normal flight operations. During short-term high-speed dash operation the outer skin of the pod becomes too hot for condensing refrigerant vapor, which then becomes condensed by a heat sink. At this time the refrigerant at the outer skin remaining in the vapor phase acts as thermal insulation.

Abstract: A dielectric loaded edge-slot radiator whose exterior dimensions are adjuble to allow flush mounting on cylindrical and conical bodies which can be frequency tuned either electrically or mechanically. This is done by varying the number of inductive posts which are used as boundaries for the individual elements making up the antenna. A single inductive probe whose characteristic impedance is matched to the rf source is coupled so as to simultaneously excite all of the radiating elements in phase. The radiation field produced in a plane containing the radiator is nearly of constant amplitude.

Abstract: An antenna window for ablative type heat shield where the forward edge of the window is below the level of the heat shield and the trailing edge extends above the surface of the heat shield creating abrupt steps in the overall surface, precluding severe local material loss due to differences in ablation rates of the window and surrounding heat shield material.

Abstract: A novel approach for generating four symmetrically located beams from a printed antenna using a corporate feed system is described. One approach used to generate four low side lobe beams utilizes a planar aperture. The second approach generates four low side lobe beams from a cylindrically shaped aperture. The generation is accomplished without the use of active phase shifting devices. The output phase function of the feed can be reversed which causes the beam to be pointed equally in the opposite direction. The radiating elements are designed to be symmetrical about the center of the aperture in a direction orthogonal to the radiating elements. By placing identical feeds at both ends, four beams can be obtained, each pointed in a direction symmetrically located about the normal to the antenna. Such an approach is applicable to both planar arrays and cylindrically shaped arrays.

Abstract: A low drag gyro stabilized radome for an aircraft. The radome is pivoted roll and pitch by a universal joint between the radome and a pylon rigidly attached to the aircraft thereby enabling the radome, under gyro control, to remain horizontal to the ground during varying flight attitudes. An enclosed antenna is driven independently of the radome for tilt and sweep motion.

Abstract: An aircraft-crash location transmitter tuned to transmit on standard emergency frequencies is shock mounted in a sealed circular case retained in a recess atop the tail of an aircraft by means of a shear pin designed to fail under a G-loading associated with a crash situation. The antenna for the transmitter is a metallic spring-blade having a curved cross-section and coiled like a spiral spring around the outside of the circular case, the free end of the antenna abutting the surface of the recess when the case is retained therein by the shear pin for maintaining the antenna in a furled state. A battery within the case for powering the transmitter is kept trickle-charged from the electrical system of the aircraft through a break-away connector on the case that also serves to mechanically hold-open the transmitter key until the connector separates.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving the horizontal and vertical electric field compons of incoming VLF, LF, and MF (10 KHz to 3000 kHz) signals that is easily portable and installed within minutes aboard aircraft with windows. A sheet of metal or matrix of interconnecting wires is placed against the inside surface of non-conducting windows on each side of the aircraft fuselage and used as the receiving antennas. The voltage sum of the two window antennas is proportional to the vertical electric field. The voltage difference of the two window antennas is proportional to the horizontal electric field particularly when the antennas are forward or to the rear of the wings extending from the fuselage.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and entertaining passengers comprise an aircraft, a rotary supporting structure, equipment connected to the aircraft and to the rotary supporting structure for mounting the rotary supporting structure in the aircraft, a set of antenna elements constituting a directional television antenna on the rotary supporting structure for receiving transmitted television signals, equipment for selectively changing the orientation of the directional television antenna, including equipment coupled to the supporting structure for selectively rotating the supporting structure, and equipment connected to the directional television antenna for processing and displaying the received television signals inside the aircraft.In an aircraft, there is provided a structural member on the outside of the aircraft of a material permeable to transmitted television signals. A container of electrically insulating material is located inside the aircraft and adjacent the permeable structural member.

Abstract: An improved directional antenna for use in an airborne vehicle is shown. The contemplated antenna includes a planar phased array of antenna elements mechanically rotatable about an axis of rotation, the plane of such array making an acute angle with such axis. The beam from such array may be electronically scanned, within wide limits, regardless of the orientation of the phased array. Also shown is an improved constrained centerfeed for the antenna elements in each row thereof in such array, the disclosed feed incorporating a double ladder arrangement, including wideband couplers, to permit the extensive use of stripline and at the same time to allow practically independent adjustment of azimuth and elevation difference patterns when the phased array is used as an element in a monopulse system.