Could someone please explain to me what the wires are for that you often see on private jets that run from the top of the fuselage to the tail? What is being transmitted by the wire?
I think I’ve also seen them on King Airs.
I tried google but couldn’t find the answer.
For example, such a wire is visible in this picture:
http://flightaware.com/photos/view/2297-53831c837dbb404f7d09b0b1116a9e88c3f62e9e/aircraft/N883RP/sort/votes/page/1
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
ADF antenna
mduell: ADF antenna
Ahh, thanks so much!
Mark is wrong- HF antenna. At least in the picture the OP posted
The ADF on modern jets use a closed loop system.
Interesting–the plot thickens! Thanks for replying.
Can I ask a follow-up question? Why don’t you usually see these wires on large passenger jets? Do they just have more room to run them under the “skin” of the aircraft?
On large transport category aircraft, they are usually run inside the vertical fin.
OK, got it. Thanks for explaining, I’m not a pilot but I really enjoy learning about aircraft and avionics.
hf
We still have a wire ADF antennae, but then we are not flying a modern airplane. Our HF is in the tail.
Actually, the fin, often the leading edge is the antenna. All of the large Bombardier and Gulfstreams are like this.
phantomman69 said: Actually, the fin, often the leading edge is the antenna. All of the large Bombardier and Gulfstreams are like this.
OK i gotcha. That is really interesting that they use the fin itself as an antenna, i had no idea but it makes sense. Thanks!
Our Citation that is the HF Antenna. Someone told me that a way to tell the difference between an HF as opposed to an ADF antenna on the top like that is the HF is usually a thicker “Cable” and the ADF is a thinner “wire” I’m a pilot not an avoincs tech, so for me the easiest way to tell is to look in the panel…
I really love the fact that people are answering a year old question that has already been answered multiple times.
Proof that once it’s on the internet, it never dies.
HF antenna
The Wire is the HF (High Frequency Long Range Communications) antenna.