Pietenpol-List: ELT location

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Rob Stapleton, Jr."
Steve;I actually gave some thought to putting the ELT in the wing center section when I moved it, since 41CC has neither a wing locker nor a fuel tank there. Problem is the antenna, which needs to stand vertically for best signal output (I believe). So... I ended up moving mine from up between the pax' feet to back behind the pilot where Corky mounted an aluminum ground plane. I've mounted both the ELT whip and the VHF COMM antenna on the same ground plane but separated them as far as possible. Far from ideal, but at least no antennae show.Alternatively, you can mount the radio wherever you want and put the whip back behind the seat with only some coax cable between them. You're going to need an antenna lead-in cable one way or the other and the losses aren't going to be too terribly great for a couple of feet of coax cable. I have some extra, premade coax whips with BNC connectors on both ends if you want one.My CFI reminded me that the 121.5 Mhz SARSAT won't be officially monitored beyond 2/1/2009 and those of us who elect to continue to fly under the grandfather clause with the old ELTs will have to rely on overflying aircraft or ground stations who happen to be monitoring 121.5 for help in time of need. Sort of like, "if a tree falls in the forest after 2/1/2009, will the FAA hear it fall?". My response was, I'm still waiting for anyone to acknowledge the ELT in 41CC going off when it went on its back a couple of years ago and sat in Zapata for a week with the ELT yelping away. I wouldn't hold my breath and I sure won't spring $1,000 for a fancier ELT for my Piet.If I go down in this fun little airplane, just wrap me in a piece of the fabric from it before you plant me 6 feet under. And since I probably won't complain about anything at that point, go ahead and toss the old 121.5 Mhz ELT from the airplane in the grave with me. Just be sure to flip the switch from 'armed' to 'off' before you do, and in order to comply with the FARs remove the old battery from service and replace with a new one ;o)Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net_________________________________________________________________Can you find the hidden words? Take a break and play Seekadoo! http://club.live.com/seekadoo.aspx?icid ... __________

[matronics]

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Haa, ja, ja,Good reply and fitting.Thanks for the humor Oscar! RS-----Original Message-----