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Thread: Do you use a ground plane for your radio?

  1. #11

    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    England
    Posts
    80

    Default Re: Do you use a ground plane for your radio?

    Quote Originally Posted by efwd View Post
    I use the airframe and the airframe only. Tony Bingelis of Experimental Aircraft fame suggested it (when talking about steel tube airframe) so I followed. I have not had anyone complain and I haven't any complaint either. I use that same radio. I suppose you would need to know what antenna I was using to get the truth as to whether you would get the same mileage. But, apparently a ground plane is unnecessary. Possibly I could get more range maybe but in this slow airplane I always reach my contacts within plenty of time before I reach their airspace.
    How slow, after an RV8, RV4 I thought with a 912is and Airmaster I would get reasonable cruise performance?

  2. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    wales,ny
    Posts
    710

    Default Re: Do you use a ground plane for your radio?

    Paul , you are entering a whole new mission envelope with the Kitfox, and totally a different speed profile than your previos RV line . As a matter of fact the slogan for the Kitfox is "its not how fast , but how fun". While it is a great STOL perforner , FOR THIS CATEGORY of airplane its no slouch with the standard (not the STOL) wing airfoil and although I don't have a rotax on my Series 5 (Continental IO-240) , my plane is happy at a 120 MPH TAS cruise speed. I think you will see responses from more owners with differing powerplants that will verify that 120 MPH is pretty standard on the later model Kitfoxes. In my dream world , my Kitfox and an IFR capable RV-7 in my hangar would be the perfect fleet, but I haven't won the lottery yet. Bruce N199CL

  3. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    KDKB (Dekalb, Illinois)
    Posts
    644

    Default Re: Do you use a ground plane for your radio?

    Decent antenna's, and a solid installation is really the key. Ground plane probably has influence
    but I'm not sure it's that critical IF your installation is well grounded.

    I have in N85AE a Garmin, and a Bendix King KX-155 with the identical Antenna on each (RAMI) I
    simply made sure they are well grounded to the airframe and I get really good range with both.
    I have been able to talk to KUGN tower from 50 miles away with the KX-155, the Garmin is not
    quite as good for range but has never been a problem. KX-155 is pretty old school, but is a really
    fine radio

    Either Radio has more range than I will ever need in N85AE at normal speeds, and in areas where
    I fly (Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota)

    Jeff

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