Determination of Aircraft Antenna Loads Produced by Natural Icing Conditions

A flight investigation was made to determine the effect of distance flown in the icing region, antenna length, and antenna angle on the tension occurring in aircraft antennae while in regions of aircraft icing. The experimental antennas were of lengths ranging from 15 to 43 feet and were placed at angles of 0 deg to 64 deg with the airplane thrust axis. Distances up to 256 miles were flown in diverse icing conditions at true airspeeds from 157 to 214 miles per hour and pressure altitudes at which icing conditions were encountered. The results indicate that: The effect of ice formation on antenna tension increased with the angle of the antennas with the longitudinal axis of the airplane. The maximum tension for antennae having angles from 0 deg to 15 deg was 68 pounds, whereas the maximum tension for antennas having angles of 44 deg and 64 deg was 274 and 438 pounds, respectively.