Electrically coupled bowtie antenna

An aircraft comprising:

• an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising:
• a dielectric material comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer;
• a first conductive element having a bowtie shape, the first conductive element at the first layer;
• a feed point within the bowtie shape;
• a second conductive element configured as a feed line, the second conductive element at the second layer,
• wherein the second conductive element is electrically coupled to the first conductive element at least at the feed point, independently of direct electrical contact between the first conductive element and the second conductive element, and
• wherein the first conductive element and the second conductive element together form an electrically coupled bowtie antenna;
• and
• a ground plane at the third layer;
• and
• a non-planar surface on an exterior of the aircraft, wherein the antenna assembly conforms to the non-planar surface.

A method of making an antenna assembly, the method comprising:

• providing a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer;
• providing a first conductive element on the first dielectric layer, the first conductive element having a bowtie shape, the bowtie shape having a feed point;
• providing a second conductive element on the first or second dielectric layer, the second conductive element configured as a feed line;
• stacking the first and second dielectric layers to couple the second conductive element to the first conductive element at least at the feed point of the bowtie shape, thereby forming an electrically coupled bowtie antenna, wherein the coupling is independent of direct electrical contact between the first conductive element and the second conductive element;
• and
• providing a ground plane on the stacked dielectric layers, the ground plane disposed on the stacked dielectric layers.