System and Methods for Antenna Optimization for Wireless Broadband Communication

An enhanced antenna array for long distance wireless communication between an airborne platform and a surface base station, the antenna array comprising:

• a higher-gain beamforming antenna, comprised of at least four elements, configured to transmit to a base station and receive from the base station, and further configured to form a more directional beam substantially closer to the horizon, wherein the higher-gain beamforming antenna is configured to have a coverage area of three hundred and sixty degrees around the antenna array in the horizontal direction, and wherein the higher-gain beamforming antenna is configured to have a coverage area of between the horizon and a substantially acute vertical angle below the horizon, and wherein the substantially an acute vertical angle below the horizon is approximately 10 degrees;
• and
• a lower-gain beamforming antenna, comprised of at least four elements, configured to transmit to a base station and receive from the base station, and further configured to form a less directional beam substantially below the horizon, wherein the lower-gain beamforming antenna is configured to have a coverage area of three hundred and sixty degrees around the antenna array in the horizontal direction, and wherein the lower-gain beamforming antenna is configured to have a coverage area of between the substantially acute vertical angle below the horizon to approximately vertical.