Antenna/radome assembly

An antenna/radome assembly comprising:

• a radome configured to be integrated into an upper vertical stabilizer, the radome having a first inner cross-sectional width, wherein the first inner cross-sectional width is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the aircraft;
• an antenna array configured to fit within the radome within the first inner cross-section width, the antenna array is configured to receive radio waves and comprises:
• a first reflector and a first antenna coupled to a first telescoping arm, the first reflector having a first surface and configured to focus radio waves to the first antenna;
• and
• a second reflector and second antenna coupled to a second telescoping arm, the second reflector having a second surface area and configured to focus radio waves to the second antenna;
• and wherein the aircraft tail assembly further comprises:
• an antenna positioning system configured to:
• raise the first reflector via the first telescoping arm while it lowers the second reflector via the second telescoping arm;
• lower the first reflector via the first telescoping arm while it raises the second reflector via the second telescoping arm;
• rotate the first reflector about a first vertical axis along the first telescoping arm;
• and
• rotate the second reflector about a second vertical axis along the second telescoping arm.

A method for assembling an antenna/radome assembly comprising:

• affixing a radome to an aircraft tail assembly, the radome having an inner cross-sectional width less than a width of the aircraft tail assembly, wherein the inner cross-sectional width and the width of the aircraft tail assembly are substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of an aircraft;
• coupling a first reflector and a first antenna to a first telescopic arm having a first vertical axis therethrough, the first reflector having a first surface area;
• coupling a second reflector and a second antenna to a second telescopic arm having a second vertical axis therethrough, the second reflector having a second surface area, wherein the first and second reflectors and the first and second antennas form an antenna array;
• assembling an antenna positioning system configured to (i) rotate the first reflector about a first horizontal axis perpendicular to the first telescoping arm, (ii) rotate the second reflector about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the second telescoping arm, (iii) raise the first reflector while lowering the second reflector such that the second reflector avoids shading the first reflector from radio waves during operation of the antenna array, and (iv) rotate the first reflector about the first vertical axis and the second reflector about the second vertical axis;
• and
• positioning the antenna array within the radome within the inner cross-sectional width.