Extendable/stowable antenna

Extendable/stowable antenna apparatus comprising:

• a molded elongated antenna stem having a fixed end and an opposed free end, the antenna stem being molded with an outer bearing surface and at least one anti-rotation surface molded into the antenna stem and extending from adjacent the fixed end to adjacent the free end, and a detent surface molded into the antenna stem and including a detent stow slot adjacent the fixed end and a detent extend slot adjacent the free end;
• and
• a molded antenna radome having an elongated opening molded therein, the elongated opening of the radome being molded with an inner bearing surface designed to mate with the outer bearing surface of the antenna stem, the inner bearing surface of the elongated opening of the radome and the outer bearing surface of the antenna stem being slidably engaged for sliding movements between a stow position at the fixed end of the antenna stem and an extended position at the free end of the antenna stem, a mating anti-rotation surface molded into the elongated opening of the radome and slidably engaged with the anti-rotation surface on the antenna stem, and a detent mechanism positioned in the elongated opening of the radome and including a detent spring biased against the detent surface on the antenna stem so as to engage the detent stow slot when the bearing is slid to the stow position and engage the detent extend slot when the bearing is slid to the extended position.