Transponder Antenna Mount Plate
Kitfox mounts their transponder antennas in the back of the plane but they don’t provide you with the hardware or information to do it yourself. I have made my own drawings.
The photo John McBean sent of the Kitfox 7 transponder mount plate.
Kitfox has been mounting their transponder antennas in the back of the plane recently. This is because the new ADS-B functions cause interference with the communications system. The fuselage does not have an antenna mounting plate in the back of the plane so one has to be fabricated. Apparently, Kitfox will begin selling the plate but there is no clarity on when that plate will be available. Unfortunately this is not something I want to wait on Kitfox for because it must be done before covering.
The Factory sent me a photo of the plate but not dimensions or directions. I did some measuring and came up with dimensions included here. My plate fits just right. I had the machinist make it for me on a break. I was originally going to use 1/16” 6061-T6 aluminum stock but the machinist only had the thicker material in stock. It worked out great!
WARNING! DO NOT DRILL AND RIVET THE PLATE INTO THE FUSELAGE! ONLY DRILL THE PLATE INTO THE STRINGER!
The stringer is not a structural piece of metal but the fuselage tubing is. If you drill holes in the fuselage tubing, it will weaken the structure.
Transponder mount plate side view.
Tansponder mount plate bottom view.
Transponder mount plate angle close up.
Transponder mount plate other side view.