Patent ID: 8228248

Claim:
An aircraft antenna comprising: a conductive plate configured to conform to an area on an outer surface of a fuselage of an aircraft, wherein the conductive plate is configured to be positioned in direct and intimate contact with a conductive portion of the fuselage; a conductive rib configured to be electrically coupled to the conductive plate and to extend toward a first point adjacent an inner surface of a structure of the aircraft that extends from the fuselage; a conductive spine configured to extend along the inner surface of the structure between the first point and a second point, wherein the conductive spine is electrically coupled to the conductive rib at the first point and is configured to receive a conductive feed line at the second point; and an antenna coupler mount configured to receive an antenna coupler, wherein the antenna coupler mount is physically coupled to a surface of the conductive plate and is electrically coupled to the conductive plate.