Analysis of a right-hand circular polarized conventional antenna system for high altitude airborne cellular base stations

The WB-57 high altitude research aircraft, designed to serve as a relay and control platform for military communications, employed a right-hand circular polarized (RHCP) conventional antenna system coupled with a code division multiple access (CDMA) base station aimed at increasing the coverage area of mobile ground users in remote locations. Obtaining continual mobile communications coverage over two or more incongruent regions from an airborne platform can be challenging due to the resulting signal spatial structure and signal gain observed from the mobile ground users. This paper will evaluate the measured results; to include the antenna pattern and link budget of the WB-57 aircraft utilizing a RHCP conventional antenna system connected to a CDMA base station deployed above 50,000 feet flying in a defined orbital pattern, and will discuss the optimal approach to obtaining continual mobile communication coverage while airborne using a smart antenna system.