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Panel Planner 101: Neglected Antennas

They kill system performance, spread corrosion and cost a lot of time and money to replace.

This month’s panel planner was inspired by an owner (poor Dave) who got stuck with an old Beech Debonair that ultimately needed over $10,000 in antenna work, which included major skin repairs, when the shop tore the plane apart for an otherwise routine avionics installation.

Whether you’ve owned your airplane for decades or are ready to spend big on one that’s decades old, there’s a valuable lesson to be learned here and it’s simple: Regular inspections and proactive replacement is worth it.

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.