ThinAir Falcon-Ka2517

Uniquely Enabling General Business Aviation and Commercial Air Transport Connectivity 3x-8x More Throughput at 2x-10x the Efficiency, 1/2 the Size and 1/3 the Aerodynamic Drag

ThinKom’s agile, ultra-low-profile, high-efficiency ThinAir® Falcon-Ka2517 antenna provides high throughput (up to 50 Mbps Downlink and 15 Mbps Uplink) and with maximally efficient use of transponder bandwidth (1.5-3 bits/Hz). Our very low profile antenna design enables a similarly low profile conformal radome which reduces fuel costs related to drag by up to 80% and provides flexibility for installation on Business, Regional, Single-aisle and Twin-aisle aircraft.

The superior high skew angle and low latitude performance also improves fleet flexibility in equatorial regions.

ThinAir® Falcon-Ka2517 revolutionizes next generation “big pipe” demand for broadband in-flight connectivity using Ka-band High Throughput Satellites.

General lnformation (Antenna)
Swept Volume Dimensions: 49”L x 28”W x 3”H
(125cm x 71cm x 8cm)
Transmit Band: 28.1-31.0 GHz
Receive Band: 18.3-21.2 GHz
G/T: 15 to 18 dB/K (13 dB/K at 20° Elev)
EIRP: 47 to 50 dBW (45 dBW at 20° Elev, 12W BUC –
up to 65 dBW w/ 400W BUC)
Transmit Power Spectral Density: (per 47 CFR 25.138)
28 to 31 dBW/40 kHz at High Latitudes (to 65° N/S)
28 to 31 dBW/40 kHz PSD over CONUS (83W to 118W)
23 to 31 dBW/40 kHz PSD over Equator (Longitude +/- 35°)
Geo-Plane Beamwidth (Typ): 1.6° Transmit & Receive
(18”H x 26”W Elliptical Dish equivalent)
Geo-Plane Patterns (Typ): First Sidelobe -22 dB
Polarization: Switchable Circular (Co-Pol or Orthogonal-Pol)
Axial Ratio: < 2 dB Typical

Tracking
Azimuth Coverage: 360° continuous
Elevation Coverage: (+10°) +15° to +85°
Agility (ARINC 429 NAV): >100°/sec, >100°/sec2
Tracking Accuracy: < 0.2°

Environmental
Operational Temperature: -55°C to +74°C external
Environmental Compatibility: RTCA/DO-160G & MIL-STD-810G

Performance
(Dependent on Modem, Waveform & Bandwidth) 
Data Rates (Forward Link/Receive): 512 kbps to 50 Mbps
Data Rates (Return Link/Transmit): 512 kbps to 15 Mbps
(up to 300 Mbps at 65 dBW EIRP)

Advantages and Benefits
(relative to high profile radome antennas) 
• $75k-$150k fuel savings per aircraft per year – reduced drag enabled by low profile
• Deflector can be reinforced for bird strike w/o affecting RF performance
• Superior equatorial performance (high skew angle operation)
• Supports 2x to 3x higher Forward Link (Receive) data rates
• Supports 4x to 8x higher Return Link (Transmit) data rates
• Fuselage-mount compatible with regional, single-aisle & twin-aisle aircraft
• Equivalent performance to 18”H x 26”W Ka-Band Parabolic Dish
• Up to 90% lower transponder cost ($/Mb)
• Commercial and Government Ka-band
• High-reliability direct-drive gimbal

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