I hadn't realized that when my GPS got me out of a bit of a jam on my
most recent backpacking trip, I had Walt to thank (among others of
course) -- the GPS receiver uses a quadrifilar helix antenna. Thanks, Walt!

Walt also gets credit for an important role in developing the weather
satellites which bring us such benefits as early warning of the
hurricanes that recently went through Florida. I hope your house in
DeLand came through ok, Walt!

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Walter Maxwell wrote:

. . .
I performed the original research that led to the use of the QFH as the primary
radiators on all TIROS-N, NOAA polar orbiting satellites. As the lead engineer
at RCA Astro's antenna laboratory, I measured the radiation patterns and
terminal impedances on more than 1000 different electrical and mechanical
configurations of the QFH antenna. Of those many patterns one was chosen for the
NOAA satellites based on consistant, continous, solid contact with all ground
stations from the time the spacecraft was 10 degrees above the horizon.
. . .