What's this object on VC-137C SAM 970?

[India Four Two]

I'm reposting a FB post from a TAP friend of mine:

OK, aviation/avionics hive mind: what is this? I saw it on the Air Force One Boeing 707 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle on Saturday. It looks like a tow hook (but can't be) projecting out of the lower fuselage on the port side, aft of the wing (and reflected in the highly-polished fuselage). An antenna of some kind? None of the docents had an answer.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1124/324841297_1378399149367160_357767255810058493_n_03817a447ab5 5930110be1a456922bae3c8a734a.jpg

[treadigraph]

A picketing ring of some sort? Was it preserved outside at any point?

[Liffy 1M]

It was on the aircraft when it was in service: https://flic.kr/p/eeFenK It's on the starboard side also: https://flic.kr/p/EHxJxK.

[radar101]

Looks like an UHF antenna - note that the LH pointy end disappearing back into the fuselage appears to be insulated from the outer ring

[Pypard]

Looks like a miniature of the 'ram's horn' antennae seen on U-2s at various times.

[washoutt]

Is it a storm rope attachment ring? To hold the aircraft down in a storm?

[Pypard]

Is it a storm rope attachment ring? To hold the aircraft down in a storm?

If you mean tethering point then no - it's some kind of avionics item. Probably because it's on a VIP a/c, quite niche too I'd expect.