An antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, such as a wing (30), horizontal tail section (36), or vertical tail fin (20) in such a way as to cause practically no added aerodynamic drag and to add minimal weight to the aircraft. The antenna system includes a flared notch (22, 32, 34 or 38) of non-conductive material and an antenna feed (12) that excites conductive portions of the structural member on opposite sides of the notch at a selected feed point (40). The conductive portions of the structural member and other conductive portions of the entire aircraft are excited by signals applied to the antenna feed. As a result, the antenna performance provides high gain omnidirectionally, and supports both vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions over a wide range of VHF and UHF bands.