An antenna having an elongated housing open at one end and defining an interior chamber. A telescoping mast has a carrier attached at a first end and a flexible antenna attached at its other end. The carrier with the attached mast and antenna is movable between a storage position in which the carrier, mast, and antenna are contained within the interior chamber of the housing, and a deployed position in which the mast and attached antenna protrude outwardly from the housing. A spring is positioned between the carrier and the housing which urges the carrier towards its deployed position. A catch mechanism selectively holds the carrier in its stored position and, when released, releases the spring to move the antenna to its deployed position.