A polarization-sensitive beaded retro-reflective sheeting having cholesteric liquid crystal material as the specular reflective coating and methods of making the same are described. The gate has an intrinsic capacitance which, when the gate is activated, is added to the capacitance of the floating diffusion region, providing a low conversion gain readout. The antenna aperture has sufficient structural strength to form a structural portion of a mobile platform, while still being sufficiently light in weight for weight-critical applications such as with airborne mobile platforms. An actuator and linkage may be provided to rotate the base member about its support.