A whip antenna assembly having an electrically conductive coupler, opposing stacks of discrete blades of varying heights nested together, and a flexible lift cable having a length greater than the first and second opposing stacks. Where the conductive blades are loosely held together for slidable movement relative to each other. The whip antenna assembly can be lifted by the distal end of the flexible lift cable without interfering with the opposing stacks, while remaining flexible enough to bend.