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MikeJames wrote:

That's it. (base of both vertical fins)

I'm sure that's not an "manufacturing error", since all the Raptor photos I've seen have it, but I don't recall seeing that kind of thing on any modern aircraft.

Um, the Raptor isn't exactly "any modern aircraft."

Great photo by the way, as it shows a detail of design rarely seen. The shaping back there is almost surreal, even alien-looking (whatever that means, not having come across many alien spaceships lately). That's the thing about the Raptor: from afar, it looks like a more shapely Eagle but up-close, that's when you really see the insane VLO detailing that went into this beast. Looks like something a sculptor, not an engineer, may have dreamed up...

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Elite 1K Joined: May 10, 2005 Posts: 1089 Status: Offline

Also, interesting that the one F-22 I've seen at a show and photographed, there was an armed guard posted at the rear of the aircraft to prevent pictures taken of the exhaust.

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Forum: F-22A Raptor

Gap at bottom of vertical fin rear