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Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2103 Status: Offline

BINGO!!! On <a href="http://www.airliners.net">airliners.net</a> I found this very rare shot of a Raptor (00-4012) with lowered arresting hook: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1171720/L/

Anybody who can/will provide us close-up shots of the Raptor´s arresting gear? The F-16.net team would be very grateful!

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Elite 1K Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 1089 Status: Offline

If you've got acces to Jay Miller's excellent book on the F-22 by Aerofax there are a lot of closeups of the tail hook. It's amazing the attention to detail Lockheed spent. Even the edges of all of those doors, narrow as they are, are edge-aligned.

http://www.amazon.com/Lockheed-Martin-2 ... 608&sr=1-2

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 1035 Status: Offline

If anyones interested, here is video of the F-22's arresting gear in action at Kadena...Check

http://www.ntv.co.jp/news/asx/070316068_300k.asx

I always thought it was there for RCS purposes, I mean, besides separating the two TVC engine nozzles and channeling their thrust it also reduced the RCS. A pointed out edge is better than a blunt and flat surface for stealth.

Elite 1K Joined: Aug 19, 2004 Posts: 1092

PhillyGuy wrote:

I always thought it was there for RCS purposes, I mean, besides separating the two TVC engine nozzles and channeling their thrust it also reduced the RCS. A pointed out edge is better than a blunt and flat surface for stealth.

No doubt it's shaped the way it is for stealth purposes. As for whether it houses any super secret avionics, I don't know. If it's meant to house something inside there, it could easily have been made "non stealthy" yet aerodynamic. Look at the tail pods between the engines on the Su-27/30/35/etc. There's obviously something back there. I'm not so sure if there's much avionics gear in the F-22's tail extension. It might just be there to improve aerodynamic performance and stealth properties. And by aerodynamic performance, I mean aerodynamic performance of the exhaust gases in addition to the main airflow mass coming off the top and bottom portions of the fuselage. One more thing to consider... wake turbulence. The F-22's aerodynamic design supposedly aims to reduce wake turbulence which can be detected by pulse-doppler radar (what does your local weather man use to detect storms, clouds, etc.?). You want smooth flow off the back end of the aircraft when it's cruising along at high altitude.

In conclusion, I'd guess that anything housed in the F-22's tail fairing is more of an afterthought. The primarily purpose for this design feature is likely increased aerodynamic & propulsion performance and, as you suggested, stealth.

Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2103 Status: Offline

Thanks to checksixx for his video link of the F-22's arresting gear in action at Kadena AB!

Welcome To The Twilight Zone Rolling Eyes

Elite 2K Joined: Oct 20, 2005 Posts: 2103 Status: Offline

What are your news, Mushmouth?

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Forum: F-22A Raptor

What's the little "stinger" on the F-22?