Raptor Low Viz Art

[basher54321]

Raptor 4007 (AF 91-4007) is, along with 4006, the oldest flying F-22 Raptor. The aircraft is assigned to the 411th Flight Test Squadron and F-22 Combined Test Force as serves as a “flight sciences aircraft”, a platform used to perform various tests as part of the almost continuous F-22 fleet modernization programs.

An image of the aircraft ready for flight on Apr. 1, piloted by Maj. Brandon Burfeind, 411th Flight Test Squadron, F-22 Combined Test Force, has been recently released by the Edwards Air Force Base social media team. Although we don’t know what type of test the aircraft was about to fly, the photo itself is pretty interesting as it shows two interesting details: first of all, the RAM (Radar Absorbing Material) skin of the Raptor is full of scratches, a sign that the coating has not been maintained for some time and for this reason it is corroded; second, a previously unknown (at least to this author) low-viz nose art has been applied to the right hand side of the frontal section below the canopy rail..

F-22-nose-art-and-skin-scratches.jpg (39.21 KiB) Viewed 61424 times

https://theaviationist.com/2020/04/03/m ... 2-raptors/

[wrightwing]

One of the advantages of these aircraft, is that they don't have to spend a great deal of time doing VLO maintenance, which allows a higher MC rate for testing gadgets, etc....