Business Insider: New video provides another glimpse of the US Air Force's mysterious, never-before-seen 'chrome' F-22
* A clip filmed at Nellis Air Force Base shows provides another glimpse of the mysterious "chrome" F-22 Raptor.
* The mirror-like coating, never before seen on a Raptor, appears to cover most of the outer "skin" of the aircraft.
* It's not clear what the coating was for, though it may be for testing, possibly of targeting systems.
You probably already know it by now, but a really intriguing F-22 Raptor is flying over Nevada these days.
The aircraft, unmarked (i.e. lacking evident tail codes and registration) was first caught on camera on November 19, 2021, by the famous aviation photographer Santos Caceres as it "flexed" on departure from Nellis Air Force Base.
The aircraft's distinguishing feature is a "mirror-like" coating, never seen before on a Raptor. The reflective metallic coating appears to cover most of the outer "skin" of the aircraft leaving very evident panel lines, including some saw tooth ones above and on the sides of the fuselage (typical of stealth aircraft), as well as some unusual curvilinear ones (on the wings in the flaps area).
We don't know what's the reason for the new "chrome" or "mirror-like" coating, although it looks quite likely it was applied to carry out some testing activity, possibly related to IRST (Infra Red Search & Track) or other targeting systems.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: That is so cool! Watch the F-22 at the 9:20 mark in the above video.
2 comments:
I think Business Insider got this wrong. The F-22 is just lacking the flat gray coat that fleet jets have. The fighter has a protective coating over the skin that's sort of reflective.
Similar to the American Airlines polished aluminum livery of the 1980's.
Not "mirror-like or "chrome". Just unfinished.
Definitely cool, just wish we had built several hundred more of the F-22s.
Post a Comment