Orval

The only thing that reflects radar is metal or things (like paint)
that have metal in them.

The biggest contributor to the return is the engine.

WAG is that a 1 square foot flat plate might be close to equivalent
area reflecting radar if plan built?

A bird built for minimum return might even be less.

Some of the Stealth Birds are supposed to have a reflection equivalent
to a sparrow +/-. GA might get close to that with some special radar
absorbent paint, etc. ?

Big John


On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 21:35:35 GMT, Orval Fairbairn
wrote:

In article ,
Big John wrote:

Just some ramblings on stealth.

When the Air Defense Command was in high gear with Radars all over the
States and over lapping coverage, we used 'skin paint' (vs beacon/IFF
or transponder) to located and track aircraft (we didn't think the
Russians would come in squawking for us). The FAA always used
beacon/transponder to make a large blip on their scope for traffic
control purposes.

With that background, what does FAA use today? If they do not use
'skin paint' why can't the 'glass' birds with a wooden prop, turn off
their transponder and fly through all the restricted areas unseen?

I'm not up to speed on current traffic control radar and if they both
'skin paint' and look at transponder returns?.

Anyone want to comment on this thread and expand?

Big John

There is still a fairly large RCS, even on a glass bird -- engine,
pilot, electronics, wiring, antennae, landing gear, etc. It would take a
lot of expertise to get the RCS down to stealth levels.