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From: biocca@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Alan Biocca)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: "Stealth" Bombers
Message-ID: <1991Feb4.065529.21720@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 4 Feb 91 06:55:29 GMT
References: <1991Jan21.041430.5413@cbnews.att.com> <1991Jan23.044226.7926@cbnews.att.com> <1991Jan24.045047.27085@cbnews.att.com>
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From: biocca@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Alan Biocca)
In article <1991Jan24.045047.27085@cbnews.att.com> swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams) writes:

>From: swilliam@dtoa1.dt.navy.mil (Williams)

>> ... The F-117A is the stealth fighter.

>Wouldn't it be strange that a fighter is designed with a internal bomb
>bay big enough to carry two 2,000 lb bombs?  It sounds like the F-117A
>is more like a fighter/attack plane like a F-15E Strike Eagle is, only
>that F-15E doesn't have an internal bomb bay.

The Stealth design requires that weapons be mounted internally to avoid
radar detection of the weapons.  One computer game based on the 117 has
bays for all missiles and bombs.  They claim the majority of the radar
reflection from the aircraft head-on is from the pilot's seat back, since
the exterior surfaces reflect the radar off in other directions rather
than back at the source.  I don't know how accurate these game designers
are, but they usually get pretty good info.

Alan K Biocca
WB6ZQZ