Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!brl-adm!umd5!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcc6!calmasd!jnp
From: jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone)
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: Daylight precision bombing in WW II
Message-ID: <2576@calmasd.GE.COM>
Date: 22 Dec 87 18:20:19 GMT
References: <317@uhmanoa.UUCP> <19253@linus.UUCP> <16999@topaz.rutgers.edu> <1594@brahma.cs.hw.ac.uk>
Organization: G.E.- Calma R&D, San Diego, CA
Lines: 23
Summary: Radar can see non-metallic objects

Adrian Hurt:
>Incidentally, how good is radar against non-metallic targets? How good are
>infra-red missiles against piston-engined planes? If the answer to either of
>these is "not very", then I suggest the new stealth bomber be a copy of the
>WW2 British Mosquito. These were made largely of balsa wood, to save weight,
>and they were fast - they could match most fighters, and with their bombs
>gone they could dogfight too if they had guns (which some variants did).

Radar (at least the radar used by police to detect speeders) can detect
non-metallic objects quite well.  I have had the opportunity to test them
against a number of substances, and know the results to be true.  The best
reflectors were (non-metallic):
Fiberglass, plywood (especially marine), doped canvas (like airplanes) and
solid hardwoods (oak and maple).  Soft wood was less reflective (like balsa)
but was not at all invisible.  Interestingly enough, people were relatively
good reflectors - especially if you cought them going straight towards or
away from you (chests and backs); I speculate that meat has enough
water/density to reflect well.

-- 
These opinions are solely mine and in no way reflect those of my employer.  
John M. Pantone @ GE/Calma R&D, 9805 Scranton Rd., San Diego, CA 92121
...{ucbvax|decvax}!sdcsvax!calmasd!jnp   jnp@calmasd.GE.COM   GEnie: J.PANTONE