From:      skunk-works-digest-owner@harbor.ecn.purdue.edu
To:        skunk-works-digest@harbor.ecn.purdue.edu
Subject:   Skunk Works Digest V2 #59
Reply-To:  skunk-works-digest@harbor.ecn.purdue.edu
Errors-To: skunk-works-digest-owner@harbor.ecn.purdue.edu
Precedence: bulk

Skunk Works Digest        Friday, 22 January 1993      Volume 02 : Number 059

In this issue:

	Re: F-117

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From: dnadams@nyx.cs.du.edu (Dean Adams)
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 07:29:34 MST
Subject: Re: F-117

kuryakin@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Rick Pavek) writes:
 >I've been under the assumption that the philosophy has been that the
 >'stealth' capability is primarily to get you to target.
 >Once you're there, and you open your stores or, as in the case of
 >the strike aircraft like the F-117 or the B-2, your weapons bays,
 >then it's too late for the target to do anything.  Sure, you want
 >to close the doors soon after to improve your chances of egressing
 >the area, 

I doubt they stay open very long.  Besides, such a random "blip" would 
not likely provide much useful information to the potential threat.
Plus they probably maneuver almost immediately after bomb release,
although the DLIR pod still needs to keep the laser on target.

 >but it's a given that during the delivery the stealth qualities are 
 >reduced.  Hopefully, the insides of the bays are coated with RAM and 
 >iron ball paint.

Well, from what i've seen it doesn't look like it.  They have the same
white paint as in the landing gear bays, with the usual assortment of
metal, hardware, right angles, and the rest.  Theoretically they would
only need to be open a few seconds for bomb release anyway.

- -dean


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End of Skunk Works Digest V2 #59
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