Sep 152010
NASA photos of a large model of the F-22 with some differences… a two-seat canopy and a whole lot of stuff hanging under the wings. This does not appear to be a standard wind tunnel model… it appears to be made of thin Kevlar-fiber/epoxy sheets. This would inditate that the model was meant to fly… whether dropped from a helicopter or other aircraft, or “flown” in a wind tunnel, I haven’t the data to say. The latter seems likely. Note that the control surfaces are hinged and appear to have actuators. Circa 1993.
5 Responses to “F-22 With External Stores”
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Looks more like an FA 18.
Checking out the potential for StrikeRaptor version I bet.
I get the funny feeling that the only thing more difficult than getting an AMRAAM off a launcher installed so would be getting it on there in the first place. Good grief.
Jim
You would have to wonder if the AMRAAM exhaust could ignite the fuel in the drop tank if they were fired with the tank still attached.
I assume you attach the missiles first, then the drop tanks.
What this is for is a good question; some sort of very long range escort mission for the B-1’s or B-2’s to take out the Flankers and Foxhounds they would run into, with a dedicated WSO behind the pilot?
this was model for NASA Langley 20-Foot Spin Tunnel tests
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/mw/images/6/6d/1996_YF-22_spin_test.jpg