I like salamanders, don't you?

[l0newolf]

GIVE.ME.A.DECENT.JET.DESTROYE R.FIRST!

[moot]

What makes a jet destroyer decent?

[Larry]

LOL how did I know he was the one that bumped this old thread.

[Karnak]

They showed up on radar, problem was by the time the germans got the heads up, engines hot and altitude, the mossies were gone...long gone..WAY gone.

This is basically correct.  Detecting and effecting an intercept are two very different things.

There were no WWII aircraft that were "stealth" capable.  To the best of my knowledge, the first "stealth" capable aircraft was the F-117. 


A note on a myth that annoys me, the Ho229 most certainly was not "stealth" capable.  Being a flying wing in no way makes an aircraft difficult to detect with radar.  The B-2 is made of special materials and has very special shaping to achieve its radar aborbing qualities.  The Ho229 had none of those things.

[moot]

Karnak - Seen this? http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,265444.msg3333378.html#msg3333378
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/hitler-s-stealth-fighter-3942/Overview
NEXT PRIMETIME AIRING  SUN JUN 28 9P

I just happend to be the lead on the HO 229 project at Northrop Grumman. I am one of those so called "Experts"... I have been building Stealth Prototypes and Models for 29 years now. My first project was Tacit Blue then the B-2 and the list goes on... I, and a group of other Engineers at Nothrop Grumman, Got a chance to look closely and test the skin of the real HO 229 at the Garber in Md. and it does contain a significant amount of carbon between all the outer skin layers. Also the historian, David Myhra discussed these issues with the Hortens in Argentina and they did know about the shielding/absorbing qualitys of carbon, I.E. (German Submarine parascopes).
 I realize that many who dont know or understand the actual phenomenology behind Stealth and what makes it work may have their doubts but let me assure you, We do. We went to great lengths to recreate all aspects of the HO 229 to get real data. We did our homework. The finished model will be set up in the air museam in San Diego California on June 23 2009. It was fun to build it and I cant wait to build the next Model "America Bomber" With a wing span of 192' . Ya baby !

                               Tim

Hey guys,
 It doesnt compare with "modern" stealth as stated by a previous post but, for its day, it was a masterpiece. Their shot in the dark carbon dust between the layers of skin panels is there for one reason. To attempt to reduce the radar signature of the aircraft. And I wish that I could reveal what the outcome of the R.C.S. testing was, but I made a promise to the Director, Mike Jorgenson, not to reveal the results. We did give it a long major series of spins at diferent angles and from all the other testing I have seen, Many years and programs, It just...... Man, I wish I could tell you now. My jaw was on the floor. We all wanted to have the oppertunity to "tweek" model and do more "modern" treatments to the target but no time and no money. But let me say this, with some easy minor changes and treatments, modern carbon fiber for added strength, updated engines, this plane would be used today. Period. Also the Hortens figured out the secret of a stable non fly by wire flying wing. That was to put the C.G. of the aircraft more forward and the Engine exaust on top of the aft deck... It creates a more stable effect for flight then hanging the engines and exaust aft at the trailing edge... I.E. Jack Northrop's early approch.
    I saw the final cut of the documentary. It doesnt repeat seens like alot of other shows do.... let's put it this way, it holds you to the screen.

                        Thanks for the interest. Talk soon,                Tim

The facts are that the Horten brothers did use carbon in the skins to help reduce its radar return.

[AWwrgwy]

Karnak - Seen this? http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,265444.msg3333378.html#msg3333378
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/hitler-s-stealth-fighter-3942/Overview
NEXT PRIMETIME AIRING  SUN JUN 28 9P

Hopefully it will be on Hulu eventually.

I think the objection with the WWII "stealth" argument is the aircraft in question were not designed with the intent of "stealth".  Rather they were designed due to the necessities of the times, lack of raw materials, and may, or may not, have also benefited by being somewhat more radar opaque.

So it's not so much, "let's make a plane out of wood so radar can't see it as well" as it is, "hey, this wooden plane doesn't show up on radar as well."

Early Russian fighters were partly constructed of wood.  LA5's, Yak9's. etc.  No one seems to claim them as being "stealthy".


wrongway

[moot]

It's definitely not clear cut either way IMO.  One of the two Hortens didn't speak up about it being intentional till a decade later or so.

[FYB]

At least we know if you're on fire and you bail, you'll die instantly...