Warbird Information Exchange

A buddy of mine asked for help identifying what looks like a radome (he wants to get rid of it) he got with a bunch of unrelated industrial scrap material. Anyone got any ideas? Let's hear from the throbbing WIX brain.

mock up? RAM pannels?

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-recovering Viper crew chief
-AWACS driver/soon-to-be A-26 driver
-displaced Philadelphian

Did he pick it up in Roswell?

Fairing for a possibly bad a$$ jet ski or a blazing fast toboggan

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I think I saw that on the Jetsons!

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Don't touch my junk!!

Cargo pod that fell off a minivan.

It looks reminiscent of the A-12/D-21, but I don't think that's what it is. I doubt the government would let something like that out of their hands. Is it possible that it's some kind of mock-up or possible prop for a Hollywood movie? What material is the nose made out of - metal or fiberglass?

If that is clear erosion tape on the front, then it was probably designed to go at least 500 kts.


Having seen some unusual stuff released through govt auctions, I wouldn't be surprised if it was stealth related.

Agree that it looks like a YF-23 nosecone. USAFM and NASM would be very interested in that piece of equipment.

Full Monty? Need more angle.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

My guess would also be YF-23

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Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

Thanks for the creative responses, I knew I could count on you guys. Jack and Kyleb, your posts win "best of show" . Just heard back from an old squadron bud who's a former USAF F-4 WSO, C-130 navigator and was one of the lead cockpit/avionics designers for the F-22 at Lockheed-Martin. Here's his response when I asked him if it could be from a YF-23.

why, yes it is, and in pristine condition, no less. the flat top is the dead give-away that it is from the YF-23, and a long story indeed about stealth and the need for a portion of the airframe to have a sharp edge (the chine that goes all around laterally), rounded bottom, and flat top. The YF-22 is a bit inverted, with a rounded top and flat bottom. Same-same effect.

Glad to have been there for ya brother

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Don't touch my junk!!

I bet he can get a heck of a lot more for it as is rather than scrap!

Tom P.

Don't bet on it. When Clinton(?) retired the SR71's there were a bunch of spare rudders that popped up in the LA Recycler for $500 each.

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.