Yes, sad, but the requirement now is for "low observables" particularly in
the IR and RF bands.
Some years ago several of us were photographing one of the first public
appearances of the B-2. My friends mostly had AF wonderbricks and several
experienced difficulty focusing on the bomber as it made low passes over NAS
Dallas - their cameras would constantly hunt for focus. There are several
explanations possible, including all of the normal problems of AF, but we
speculated on two others. One, the dark charcoal grey airplane offered no
visual contrast across its airframe. Two, I've heard that some AF systems
operate in an IR band - and the airplane is intentionally an IR "hole."
Handy if the bad guys are using late model all-aspect IR-homing missiles,
which don't require a hot exhaust plume. Anybody know if the IR AF theory
is true?
OM content - the two of us shooting OM cameras had no problem at all.
Unfortunately, the B-2 in flight is mostly an undifferentiated grey profile
against the sky. Absolutely elegant to the eye, however.
Gary Edwards
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Nelson <SNelson@xxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2000 10:53 AM
Subject: [OM] Airplanes -Reply
> Ah, nose art. No, they don't do that any more. The closest the AF gets to
that
> now, is pithy little messages scralled on iron bombs, (e.g. "Saddam
Seeker.")
> Many believe that the affinity for air brushed art on motorcycles can be
traced
> to returning WWII vets buying army surplus Harleys and customizing them as
they
> had their bombers.
>
> <<The older ones had Paintings on the
> front usually of scantly clad models newer ones had such inspiring things
as
> "step here"
> Rescue cut here or this plane has an explosive charge under the pilots
seat. >>
>
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