On 2/2/2010 7:59 PM, jtw...@aol.com wrote:
> If carbon fiber "reflects radio waves" how come that is the principal
> composite component in 'stealth' aircraft?
If the "radar" is reflected off to another direction (ie, not back at
the radar station), the radar station won't "see" the airplane. Note
the sharp and interesting angles on the F-117A, for example, which
"direct radar reflections in a few sharply defined directions"
<http://www.fighter-planes.com/info/f117_nighthawk.htm>. Also, the
stealth aircraft have a special paint that helps to diffract and scatter
the radar signal so it has less of a chance to go back to the radar
station. At least that's my limited knowledge of how it works, which
might be worth less than you paid for it. :-)
I do know that carbon fiber does not allow antenna radio signals to
pass through it very easily, and will effectively degrade the signal so
badly that not much of the signal will get through, which is why we
don't want to put COMM or NAV antennas inside any carbon fiber structures.
-Dj
--
Dj Merrill - N1JOV
Glastar Sportsman 2+2 Builder #7118 N421DJ - http://deej.net/sportsman/
Grumman Yankee Driver N9870L - http://deej.net/yankee/
