SteelWolf Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Most stealth aircraft tend to have some markings (Unit, National Insignia, Tail code, etc., etc.) on them for identification, maintenance, or other purposes. But what about aircraft flying at Mach 3 or above, and 75,000 feet and above? Does it even make sense to put markings on hypersonic aircraft traveling that fast? At such high speeds, most markings might tend to "burn off". No sense in incurring higher maintenance costs to keep applying such markings, right? Take for example the supposed Aurora hypersonic spyplane which may or may not exist and is supposed to fly at around Mach 6. Would any type of markings really be necessary for this craft? Ask yourself this: If you're on a secret high speed and high flying mission over enemy territory, you sure as hell don't want the enemy seeing any national insignia on your craft and deducing where it came from. So I have to ask: Are markings really necessary on hypersonic aircraft models? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 They put 'em on the SR-71 and the YF-12, and there was nobody on earth who could have seen them when they were doing their thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trigger Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 So I have to ask: Are markings really necessary on hypersonic aircraft models? It helps to tell them apart on the ground. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) It helps to tell them apart on the ground. Edited October 25, 2015 by dnl42 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I would guess it's just to keep it legal; meaning, bureaucratic bullcrap. Example, the Russians painting over their national insignia just so they could "legally" fly them to Syria, if I understood the story correctly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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