[MilCom] Boeing Airborne Laboratory Aircraft Active in Baltimore, 3 Feb 05

[Rapbep at aol.com]

All,

My AOL indicates that this got bounced back the first time.  I apologize if 
it is a repeat


In the morning, Northrop-Grumman at BWI had a couple of aircraft up N757A 
(B-757) & N160W (T-40 Sabreliner) working F-22 Raptor airborne systems test 
flights over the Atlantic Test Range, off the MD/VA coast, in the area of the Snow 
Hill & Waterloo VORs.

N757A also used callsign Boeing 57A when landing at BWI. N757A is a 757-200 
`Catfish': Boeing's own 757-200 prototype (N757A) fitted with radar nose in 
Lockheed Martin F-22A profile and representative F-22A swept wing section above 
flight deck containing 
conformal radar antennas for advanced radar trials. See 
ww.airliners.net/open.file/087246/m for a picture of this specially-configured aircraft. After he 
landed I drove out to BWI to get a peek.  I was able to see it parked, in the 
distance, at the Northrop Flight Test Facility; however he was too far away for 
any pictures.

Northrop Base was working on 123.2 & 123.225. The aircraft were working on 
123.225. The N757A left first and the wx over the test area held them from 
launching the T-40 for about an hour.  Then as the wx began to clear, N757A 
reported that their "Magic" system wasn't operating and told Northrop Base to hold 
the T-40 until they could get the system working. The T-40 left BWI about 2 
hours later and joined up with N757A over the Range.

After they had completed their testing, both aircraft RTB'd to BWI. On the 
way back Northrop Base asked them for a PIREP so they could sked some afternoon 
testing. They reported that the wx looked OK from 5-13,000ft but that above 
that it didn't look good until at least 17,000ft. 

RON
MARYLAND, USA