World's Most Secretive 737

[cavuman1]

Rat 55, Radar Airborne Testbed, looks like a cross between the Super Guppy and Groucho Marx! When asked about the functions of the craft by a reporter, the chief pilot responded: "I will tell you. Then I will kill you!"

Make of this what you will. RAT 55 (https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40915/these-are-best-images-ever-of-the-worlds-most-secretive-737)

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x362/rat_55_2405b7dc0583d9f43c4f0cfa68d3c06ec88eb603.jpg

- Ed

[Less Hair]

At least it is wearing a mask.

[Timelord]

Looks like leftover bits from AEW Nimrod!

[ORAC]

Lots of strange aircraft around…. Catfish…

https://youtu.be/p6WM9mu7KZc

[Krystal n chips]

I'm interested as to why its still got JT8 D's attached.

I'll get my engine course notes out and when I get the job, I'll let you know.

[campbeex]

World's most secretive 737...

...that you know about.

[ORAC]

KnC,

Because they don’t have to worry about fuel costs and, with plenty of spare parts and engines with 6 in storage at AMARC, what would be the point?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_T-43

[DirtyProp]

Boeing disclosing the latest fix for the MCAS fiasco?

[Krystal n chips]

KnC,

Because they don’t have to worry about fuel costs and, with plenty of spare parts and engines with 6 in storage at AMARC, what would be the point?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_T-43

Fair enough. I was just thinking as it's a -200 the airframe has been around for a few hours so why this combination, why not a -3 / 4 or 500. But it's a tried and tested combination as you say.

[Piper_Driver]

Maybe they want old fashioned avionics that aren’t as susceptible to high levels of RF energy.

[Almostfamous]

I'd think the Janet 737s would be more secretive...

[sandiego89]

Fair enough. I was just thinking as it's a -200 the airframe has been around for a few hours so why this combination, why not a -3 / 4 or 500. But it's a tried and tested combination as you say.

Bet she has low total hours however, and not nearly the cycles and hard life of the clapped out 200's that I "enjoyed" as a passenger at Burbank on hot days.....brake check!!!!

Many of the military aircraft derived from passenger aircraft have surprisingly lower hours compared to their civil counterparts (by no means not all)

[pamann]

I'd think the Janet 737s would be more secretive...

Thats exactly what I thought this thread was going to be about.

[ShyTorque]

Maybe it's a secret plan to camouflage the "Max" and get it back into service.

[FullWings]

If it’s got JT8s then they definitely didn’t tick the stealth option...

[SASless]

Catfish.....looks more like an aircraft with an Irish Canard installed.

[fitliker]

What about the Alien express ? the shuttle from Las Vegas to Groom lake .
Pretty sure a lot of the alien looking attendees at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas flew in from Area 51 onboard the white 737 with the red stripe . Although one of my friends who used to commute on it just laughed when I asked if I could get a tour of the UFOs . He said even his accreditation and clearance did not let him tour the space ships .

[tdracer]

Lots of strange aircraft around…. Catfish…


That's the very first 757 to fly (NA001) - it was modified for use as a flying testbed for F-22 flight software. Not sure where it is now, but for a long time it was parked down at the south end of Boeing Field (which is the airport it's landing at in the video) - I'd drive by it on a regular basis when I was working at Boeing Field.
Never heard it called the Catfish before though...

Maybe they want old fashioned avionics that aren’t as susceptible to high levels of RF energy.

That's a distinct possibility, given it's task. I know that was a big deal on the 747-200 based Air Force One aircraft - those old fashioned analog electronics made it a lot easier to get the EMI protection levels the USAF wanted.
Back maybe 15 years ago, Boeing had a contract to build a prototype E-10 aircraft based on a 767-400ER airframe. It was going to have a huge, powerful ground search radar hung under the forward fuselage (the longer 767-400 airframe being dictated by the size of the radar). That radar was direct line of sight with the engine FADECs, and interference with engine operation was a big concern. I got a call that went something like this:
"What level of HIRF can the CF6-80C2 FADEC handle?"
"We tested to 200 volts/meter, wide band, from x to y megahertz, it passed"
"Yea, but what can it handle?"
"Don't know, we didn't test to failure, we only tested to 200 volts/meter - that's what the FAA mandated - and it passed. What's the threat?"
"Can't tell you that - it's classified. How much can it handle?"
"Well, we'd have to test it again, but to be useful we'd need to know the threat so we know what to test for. The test isn't cheap, plus depending on the threat we may not be able to duplicate it in the lab."
"Oh, I'll get back to you."

About 3 months later that call would be repeated... Went on for over a year. Finally the program got cancelled.
That 767-400ER was the last one ever built - eventually it was equipped as a standard passenger 767 and delivered to a commercial customer...

[dc9-32]

Area 51 does not exist.....

[ORAC]

Tdracer,

Now operating out of Palmdale Plant 42.

Returning to the most secret 737 theme and RAT55

https://jalopnik.com/the-worlds-most-secretive-737-is-really-the-usafs-most-1686479619

Then of course there’s…..

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/34084/the-mysterious-case-of-the-air-forces-new-strangely-modified-737

But we’ve been here before….

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/633474-usaf-b737-700-n712jm.html

[ORAC]

Tdracer,

Reference Catfish. there is also Catbird, CATB (Cooperative Avionics Test Bed). Catbird being Lockheed’s ICAO callsign. I presume Catfish was correspondingly used informally, as it’s the ICAO callsign of a UK company.

And of course because, because it’s the F-22 radar, ESM and other sensor testbed : “Scientists believe that catfish have whiskers, which are also called “barbels”, due to the fact that each one is loaded with tiny taste buds and special olfactory sensors to help them smell and feel the food around them when navigating in the dark.”……

https://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1267870/pg1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_CATBird


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1536x1425/image_ccde940038bf2a51f15c97e7a3b74ef87d7d7b4d.jpeg

[Willard Whyte]

Hmm, CAT B... (https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/what-is-an-insurance-write-off/)

"Body shell should be crushed. Signifies extensive damage, although some parts are salvageable.

Should never re-appear on road, although reclaimed parts can be used in other road-going vehicles."

[ORAC]

Ipanema,

Wrong thread for that question - try the Tech Log forum.

[antisthenes]

About 2500m

[tartare]

Yes, I would have thought Janet would have been more secret.
Saw her take off from Vegas once - pretty sporty climb out and angle of bank too.

[Less Hair]

The Janet aircraft are not secret. They are stock second hand 737-600.

[Video Mixdown]

The Janet aircraft are not secret. They are stock second hand 737-600.
That's what I was thinking. The work their passengers do is no doubt classified, but the aircraft are just transport.

[chopper2004]

That's what I was thinking. The work their passengers do is no doubt classified, but the aircraft are just transport.

I was attending Heli Expo 2018 in Vegas and was on flightline at Convention center to see the departures. Come morning and afternoon, my attention was caught by pair of JANEt inbound to McCarran after their daily commute, so here are my photos below.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/f806bab2_02cb_44d3_b604_f817c58c05ed_c329f511eb900c05598084a b4d315cf592493344.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/056e2c3c_7fc5_4da5_88ab_c990cbe9818a_70f384907583cd6370cb170 0c9624d87f12ae62b.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/fef32a6b_b6e3_4278_b293_a0f98cbac4dd_7c6763712a2e243e0429e80 1f75571d5fcb51c96.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/f4cb263e_ee39_4f6b_aefa_c36e1cab79cb_a05cc4f8973724de1864cb7 7a6a1393e5698e9fb.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/64160bba_bec8_42c4_a8e4_126b386cdb24_f16e7b7e82e635d7cb7feaa 682e71023a4faefef.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x640/fdfd17f1_c8f3_4e47_b859_b21f1f6dd278_d51baeec4935b4e81583f7d be93211b135bbdd75.jpeg

[switch_on_lofty]

I'm looking for someone with access to a 737MAX8 manual with the Performance graphs.- or Boeing's performance spec charts.

My specific interest is in the runway length required for takeoff at MTOW at sea level at ISA+15 with a 5-knot crosswind component (from the right, in case you needed that!).

Asking for a friend!

Thanks much in advance..

Ipanema.
Flap 25, 1013, other parameters as per above: TODR 2077m to 35' screen height.

[Dunhovrin]

Yes, I would have thought Janet would have been more secret.
Saw her take off from Vegas once - pretty sporty climb out and angle of bank too. Yeah, this was only at A8, so I guess it wasn't very full.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_7246_bf910434a31bc3f3011e5e0ca040999ac41309f5.jpeg

[sandiego89]

Cant imagine the Janet transits are that long either, likely less than 20 minutes tarmac to tarmac, so they likely have a small fuel fraction as well.

My shortest jet leg was Kauai to Hono, with the MD-87 captain announcing a 16 minute travel time. First hostess came by literally tossing out small pull top POG juices, followed by second hostess about 90 seconds later with the trash bag.

[Less Hair]

KLAS to KXTA is 76 NM.

[tartare]

Yeah, this was only at A8, so I guess it wasn't very full.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_7246_bf910434a31bc3f3011e5e0ca040999ac41309f5.jpeg
Great shot.
Oh to know what those passengers do once they walk through the special turnstiles at the other end of the route!
Yes video mixdown - I get they're stock standard...

[Cyberhacker]

That's a distinct possibility, given it's task. I know that was a big deal on the 747-200 based Air Force One aircraft - those old fashioned analog electronics made it a lot easier to get the EMI protection levels the USAF wanted.
A few years back, I was working on a bit of kits for JSF/F35 pilots...

The EMC spec was quite challenging... the levels at which it was required to survive were completely un-survivable by the human pilot it was supporting...

[vegassun]

THE most secretive 737 is not mentioned on here.

[chopper2004]

THE most secretive 737 is not mentioned on here.

???

Go on please share and is it operated by the Company or one of its modern day equivalent of Air America.

cheers

[Spooky 2]

???

Go on please share and is it operated by the Company or one of its modern day equivalent of Air America.

cheers
This may be the 737 you are thinking about?
- No USAF Markings but apparently belongs to the USAF
- Flown by USAF crews in civilian attire
- N number is disguised and blocked
- Flown out of a civilian airport in California
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/34084/the-mysterious-case-of-the-air-forces-new-strangely-modified-737

[ORAC]

Spooky2,

You mean the one already talked about in post #20?

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/640941-world-s-most-secretive-737-a.html#post11059131

[Spooky 2]

Sorry I missed that post. Same one.

[chopper2004]

JANET contract is up for grabs

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/us-air-force-looking-new-janet-operator



cheers