Another Lightning question.

[Noah Zark.]

Can any of you Military guys answer me this, please? I have seen lots of piccies of camouflaged Lightnings. But on the fuselage, under the wing root, was a panel that was always apparently left unpainted. Why was this?
Thank. N.Z.

[GeeRam]

IIRC it was left unpainted to aid fatique checks.

[movadinkampa747]

I beleive it was called the "NATO PENDIT" panel. Something to do with the weapons on the aircraft.

[On_The_Top_Bunk]

I believe it was a stressed panel and was to aid crack detection.

[Noah Zark.]

Thanks for the info, folks.

[Above Datums]

I thought the answer was simpler. They ran out of paint!