"RF-19 NIGHTOWL" |
1/72 Italieri F-19 Stealth Fighter |
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Gallery Article by Charles P. Kalina |
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The
RF-19 is a medium range, low-observable “stealth” aircraft designed to
compliment the F-117 stealth fighter as “a low-observable platform providing
overt or covert intelligence collection against heavily-defended targets.”
When chopped to one of the major unified commands, RF-19s give regional
CINCs an intelligence-collection capacity that previously required requesting
national-level intelligence assets (such as satellites or the SR-71 or U-2
aircraft).
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The
RF-19 was derived from the YF-19, an unsuccessful stealth fighter prototype.
The YF-19’s weapons were replaced with a conformal fairing for
intelligence collection equipment (along with added fuel to increase endurance).
It was the first “stealth” aircraft capable of supersonic flight.
The methods used to mask its sensors from enemy radar without blocking
the ability to “see out” remain highly classified.
It is known to have carried conventional and electro-optical imagery
systems, signal and electronic intercept equipment, and other, more esoteric
intelligence collection systems.
RF-19s
equip one USAF squadron, the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron under the 49th
Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, NM, where they are co-located with
F-117s. The official USAF name for
the aircraft is the “Nightowl”, although informally it is often called the
“Mamba” – a reference to its serpentine appearance, the “Habu”
nickname of the earlier SR-71, and the squadron nickname, “Snake Eyes”.
Model Notes:
The “RF-19” is a minimal kitbash of the famous Testors “F-19 Stealth Fighter” hypothesis from the 1980s, before the F-117 was made public. Even though it was wrong, I’ve always loved the design. After finishing the model, I found Jane’s as late as 1987 actually listed an RF-19 as a Lockheed development project. The conceptual drawings were generally similar to the Testor’s design, though with the canards fitted horizontally forward of the cockpit.
The sensor fairing consists of two spare landing-gear doors from a B-26 model, along with a B-26 observation dome. The only other modifications were a few small antennae, and turning some one-piece landing gear doors into two pieces because of ground clearance problems (the F-19 design sits oddly low to the ground).
Charles P. Kalina
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