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I was curious what this little extra surface on the back of the F-22 is for. I can't see any use of it protruding past the engine nozzles, so what is it for?

enter image description here

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2 Answers 2

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According to this cutaway (source) it is a "runaway emergency arrest hook housing":

F-22 cutaway

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    $\begingroup$ ah okay, thanks for that diagram! $\endgroup$
    – Wyatt
    Nov 20 at 16:11
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    $\begingroup$ Nit: it actually reads "runaway", not "runway". Runaway emergency arrest hook housing. $\endgroup$ Nov 21 at 4:10
  • $\begingroup$ @LesterBuck: corrected, thanks $\endgroup$
    – sophit
    Nov 21 at 6:08
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It is the tailhook housing. Looking for a definitive picture, but can't find one.

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  • $\begingroup$ but I thought the F-22 wasn't meant to be operated on carriers, or any situations needing a tailhook. Is it a backup then for emergencies? $\endgroup$
    – Wyatt
    Nov 20 at 2:53
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    $\begingroup$ @Wyatt - Yes, emergencies. Hooks aren't just for carriers. Most (All?) USAF fighters have a hook, F-15, -16, etc. And the runways have a cable at each end. $\endgroup$
    – WPNSGuy
    Nov 20 at 2:57
  • $\begingroup$ I believe that was something that started being used with the Air Force version of the F-4. $\endgroup$
    – Davidw
    Nov 22 at 18:00
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    $\begingroup$ @Davidw - No, before then. The F-100 had an emer arresting hook as well. $\endgroup$
    – WPNSGuy
    Nov 22 at 21:44

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