if you know anything about military fighters?

Question

on many military fighters, i've noticed that sometimes the cockpit canopy has a golden tint. is it just the sun at a weird angle or is there some new material blended into the bubble?

if u don't kno what im talking about, try this link:
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f16/
and notice that the window is golden

Answer 1

Typically it is a coating designed to reduce the radar cross section of the aircraft. Without the coating, the radar would detect the inside of the cockpit and would greatly increase the overall signature of the aircraft.

Answer 2

Not sure about the case of the F-16, but the F-117 has a similar sheen. In the case of the F-117, the glass has been impregnated with small amounts of gold, which tend to absorb radiation (ie radar), thus reducing the radar return of the plane. This was done because, as it turned out, the plane had such a small radar return itself, that the radar return off the pilot's helmet was acually greater, and they need a way to reduce that return while, of course, leaving the canopy transparent.

Answer 3

I don't know as to the newer fighters, but, in particular the EA6B Prowlers (electronic war fare) had a gold leaf radiation shield on the canopies. This was to protect the air crew from the radiation when they fired off their jamming pods, The jamming pods put out enough power that it was like standing next to a radion transmission tower when they were broadcasting. (not a good idea for long exposures) On the older canopies it would actually start to wear out and start to flake off the inside of the canopies at which time the canopy had to be replaced.

Answer 4

It is used for the pilot to reduce glare. Problem with this film on them is they produce huge ESD (Electro Static Discharge) some so bad that it has knocked the Pilots off of the aircraft from being shocked. In the winter time when the weather is really dry, we use a special grounded mitten to discharge the canopy static charge.

Answer 5

In 1946, PPG introduced NESA glass windshields with a transparent electrically conductive coating for deicing and defogging capabilities on commercial and military aircraft. When commercial jets appeared in the mid-1950s, they were equipped with bird-resistant windshields of laminated NESA glass.
NESA glass windshields are designed for aircraft equipped with AC power. A conductive coating of pyrolytic tin oxide is applied to the inboard surface of the windshield's outboard ply. Resistivity range is approximately 30 ohms/square and higher, and power dissipation 6 watts/square and lower.

Answer 6

Could be one or more of the reasons below:

1) reduces glare, esp. at night using night-vis

2) may reduce radar signature

http://www.airdisaster.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59379

Answer 7

I would guess it's window tint. It gets very hot sitting under that big glass dome.