The radome, is the portmanteau word, or combination, of radar and dome, and is the aerodynamically shaped dome which often protects the radar on civil and military aircraft (and some helicopters), situated in the aeronef’s nose. On military aicraft such as fighters, it tends to be more elongated. The radome’s conical shape assists the aircraft’s aerodynamics, and is made of composite materials, usually glass fibre.
The radome on commercial aircraft houses a forward-looking radar for weather detection system. On a fighter, the radar has various other functions, allowing it to detect targets, guide missiles and map terrain.
As every week we went to an airport to put the question to a number of passengers. Hear what they had to say on the video.
