Subject:  C.10.  Why do some aircraft have gold-tinted canopies?

Gold-tinted canopies have been noticed on the EA-6B and the F-16C/D.  On the
EA-6B, the coating is a shield against electromagnetic radiation from the
Prowler's powerful jamming pods.  On the F-16C/D, officially the purpose of
this treatment is classified, but discussion on the newsgroup has brought
general agreement (based on unclassified sources and hints dropped by pilots)
that the gold coating reduces the aircraft's radar signature, by reducing
reflections off the complex interior shape of the cockpit.  In both cases the
coating is a very thin layer of actual gold metal, not a gold-tinted paint.

Other aircraft, such as the F-15E and F/A-18C/D, have a distinct greenish
tinge to their canopies.  This is a different coating (on the inside of the
canopy rather than the outside) that reduces internal reflections to help
visibility. Several newsgroup readers report having similar coatings on their
glasses, so it's not exactly a secret.

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