World’s Most Secretive 737 Just Made A Very Rare Appearance
RAT55, a highly modified Air Force NT-43A, bounces around between secretive test bases and is used to collect radar data on stealthy aircraft in-flight.
Tyler Rogoway
Updated May 22, 2025 8:37 PM EDT
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RAT55, U.S. Air Force Materiel Command’s extremely shy NT-43A/737-200 converted into a grotesquely modified radar cross-section measurement platform just flew across the country for an unknown reason. During its trip, it made two stops, one in Arkansas and one in Texas, the latter offering very rare close-up views of Earth’s most fascinating 737 going about its business.
RAT55 arrived at Rick Husband International Airport in Amarillo, Texas, “at 2:40 pm and departed at 3:40 pm. It was cleared back to Tenopah Test Range Airport,” Jason Zicker, an aviation photographer who took the videos below and posted them on social media, told TWZ. Zicker said he was alerted to RAT55’s arrival by a fellow plane spotter.
“As far as I know, it was just for gas,” said Zicker, who was kind enough to let us use his video. “RAT55 did have a flight plan to come here a couple of months ago, but never showed up.”
https://www.twz.com/air/worlds-most-secretive-737-rat55-just-made-a-rare-public-appearance
