Learn how to make a stealth bomber!, page 1

Low Observable technology is a complex synthesis of many factors. RAM is available commercially, but the real trick is shaping. For years the US tried to build a stealth aircraft. The early U-2 program had Project Rainbow, which they called the "dirty birds" basically had fiberglass or bamboo poles stuck out from the wings and body of the aircraft and strung with wire to try to reduce the radar cross section. I'm not sure how well it worked at that but it certainly reduced the operational altitude of the U-2.

With the advent of the A-12 family which includes the SR-71 they found a paint containing microscopic iron balls would help absorb radar, in combination of wedge shaped panels in the wing leading edge consisting of asbestos and other materials, the radar hit a v shaped trap bouncing between the titanium mounting and the composite RAM, the first application of a radar absorbing structure in an aircraft. It was found though that the exhaust plume of those monster J58's would have a radar return of their own believe it or not, and its hard to disquise a sonic boom even from 80 thousand feet.

Ben Rich said stealth was a multidiscipline technology, radar, acoustic (quiet is good), smoke (don't ever call an F-4 a stealthy plane then), infrared (gotta love heat seeking missiles, not), and appearance, smaller tends to be better visually, but the funny thing about what they discovered is in general, although there are variances on radar wavelength hitting resonances on wing span length and other parts of the aircraft affecting RCS, the size to radar is largely dependant on shape, not size. Gus Grissom was a test pilot of a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star covered with experimental absorbing material, it was heavy and handled like a pig, and because of its conventional shape the results were less than acceptable.

Application of radar absorbing material in a true stealth aircraft to reduce weight must be to integrate it right into the structure, so called parasitic RAM, like on the early F-117's, was in sheets much like linoleum flooring, glued to the airframe, on occasion tended to delaminate and fall off.

General rules to make a stealth aircraft

Planform alignment, you'll notice that they try to make as many angles coincide as possible in a stealth aircraft, on B-2, wing leading edge and trailing angles are identical, similar effects go down to maintanance and weapons by doors on F-117, the zigzag pattern, the zigs match the angle of other parts of the aircraft to concentrate the limited radar return in directions its unlikely to be detected. Stealth is absorb if possible, reflect where necessary.

Proper operating, The F-117 actually flies at a medium altitude, it is a so called cold bottom, hot top design, the top of the aircraft is not as stealthy as the flat bottom, its mission role is also as a light bomber, low altitude would do nothing for combat radius and make it easier to detect acoustically. All low observable aircraft have a margin against certain radars and they are more effective at some and less at others. Very low frequency radars can detect a stealth aircraft, but it is still difficult to track it, those low freq radars are plotted carefully and routes are taken to avoid detection, stealth isn't about invisibility, its not the Klingon Cloaking device, but it is a big help. There is a range in which any stealth aircraft will be detected by radar, the key is its at a low enough range that the attacking aircraft is able to get close enough to the target to engage it sucessfully.

As for making your own aircraft, maybe you'd have to read a physics textbook on Maxwells electrical laws and make a program like the Skunk Works did back in the 70s, then make something out of wood and carbon dust sandwich. Don't believe me? The German Horton Model 9 did that in WW2, the first unheralded stealth aircraft.

The technology is secret, but the theory behind it is not, good luck!