Odd Plane: The Bombardier CRJ700 Used To Test Fighter Jet Noses

The Bombardier CRJ series of regional jets can be found operating feeder flights all over the world. Bombardier produced early 2,000 of these aircraft between 1994 and 2020, including 330 CRJ700s. In an unlikely role change, this is also the type of aircraft that US aerospace and defense giant Northrop Grumman uses to test fighter jet noses. The company operates three of these aircraft, each testing a variety of avionics, radar, and structural updates for other aircraft.