Boeing NT-43A 73-1155 "Rat 55" United States Air Force

These are 1/72 scale decals for Boeing NT-43A 73-1155 "Rat 55", operated by the United States Air Force as a permanent avionics and systems testbed.

The NT-43A is a heavily modified variant of the Boeing 737-200, designated for permanent special test duties — the "N" prefix indicating it is not to be returned to standard configuration. "Rat 55" served as an airborne laboratory for evaluating and developing advanced avionics, radar, and electronic systems, associated with operations at the highly secretive Tonopah Test Range in Nevada — one of the most classified military installations in the United States.

Most recently, "Rat 55" has taken on a new mission, assuming the role once performed by the Apollo-era EC-135 ARIA (Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft) — providing airborne telemetry and communications relay support for NASA's Artemis Program. Just as the EC-135 ARIA tracked Apollo capsules during reentry and splashdown, "Rat 55" carries on that legacy supporting the next generation of crewed lunar missions.

With its distinctive antenna arrays and sensor fairings, the NT-43A cuts a unique profile compared to its commercial 737 origins, making it a fascinating subject that bridges Cold War black programs and 21st century space exploration.

Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.