Abstract: This paper presents a method for radiation measurement and temperature inversion of aircraft skin in flight. Firstly, the skin radiation, atmospheric transport, and absolute radiation correction models are established. Then, the formula of temperature inversion is deduced, and the skin temperature is calculated by successive approximation. Based on theoretical analysis, a wideband long wave (infrared) camera that can image light of wavelength 8-12 μm is used for experimental verification and temperature inversion. By calculating and modifying the uncertainty of inverted temperature, the result of modifying the skin temperature of civil aircraft at 5 km flight height is 268 K; the uncertainty of modifying is 4 K, and the relative uncertainty of modifying is 1.49%.The research work of this paper would be useful for acquiring infrared radiation characteristics of aircraft targets.