Darkstar hypersonic plane from Top Gun 2: Maveric

[X-39]

Darkstar ADM Works Fabrication - 3D Metrology Software, Training and CMMs

Darkstar, the fictitious hypersonic prototype aircraft full-scale model fabricated by ADM of California, used Verisurf for digital build & inspection.

www.verisurf.com

“Top Gun’s” Darkstar Hypersonic Jet:
Is it Real? Real Enough​

By David Olson

There has been a lot of talk about the blockbuster movie, “Top Gun: Maverick,” and the featured hypersonic jet, Darkstar, that propels Tom Cruise to the edge of the atmosphere at Mach 10.2. Were special effects used to capture the drama? Of course, but there was also a lot of realism. The Darkstar plane is a model, but just barely. It is a 70-foot-long full-scale rolling model with a 40-foot wingspan. It is based on aerospace design principles, built using carbon fiber, has functional landing gear, and features a realistic cockpit. The Darkstar was designed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and precision built by ADM Works in Orange County, Calif.

The fabrication of Darkstar was completed by ADM Works in just 14 weeks. The Skunk Works team provided a comprehensive 3D CAD model that included all profile information and intelligent GD&T specifications. From that point, it was up to the fabrication team to bring the model to life. The project was not without challenges. Up close the plane had to look finished. It did not have to fly, but it did have to roll on the functional landing gear.

The design of the Darkstar included a realistic looking and ergonomically correct cockpit, controls dashboard, and canopy lenses, which were precision built from carbon fiber using layup tooling. The tooling was fabricated and then verified against the CAD model using Verisurf. This added an extra element of reality to the overall model.

The Darkstar landing gear was not designed to retract but does support the model, enabling it to be towed behind a vehicle for filming“The final result goes beyond movie magic, Darkstar viewed close up is hard to distinguish from a flight-ready platform,” Valdivieso said

 

[martinbayer]

Real enough for fictional entertainment, for whatever that is worth.

 

[X-39]

Real enough for fictional entertainment, for whatever that is worth.

AKA: They gave it the Hollywood treatment, just like in Stealth that abomination F/A-37 Talon looks like a Switchblade that was badly mangled by Megatron in the afternath of a half hearted attempt to destroy it. Same case applies here, seemingly

The aircraft was lowered to make it look even more streamlined.

 

[publiusr]

From the side view…it looks like the Serenity on a starvation diet.

Everyone knows the real hypersonic plane is just a scaled up X-1 with straight wings made of adamantium/beskar alloy as a middle finger to Earth’s atmosphere:

You can’t melt me..nyah!

 

[aliensporebomb]

Cool to see build photos of Darkstar. Looks like they put a lot of work into it.

 

[Cosmic Planes]

So when do we get the model kit, or at least a good quality, good sized die cast miniature?

 

[Orionblamblam]

So when do we get the model kit, or at least a good quality, good sized die cast miniature?

Forthcoming:

Lockheed SR-72 Darkstar by Fantastic Plastic Models

A 1:72 scale resin model kit of the Lockheed SR-72 hypersonic aircraft from "Top Gun: Maverick" by Fantastic Plastic Models

fantastic-plastic.com

 

[Cosmic Planes]

Forthcoming:

Lockheed SR-72 Darkstar by Fantastic Plastic Models

A 1:72 scale resin model kit of the Lockheed SR-72 hypersonic aircraft from "Top Gun: Maverick" by Fantastic Plastic Models

fantastic-plastic.com

prayers answered

 

[Orionblamblam]

prayers answered

https://twitter.com/x/status/1688282242211102721

View: https://twitter.com/UnwantedBlog/status/1688282242211102721

 

[archipeppe]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1688282242211102721

View: https://twitter.com/UnwantedBlog/status/1688282242211102721

Great Scott!!!

 

[Scott Kenny]

Why would they have a movie prop near anything remotely interesting? So it could accidentally appear in a movie?

Happened to be under the new ground track. The Object of Interest could be clear over in Timbuktu and the new ground track went over China Lake an orbit or two later.

How easy would it be to land I wonder, assuming it was real?

I'd assume a camera to provide forward vision, like on the X-59 quiet boom plane.

 

[bob225]

Happened to be under the new ground track. The Object of Interest could be clear over in Timbuktu and the new ground track went over China Lake an orbit or two later.




I'd assume a camera to provide forward vision, like on the X-59 quiet boom plane.

You can fly it in the current microsoft Flight sim.

It has a front facing type camera thing,

 

[flateric]

Flying with Eyes Wide Shut - A Reflection on the Hollywood View of Real World Aircraft Performance

Timothy T. Takahashi
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2023-3518

 

[Kiltonge]

Do they repaint it after each run, or is that some 2000 Celsius resistant paint? I think we should be told.

 

[martinbayer]

Flying with Eyes Wide Shut - A Reflection on the Hollywood View of Real World Aircraft Performance

Timothy T. Takahashi
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2023-3518

Amusing paper, but the fact that it references 38 sources in the text but only lists 37 makes me question the seriousness of this apparently not peer reviewed publication.

 

[The K2]

I found the paper laughable. Of course the performance of the aircraft were exaggerated…its Hollywood!

 

[TJDougherty01]

Do they repaint it after each run, or is that some 2000 Celsius resistant paint? I think we should be told.

The paint is special; it is mixed with microscopic particles of Unobtainium.

 

[Moose]

Top Gun 3: we figured out how to put a Gun in the Darkstar.

 

[Ninja]

To those wanting some type of model of the Darkstar, Matchbox's Sky Busters line has a very good diecast model of it.

 

[quellish]

To those wanting some type of model of the Darkstar, Matchbox's Sky Busters line has a very good diecast model of it.

Different kind of model....

Modeling the Speed and Stealth of the Darkstar

Here, we use modeling and simulation to observe an ultrafast, fictional jet flying at different Mach speeds. We also analyze its stealthiness.

www.comsol.com

 

[Scott Kenny]

Different kind of model....

Modeling the Speed and Stealth of the Darkstar

Here, we use modeling and simulation to observe an ultrafast, fictional jet flying at different Mach speeds. We also analyze its stealthiness.

www.comsol.com

Huh, that's really kinda cool!