Mysterious Aircraft Spotted At Area 51

[TomcatViP]

Not a bad hypothesis to restart the discussion from scratch!

 

[CiTrus90]

I was guessing if the image taken in Area 51 was in reality the NGAD Demonstrator realized by Boeing (dubbed "Voodoo II" by its Phantom Works).
The following image triggered in me the idea that maybe such aircraft demonstrator would be quite similiar (in top view) to the SAAB Draken.

So no Draken in Area 51 rather than (surprise!!!) a new prototype, exactly the type of work envisioned for "The Ranch"....

That aircraft is one of the (several) 6th generation inspired concepts made by Rodrigo Avella.
It's a very good rendering, but it's just fanart. I wouldn't read too much into it.

On the other hand (since we are speculating) if the aircraft captured on the satellite picture is not a J35 and if both F-16XL are accounted for, the only concept I've seen that is sort of reminiscent of that shape is the one depicted here in the top right corner:

 

[Hydroman]

I was guessing if the image taken in Area 51 was in reality the NGAD Demonstrator realized by Boeing (dubbed "Voodoo II" by its Phantom Works).
The following image triggered in me the idea that maybe such aircraft demonstrator would be quite similiar (in top view) to the SAAB Draken.

So no Draken in Area 51 rather than (surprise!!!) a new prototype, exactly the type of work envisioned for "The Ranch"....

That aircraft is one of the (several) 6th generation inspired concepts made by Rodrigo Avella.
It's a very good rendering, but it's just fanart. I wouldn't read too much into it.

On the other hand (since we are speculating) if the aircraft captured on the satellite picture is not a J35 and if both F-16XL are accounted for, the only concept I've seen that is sort of reminiscent of that shape is the one depicted here in the top right corner:
View attachment 695723

Look at the shape just below the skull's chin (tee-shaped). At the lower point, look at the gold color shape where the chain is hanging, kind of looks like a canopy? Interesting?

 

[VTOLicious]

Not a bad hypothesis to restart the discussion from scratch!

Ok, here you go: I would guess a sub-scale NGAD technology demonstrator featuring a novel aerodynamic configuration in combination with lo-characteristics, powered by a single adaptive cycle engine prototype.

 

[jfay12]

A VERY interesting satellite picture was taken of a mysterious aircraft at the scoot and hide hangar at the south end of Area 51.

So, let the speculation game begin…

I can’t help but notice the simularities in timing between the sighting of the triangle overhead Amarillo in march 2014 and this satellite image and the once again rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

First of all, while difficult to judge, the airplane seems about the size of an F16, based on the width of the taxiway of 15 meters. So it’s about fighter sized… NGAD prototype?

And who can tell what the mysterious structure is that surrounds it?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44057/mysterious-aircraft-spotted-at-area-51-in-unprecedented-satellite-imageView attachment 673394

Appears to be a Saab Draaken.

 

[Justo Miranda]

Draken?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Woolams

https://www.wearethemighty.com/arti...essed-as-a-gorilla-to-mess-with-other-pilots/

 

[archipeppe]

Appears to be a Saab Draaken.

That's the point, what appears to be a Draaken is obviously not a SAAB aircraft rather than something that shares (more or less) the same configuration.

The best candidate is a full (or smaller) scale NGAD prototype, exactly the one realized by Boeing that should have broken several records starting by 2020.

 

[Ninja]

That aircraft is one of the (several) 6th generation inspired concepts made by Rodrigo Avella.
It's a very good rendering, but it's just fanart. I wouldn't read too much into it.

On the other hand (since we are speculating) if the aircraft captured on the satellite picture is not a J35 and if both F-16XL are accounted for, the only concept I've seen that is sort of reminiscent of that shape is the one depicted here in the top right corner:
View attachment 695723

This image belongs to this PDF file, for whoever is interested in it.

Wayback Machine

 

[Q-nimbus]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1855365705979322395

View: https://x.com/sr_planespotter/status/1855365705979322395?s=46&t=yfAqz54BvJZdyXrm2CX4Iw


The shapes on the patch on the left sure looks a lot like the thing we see in the satellite picture.

 

[antigravite]

I was guessing if the image taken in Area 51 was in reality the NGAD Demonstrator realized by Boeing (dubbed "Voodoo II" by its Phantom Works).
The following image triggered in me the idea that maybe such aircraft demonstrator would be quite similiar (in top view) to the SAAB Draken.

So no Draken in Area 51 rather than (surprise!!!) a new prototype, exactly the type of work envisioned for "The Ranch"....

Hi.

While I don't have any clue, here a a few comments. There is a "raven" on the left hand side of this patch. I remember from B2 history that the call sign used during the first air trial was "Voron" which means "Raven" in Russian. The second singular design element on this patch is the wavy shape behing the skull and the Raven. It strongly reminds me of an S-shape intake / flowpath designed for stealth.

A.