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.

 

[RavenOne]

Something to look forward to after next week???

Area 51 secrets to be revealed 'in 2025' by black projects specialist

Area 51's 'literally out of this world' UFO secrets might finally see the light of day next year, based on a recently resurfaced interview with a seasoned aerospace journalist.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lol merry Xmas

Cheers

 

[Ninja]

Something to look forward to after next week???

Area 51 secrets to be revealed 'in 2025' by black projects specialist

Area 51's 'literally out of this world' UFO secrets might finally see the light of day next year, based on a recently resurfaced interview with a seasoned aerospace journalist.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lol merry Xmas

Cheers

That article is full of UFO galore. Also, isn't the 25-year declassification rule not mandatory? I once read somewhere that it doesn't apply to everything.

 

[martinbayer]

If I were Biden, one of my very last acts in office would be to perform an official but unannounced surprise inspection of Area 51 with a full open press entourage, including live TV coverage. Sunlight is a powerful disinfectant, and taxpayers like me are entitled to see what we're paying for...

 

[4decaa]

If I were Biden, one of my very last acts in office would be to perform an official but unannounced surprise inspection of Area 51 with a full open press entourage, including live TV coverage. Sunlight is a powerful disinfectant, and taxpayers like me are entitled to see what we're paying for...

Lame duck strategies are always amusing.

Just don't let him near any of the stealthy bicycles

 

[martinbayer]

Just don't let him near any of the stealthy bicycles

I have absolutely no *%$>?<^&# idea whatsoever what "stealthy bicycles" are, and why in the mother-loving universe President Biden should be kept away from them - would you please be so kind to provide any logical explanation of your thoughts along with verifiable online references?

 

[4decaa]

I have absolutely no *%$>?<^&# idea whatsoever what "stealthy bicycles" are, and why in the mother-loving universe President Biden should be kept away from them - would you please be so kind to provide any logical explanation of your thoughts along with verifiable online references?

Apologies if I slightly misread the tone of your message Martin.

I am poking fun at this video clip of Joe Biden. ANY politics aside, it’s positively funny. The framing, smile and slow attack of gravity are hilarious.

So: If the lame duck area 51 tour is enacted, he should probably be kindly advised to avoid bicycles - at the cost of further taxpayer dollars

as for the stealthy two wheeled apparatus:

something to the order of this. Sorry if this isn’t the most serious post you’ve seen…

 

[Flyaway]

Something to look forward to after next week???

Area 51 secrets to be revealed 'in 2025' by black projects specialist

Area 51's 'literally out of this world' UFO secrets might finally see the light of day next year, based on a recently resurfaced interview with a seasoned aerospace journalist.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lol merry Xmas

Cheers

I thought with that large egg illustration it meant Area 51 had invented a giant egg timer.

 

[publiusr]

Shades of Zamora's egg "sighting."

 

[dark sidius]

Something to look forward to after next week???

Area 51 secrets to be revealed 'in 2025' by black projects specialist

Area 51's 'literally out of this world' UFO secrets might finally see the light of day next year, based on a recently resurfaced interview with a seasoned aerospace journalist.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lol merry Xmas

Cheers

We still awaiting for the NGAD contract not coming so for the rest I believe nothing is real. We will see nothing instead of web rumors who are never right.

 

[TomS]

That article is full of UFO galore. Also, isn't the 25-year declassification rule not mandatory? I once read somewhere that it doesn't apply to everything.

There are many exceptions. It doesn't apply to the capabilities of systems still in service, even if they are more than 25 years old, for example. Similarly, there is less automatic declassification for WMD data (especially nuclear weapons Restricted Data). Other exceptions are for Human Intelligence sources, certain types of diplomatic exchanges, etc.

 

[Q-nimbus]

Two years ago this week since the picture surfaced. Any new insights?

 

[dark sidius]

Two years ago this week since the picture surfaced. Any new insights?

There is still nothing about this satellite picture.

 

[Q-nimbus]

So, anyone who still thinks it was a Saab Draken?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I don't think its consistent with Boeing's NGAD demonstrator, possibly Lockheed's - 2022 is the year it first flew.

Who knows, the image is still too blurry to tell anything.

 

[Black Dog]

So, anyone who still thinks it was a Saab Draken?

NGAD has been awarded and all we got were some obscured front on CGI renders but they left a demonstrator in the open at Groom Lake and couldn't even be bothered to put something opaque over it?

I'd like for it to be otherwise and the whole thing is bizarre (why a transparent cover in the first place) but I find it hard to believe.

 

[TomS]

I'd like for it to be otherwise and the whole thing is bizarre (why a transparent cover in the first place) but I find it hard to believe.

Not transparent. What they caught was a tent in the process of being erected.

 

[quellish]

There is still nothing about this satellite picture.

At various points other photos have been available for sale. The object was visible for a period of several days.

 

[Q-nimbus]

Regarding the news of the F-47, I stand by my earlier post that it’s an early NGAD prototype or X-plane. It was/is so sensitive that it was put up in a temporary hangar at the most remote part of the base, with an open/transparant top so that Russian and Chinese sats would catch it. It was so sensitive that it was shielded from almost everybody working at Groom Lake.

It was put there to send out a backdoor diplomacy message on the brink of the Ukraine war to America’s then adversaries China and Russia. It seems it worked a miracle as Russia has now joined the side of the USA in the Ukraine war, or was it the other way around…?

This whole affair does make me rethink the whole Wichita and Amarillo flying triangle affair. I used to think they were either B2’s or an F117/Phantom Ray.

Now that we know the US government is willing to sneak-a-peak classified airframes as a sort of signal (!) messaging, I’m inclined to think that we have to seriously consider that the 2014 black triangles might have been unknown platforms after all.

 

[quellish]

Now that we know the US government is willing to sneak-a-peak classified airframes as a sort of signal (!) messaging, I’m inclined to think that we have to seriously consider that the 2014 black triangles might have been unknown platforms after all.

Uh, when has the US government done that?

 

[Q-nimbus]

Uh, when has the US government done that?

In 2022 when they put an unknown airframe in an enclosed temporary hangar with an open top for days on end near the southern hangar at Groom Lake.

 

[quellish]

In 2022 when they put an unknown airframe in an enclosed temporary hangar with an open top for days on end near the southern hangar at Groom Lake.

We don’t know that this was “messaging”.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

We don’t know that this was “messaging”.

'We know its a thing because it was, I decided'

 

[martinbayer]

Way too meta bombs thrown here for a tail end ornery boomer like me... could we just pretty please get back to the actual objective bare facts instead of coy online cosplaying, because that is why I frequent this here newfangled internet website in the first place? Thank You.

 

[Q-nimbus]

We don’t know that this was “messaging”.

Feel free to disagree, I just happen to think there must have been a very good reason for them to leave a classified prototype out in the open at America’s most secret airbase.

 

[xstatic3000]

Feel free to disagree, I just happen to think there must have been a very good reason for them to leave a classified prototype out in the open at America’s most secret airbase.

This airframe is most likely hand built, so it probably suffered a landing gear failure or structural issue that would have made it difficult - or expensive - to tow into a hangar. Sprung structures take a while to put together, so it was just by chance that the picture was taken right before the fabric portion was installed.

 

[flateric]

Sprung structures take a while to put together, so it was just by chance that the picture was taken right before the fabric portion was installed.

IRL it takes one truck, several men with poles and minutes to make your airframe shape hidden before you install something more serious above it. And I bet that Area staff are big profi in things like that.

 

[xstatic3000]

IRL it takes one truck, several men with poles and minutes to make your airframe shape hidden before you install something more serious above it. And I bet that Area staff are big profi in things like that.

Excellent point - I'm sure it's standard operating procedure or in their contingency plans. Upon closer inspection of the satellite picture, it seems possible that some sort of a cover may have been used to camouflage the airframe immediately after the event that left it stranded on the taxiway. I bet it was covered up within minutes, a decision was made not to move it, and crews started erecting the ClearSpan sprung structure before starting repairs.

The coloring and general shape in the picture initially had me convinced that it was a Draken, most likely N35350 being used by a contractor to test something or other. It now certainly seems possible that something much more exotic may have been captured, totally at random.

 

[publiusr]

Maybe exterior coatings are best applied outside hangars?

 

[Q-nimbus]

The roof of the shelter was left open for days, even though the ribs used for the cover where installed as you can clearly see their shadows.

They could have just put a big tarpaulin on it but they choose not too.

I’m convinced it was put there deliberately,

 

[aim9xray]

I will make the observation - no one has questioned the a priori assumption that this is a real aircraft (and not a mockup).