Pentagon Grounds Secret Spaceplane?
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Space Daily gives the story critical consideration. They're not impressed.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Redistributing SLF
Age: 65
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On the whole Groom Lake issue, a few years ago a TWA MD80 en route to SFO experienced an engine failure near that facility. They declared an emergency, told the controller they were landing on that big runway down there that ATC would never acknowlege and proceeded to land.
They were met by security and some AF officer, taken in busses to an empty hangar (the contents were probably whisked away to the underground lair by huge hydraullic elevators that... Oops, guess I've been watching too much Austin Powers lately.
) and briefed that no pictures were to be taken and they would be bussed to Reno shortly.
The plane was repaired by TWA mechanics (ex-military I would imagine) and flown out later.
I believe this was a while after Area 51/Groom Lake had become pretty public knowlege. I'm guessing the new "secret" base is north of Nellis and Indian Springs. It showed up on our Jeppesen database as KNXT I believe and had the name "Homey". No navaids on the field and a 12,000' runway. It is well within the restricted complex north of Nellis.
I don't know if it's been removed from the database but I'm sure it will. Or maybe I'm mistaken...
TC
They were met by security and some AF officer, taken in busses to an empty hangar (the contents were probably whisked away to the underground lair by huge hydraullic elevators that... Oops, guess I've been watching too much Austin Powers lately.
) and briefed that no pictures were to be taken and they would be bussed to Reno shortly.The plane was repaired by TWA mechanics (ex-military I would imagine) and flown out later.
I believe this was a while after Area 51/Groom Lake had become pretty public knowlege. I'm guessing the new "secret" base is north of Nellis and Indian Springs. It showed up on our Jeppesen database as KNXT I believe and had the name "Homey". No navaids on the field and a 12,000' runway. It is well within the restricted complex north of Nellis.
I don't know if it's been removed from the database but I'm sure it will. Or maybe I'm mistaken...
TC
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Surrey Hills
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was filming cloudplates for a Lucas Film epic using a LearJet with cameras fitted with periscope lenses that were fitted on the centreline, above and below in the cabin through the pressurised fuselage. Each one could rotate through 360º. Using 35 mm film we were floating about the California/New Mexico area, waiting for big CB's. As their development was slow and weak I decided to return to base and wait 24 hours - Van Nuys it was - anyway, as we taxied in a special mission came up suddenly. Out of the blue but very precise instructions were given. As I was a Brit, I had to remain on the ground while my crew, all American, high tailed it to Tonopah. They came back 4 hours later grinning from ear to ear but wouldn't say what they had been doing. This was 12th June 1979. They had been filming a big number on the F -117A but I seem to recall it had a different ID in those days. We were in a Lear 24 N264CL. Clay Lacy was the pilot, one of my heros. Finally saw one at Bentwaters - I was staying in Aldeburgh when one flew across the face of the moon. This was about 3 years after the Tonopah episode, flying in formation with two noisy LearJets I think - all with lights ablaze and only the moon transit showed the planform - dramatic at the time! Then I knew why my crew grinned from ear to ear, returning from Tonopah!
Aviate1138
Aviate1138
FWIW.....
Yes, there were two C-5A's modified to "C" standard--basically new aft door complex and not Troop compartment. Made for much greater cargo height loading capability coming up the aft ramp for the space program. Based at Travis, after a couple of years with the Reserves at Kelly AFB, TX. While two C-130s were supposedly built during Vietnam for the CIA, I sincerely doubt three "black" C-5s could be built. Not impossible, but really, really doubtful. C-5s were and are a very small program with many vendors and no "loose" components laying about ready to be assembled. Hard to hide. Remember the last C-5A was delivered in 1973, long before the requirement was known.Those tail nrs. are just after the last C-5A numbers, FY70 contract date.
Why would the government build three special C-5s for a requirement that was not known yet? In any case, the dimensions given could have been loaded in any C-5, certainly "C"s without any cheeks. Close, but within limits.
The whole story is interesting, but hard to believe something that big could be kept this secret this long........ good for conspiracy fanatics when they have given up on JFK murder theories, who killed MLK Jr. and denying moon landings.
GF
Yes, there were two C-5A's modified to "C" standard--basically new aft door complex and not Troop compartment. Made for much greater cargo height loading capability coming up the aft ramp for the space program. Based at Travis, after a couple of years with the Reserves at Kelly AFB, TX. While two C-130s were supposedly built during Vietnam for the CIA, I sincerely doubt three "black" C-5s could be built. Not impossible, but really, really doubtful. C-5s were and are a very small program with many vendors and no "loose" components laying about ready to be assembled. Hard to hide. Remember the last C-5A was delivered in 1973, long before the requirement was known.Those tail nrs. are just after the last C-5A numbers, FY70 contract date.
Why would the government build three special C-5s for a requirement that was not known yet? In any case, the dimensions given could have been loaded in any C-5, certainly "C"s without any cheeks. Close, but within limits.
The whole story is interesting, but hard to believe something that big could be kept this secret this long........ good for conspiracy fanatics when they have given up on JFK murder theories, who killed MLK Jr. and denying moon landings.
GF
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If anyone is still following this, The Space Review has three pages of thoughtful consideration.
Not supportive.
Not supportive.
Discovery Channel or one of the other channels of that ilk had a Sat photo taken from a weathre satellite that showed a contrail that departed Nellis Area and tracked across the USA, across the Atlantic, across the UK and Europe and over parts of the old Soviet Bloc.
The narration suggested the track was moving at approximately 8000 mph as it went East.
First I ever heard of that kind of evidence. Dunno if I believe the photo either.
The narration suggested the track was moving at approximately 8000 mph as it went East.
First I ever heard of that kind of evidence. Dunno if I believe the photo either.
Originally Posted by SASless
Discovery Channel or one of the other channels of that ilk had a Sat photo taken from a weathre satellite that showed a contrail that departed Nellis Area and tracked across the USA, across the Atlantic, across the UK and Europe and over parts of the old Soviet Bloc.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Stockport MAN/EGCC
Age: 70
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Could this really be the outcome of XB-70 AV3 20208. Which was
a lot changed from AV1 & AV2? Didn't large pieces of this unfinished
airframe go "missing" from Palmdale, I read somewhere that many of the YJ-93 engines were unaccounted for as many as half the 30+ completed.
Are these alleged craft launched from beneath the mother ship because
of lessons learnt from the D-21 problems?
I have serious difficulty with the C-5 aspects of the article,
unless the cheek pods were removeable like the old speed-pak on a
constellation. As for a CIA C-5 coded CL I'm sure someone somewhere
would have noticed it, however wasn't CL a lockheed design prefix of
years ago?
Given the airlift commitments facing USAF at the moment and over
recent years I'm sure you would have to have a gold plated high value
reason take over a major asset like a C-5. I know about the C-5Cs the
actual USAF C-5C (Space Cargo Modified) aircraft are 80213 and 80216,
but they have never been true airlift assets have they? Have they ever
been noted on regular air force duties? Do they ever leave ConUS
except to collect damaged TR-3/RF-23 airframes from Boscombe Down?
Be lucky
David Truman
a lot changed from AV1 & AV2? Didn't large pieces of this unfinished
airframe go "missing" from Palmdale, I read somewhere that many of the YJ-93 engines were unaccounted for as many as half the 30+ completed.
Are these alleged craft launched from beneath the mother ship because
of lessons learnt from the D-21 problems?
I have serious difficulty with the C-5 aspects of the article,
unless the cheek pods were removeable like the old speed-pak on a
constellation. As for a CIA C-5 coded CL I'm sure someone somewhere
would have noticed it, however wasn't CL a lockheed design prefix of
years ago?
Given the airlift commitments facing USAF at the moment and over
recent years I'm sure you would have to have a gold plated high value
reason take over a major asset like a C-5. I know about the C-5Cs the
actual USAF C-5C (Space Cargo Modified) aircraft are 80213 and 80216,
but they have never been true airlift assets have they? Have they ever
been noted on regular air force duties? Do they ever leave ConUS
except to collect damaged TR-3/RF-23 airframes from Boscombe Down?
Be lucky
David Truman
