Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Mystery aircraft' over Texas draws speculation of real spy plane
chron.com ^ | March 28, 2014 | Carol Christian |

Posted on 03/29/2014 4:03:13 PM PDT by BenLurkin

first time.

Aviation Week & Space Technology journalist Bill Sweetman has posted photos taken March 10 by two veteran sky watchers, Steve Douglass and Dean Muskett.

In his blog post of March 28, Sweetman writes that he and two Aviation Week editors agree that the photos depict "something real." In other words, these pictures aren't easily explained away by reports of known military flights or the work of someone who got carried away with Photoshop.

So what can aviation experts say about the object in the photos?

"The photos tell us more about what the mysterious stranger isn't than what it is," Sweetman writes.

(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...


TOPICS: UFO's
KEYWORDS: aerospace; aircraft; aurora; aviationweek; billsweetman; deanmuskett; drone; mystery; sr72; stevedouglass; texas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last
To: Robert A. Cook, PE

Thx.


61 posted on 03/29/2014 6:04:07 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Obama is now making Jimmy Carter look like Attila the Hun. /focus/news/3138768/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Kirkwood
"The shape reminds me of the Boeing Phantom Ray."

It does resemble it very much.
62 posted on 03/29/2014 6:09:59 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog

Just a wild guess. Is it the ratio of width to length of some airplane, maybe a flying wing?


63 posted on 03/29/2014 6:12:05 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8: verses 38 and 39. "For I am persuaded".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

More pics.
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-05/video-phantom-ray-drone-makes-maiden-solo-flight


64 posted on 03/29/2014 6:14:04 PM PDT by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

Dunno... I’m thinking they are either ICBM warheads or maybe a pair of D-21’s... Your guess is as good as mine!

Cheers!


65 posted on 03/29/2014 6:19:15 PM PDT by DoctorBulldog (Separated at birth: Boehner's boners and Biden's gaffs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog

Lat-Long Davis-Monthan AFB


66 posted on 03/29/2014 6:20:25 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature not nurture)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

Oh, I understand what you where asking, now... I gave you coordinates. Put those numbers into Google maps.

Cheers!


67 posted on 03/29/2014 6:21:43 PM PDT by DoctorBulldog (Separated at birth: Boehner's boners and Biden's gaffs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: steve86

Yes! Zoom in on those bad boys and let me know what you think.

Cheers!


68 posted on 03/29/2014 6:23:00 PM PDT by DoctorBulldog (Separated at birth: Boehner's boners and Biden's gaffs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Retired in ‘84, I believe, after a non-stop, return flight from RAF Ascension to Stanley, Falkland Islands.


69 posted on 03/29/2014 6:25:06 PM PDT by A Formerly Proud Canadian ( I once was blind, but now I see...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog

Have to know exactly which version of sat image you are looking at. Is it a 2014 Digiglobe image?


70 posted on 03/29/2014 6:25:23 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature not nurture)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog

Yeah, I see them.


71 posted on 03/29/2014 6:26:57 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature not nurture)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

It’s another drone, conventionally-powered, subsonic.

However, if the angle is way off perpendicular, then everything changes...

I don’t want to get into a big debate, but I think the idea that anyone is building a manned hypersonic recce airframe is laughable. Pilot survivability is near zero without some sort of ‘capsule’ and g forces in the event of loss of control at high speeds would be instantly fatal anyway.

Most all theoretical developments are unmanned, subsonic & hypersonic. imho

Now on the topic of ‘exotic/theoretical’ propulsion & field-effect...well, that’s another ball of wax altogether.


72 posted on 03/29/2014 6:27:45 PM PDT by logi_cal869
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog

There are sometimes some interesting things going on at Eglin AFB.


73 posted on 03/29/2014 6:28:55 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8: verses 38 and 39. "For I am persuaded".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: golux

It’s not a ship and it’s not in the water. so we’re okay in this matter.


74 posted on 03/29/2014 6:35:31 PM PDT by Redcitizen (When a zombie apocalypse starts, Chuck Norris doesn't try to survive. The zombies do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

It moving like a bat outta H**l.


75 posted on 03/29/2014 6:36:58 PM PDT by Redcitizen (When a zombie apocalypse starts, Chuck Norris doesn't try to survive. The zombies do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Secret aircraft being developed by Amazon to deliver it’s goodies in 24 hours or less.


76 posted on 03/29/2014 6:43:26 PM PDT by ReformedBeckite (1 of 3 I'm only allowing my self each day)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FReepaholic

Or it could be a bug close to the camera and too close to be in focus.


A bug that leaves contrails?


77 posted on 03/29/2014 6:49:03 PM PDT by chaosagent (Remember, no matter how you slice it, forbidden fruit still tastes the sweetest!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog
Okay, here’s a couple for you to ponder:

32.169409,-110.866649

Any ideas?


Those are D-21 "Project Tagboard" drones. Originally designed to be launched off the back of an M-21 mothership (two-seat version of the CIA's A-12 "Oxcart," which was the first member of the Lockheed Blackbird family), ended up seeing very limited service being launched from underwing B-52 pylons.

More here
78 posted on 03/29/2014 7:09:02 PM PDT by tanknetter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

I don’t really understand why this is considered a spy plane or is unidentified. How can a man on the ground be aware it’s unidentified?

I’m really asking. I have no idea about this stuff but I find it fascinating and all these answers here astound me, obviously there are some here who understand this.

I once drove to LA from Az. On the way along the side of the hwy we saw a few of these kind of delta wing planes on the ground off from the hwy by a mountain. They were black and I figured that was all normal stuff that I know nothing about. Just an base. Was I wrong?


79 posted on 03/29/2014 7:10:04 PM PDT by Beowulf9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog
Couldn't resist posting a couple pics ...




80 posted on 03/29/2014 7:12:48 PM PDT by tanknetter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson