Posted on 06/19/2005 8:27:21 PM PDT by Finny
I think it was a Host, in the Sun.
Does it look like a Host on the Sun? Probably only if you are blond, classy and green-eyed.
Yes there isn't.
Something had to fill the mission role of the SR-71 before they could retire it...
Yes. Whaddaya think? I know it looks a lot like the pics you've posted of regular ol' jets (if there's any such thing!). Again, husband insists that at such a high altitude as this was, condensation couldn't have existed, and it was way, way too far off to see the glow of afterburners. Is there such thing as an Aurora, and if so, perhaps is this what this was? Also, check Freepmail.
Does anybody know if a N. Korean missile coming in will have a sonic boom? ...not that it matters.
Yes. It will, but by the time anyone near the target hears it, they will be dead.
HUGH!!!! This is it!!!!
He's finally arrived!!
This could be HUGH!!!!!
What I posted is just somebody's guess as to what it would look like if it really exists. We do know that the Lockheed SR-71 spyplane has been officially retired and that no replacement has been named (as far as I know.) If there is a replacement, and it is a good bet that there is, it would be stealthy and superior in performance to the SR-71. So the artists conception is a reasonable bet as to what it would look like.
It could be what you saw. Maybe some of the aero-wiz types on FR could weigh in on the subject. I would like to hear their opinion.
I have seen many interesting aerial phenomena in the hour or two following sunset (when the earth is dark, but the upper atmosphere is still illuminated). For example, the huge, clear polyethylene research baloons that were launched here in TX, went from barely visible against the blue sky to as brilliant as a star. Then, as the sunlight passed through its "red sunset" atmospheric path, the baloon went from bright golden white to golden to coppery, and then, before vanishing, a brilliant fiery red. That is also the time when the beautiful "noctilucent clouds" are sometimes visible. It is also the time when short contrails can look like brilliant, colorful light-emitters against the darkening sky.
BTW, I am an avid, lifelong aircraft watcher. I grew up on the runway approaches to Ellington AFB near Houston (now used by NASA), and, before I got glasses, at one time was able to ID over 50 A/C types by sound alone. As a kid/teenager, I wore out several pairs of binocs (and trashed several screen doors) running outside to look at planes. ;-} I also served as A/C identification instructor for the Cold War-era "Ground Observer Corps".
I really wish I could have been there to observe (whatever you saw) with -- especially with a small telescope available!
My guess is that it may well have been military/experimental, and may have been making a descent/approach to some place like Nellis. (Or, even the mysterious "Groom Lake" (AKA "Area 51"]...)
If what you saw wasn't an ordinary, multi-engine aircraft with sun-illuminated short contrails, I expect it may well have been something like this:
As I said earlier, I'm convinced the US didn't give up the SR-71's capability -- without having something with faster, higher, and stealthier capabilities avalable...
Perhaps you just managed to be looking the right direction at the right time...
I like that philosophy. I hope your friend is right.
Multiple friends.
The main one was Director of Stealth Technology for Skunkworks during the development of the F117.
I'll take his word for it.
LOL!(more cow bell)
If it was like that aircraft in your picture, it was definitely like Gemini reentry where it was heating up surace and that was the flare we saw coming off the fuselage. As for illumation changes from setting sun -- it was self lit, husband says. The only illumation might have been point of bright light as it banked, and at that altitude might very well have been headed toward Nevada, husband says.
Love the fact that you trashed screen doors racing outside to see! We got a big kick out of that -- kindred spirit! Wow, also, impressed that you could identify by sound so many aircraft!
The dynamics of reflective light and setting sun are of great professional interest to my husband, as he must know them well in order to do his artwork, which consists primarily of military aircraft generally in dogfights! Explains why his eyes are so often skyward. He's even got me looking at cloud formations. *sigh* And it's a sad day when an innocent little woman like myself knows the difference between an ME 109 and a FW 190. I have been corrupted. But I STILL have lots and lots of shoes, so at least some semblance of my Inner Woman remains intact!
"up" is anything over my eyebrows.
Link didn't work ... rats!
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