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Skunk Works' new craft over Plant 42
ALLISON GATLIN ^ | Thursday, February 2, 2006. | ALLISON GATLIN

Posted on 02/02/2006 12:35:43 PM PST by BenLurkin

PALMDALE - A mysterious flying craft seen hovering over Air Force Plant 42 Tuesday morning was the latest creation from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.'s famed Skunk Works on its maiden flight. The blimp-like aircraft, known simply as P791, is a proof-of-principle vehicle to help engineers learn more about technology and aerodynamics for such airships.

"Lockheed Martin is testing a small-scale airship as part of an internal research and development effort," Lockheed spokeswoman Dianne Knippel said.

The large white airship is shaped somewhat differently from a traditional blimp, with twin torpedo-like sections joined in the center and a cockpit beneath. Four airlifters move the vehicle on the ground and in the air.

The company, known for its advanced technology developments conducted in secrecy, is not releasing any additional information about the project at this time.

The airship likely will be seen flying for the next six weeks, generally during the morning hours, Knippel said.

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


TOPICS: US: California
KEYWORDS: aerospacevalley; allisongatlin; antelopevalley; skunkworks
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1 posted on 02/02/2006 12:35:44 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin
"READY TO SOAR - This mysterious-looking airship was spotted Tuesday morning near Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale." RON SIDDLE/Valley Press
2 posted on 02/02/2006 12:36:30 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: BenLurkin

Codename: 'Rove-r'


3 posted on 02/02/2006 12:38:03 PM PST by keithtoo (Global Warming causes everything, and everything causes Global Warming.)
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To: BenLurkin
I'm afraid this is Top Top Secret.

Everyone who reads this thread will be visited by the Men in Black. And killed.

I have more to say, but someone is knocking at my door. Be right back ...

4 posted on 02/02/2006 12:38:29 PM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: BenLurkin

This is what Karl Rove moves his dastardy machines around in to control the weather, stock market, and oil prices as well as Teddy Kennedy's scotch reserve.


5 posted on 02/02/2006 12:38:39 PM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: BenLurkin

Looks like a golf dome.


6 posted on 02/02/2006 12:39:03 PM PST by retrokitten (www.retrosrants.blogspot.com)
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To: BenLurkin

I, for one, welcome our alien overlords.


7 posted on 02/02/2006 12:39:16 PM PST by SlowBoat407 (The best stuff happens just before the thread snaps.)
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To: BenLurkin

Hahahahaha! There's a company called Skunk Works and it's the only within a radius of 200 miles that gets rid of bats.


8 posted on 02/02/2006 12:39:26 PM PST by lilylangtree
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To: SlowBoat407

Me too but I was hoping they'd arrive in something more than a blimp.


9 posted on 02/02/2006 12:40:15 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: ClearCase_guy

I hate it when that happens.


10 posted on 02/02/2006 12:41:25 PM PST by null and void ("Never place a period where God has placed a coma" --Gracie Allen)
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To: SlowBoat407

Go ants go!


11 posted on 02/02/2006 12:41:50 PM PST by ghitma (Lifter)
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To: lilylangtree
...........................
12 posted on 02/02/2006 12:42:36 PM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: BenLurkin

I'll have Scully and Muldur look into it.

13 posted on 02/02/2006 12:44:08 PM PST by WalterSkinner ( ..when there is any conflict between God and Caesar -- guess who loses?)
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To: BenLurkin

14 posted on 02/02/2006 12:46:38 PM PST by Hatteras
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To: SlowBoat407

"Ladies and gentlemen, er, we've just lost the picture, but, uh, what we've seen speaks for itself. The Corvair spacecraft has been taken over — 'conquered', if you will — by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive earth men or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain, there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to...toil in their underground sugar caves." --Kent Brockman


15 posted on 02/02/2006 12:47:04 PM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: Phantom Lord

16 posted on 02/02/2006 12:48:22 PM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: zot

Lakehurst NJ ping


17 posted on 02/02/2006 12:50:52 PM PST by GreyFriar ((3rd Armored Division -- Spearhead))
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To: BenLurkin

I'd nickname it, "Fat Teddy".


18 posted on 02/02/2006 12:53:14 PM PST by popdonnelly
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To: BenLurkin

Always loved LTA craft. Would get a thrill when I would see the rare blimp go over head when I was a kid.

Guess the last one was a navy blimp over the North Carolina coast back in 1994 or '95.

I would love to see new airship designs plying the skies once more.


19 posted on 02/02/2006 12:53:39 PM PST by Dr.Zoidberg (Mohammedism - Bringing you only the best of the 6th century for fourteen hundred years.)
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To: ClearCase_guy
NO! Don't Open That -

ewwwwww.. too late.

20 posted on 02/02/2006 12:53:48 PM PST by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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