Weird California sighting

a reply to: MystikMushroom

That....hasn't always gone well. They lost an M-21 mothership and the back seater trying to launch during a test. The airflow over the aft fuselage pushed the D-21 back into the mothership, pitching it up, and breaking the fuselage apart just behind the cockpit.

They both got out, but the back seater opened his helmet too soon and drowned.

There's video on YouTube that shows the whole accident.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Go BIG or go home, right?

a reply to: Zaphod58

Found the video...

www.youtube.com...

Author has it restricted so it has to be played directly from Youtube.

man that's rough. Condolences go out to the co-pilot :-/

a reply to: parad0x122

The size description and high speed sound like a F111 replacement. Weaver says Lockheed though. Thought Northrup is building the F111 replacement. SO maybe something like a small version of the SR72/75 with a modular payload. Put what you want in it. A bomb. A camera of sorts. up to you.

Express delivery mr. jong il. Say hi to your rear admiral Yu Stin Ki Pu

a reply to: Zaphod58

I was under the impression that it (X-51) was still under testing. That is a tall fuel order for such a small platform, but the order did go out while testing was ramping up. If you consider the timeframe, taking the logistics of commissioning and ground testing the platform into account, I think it's safe to say a good portion of that fuel is going directly into that program.

The fuel going to WP was almost an inconsequential amount.

ETA- I stand corrected, the X-51 has undergone it's final flight, but I don't think that they hypersonic program has been cancelled. One would assume that there is still extensive ground testing going on.

originally posted by: TAGBOARD
RATTLRS may be using the JP-7 variety. It went quiet a few years ago - about two years before the subject FBO was released. I know Allison poured a ton of money into the J102 variant.

Video: Lockheed RATTLRS

WHAT THE HECK?? NAMING US AIRCRAFT AFTER A COBRA AIRCRAFT FROM GI JOE?? How silly!!

a reply to: yuppa

HA HA I would take that up with the ONR.

a reply to: Zaphod58

pulled away from the other two like they were standing still after awhile

You are delusional Zap.

There are no black projects.
There is no super duper advanced tech.
This could never be kept a secret.

You are getting sleepy...your eyelids are getting heavier...sleeeeeeep.

originally posted by: MarioOnTheFly
a reply to: Zaphod58

pulled away from the other two like they were standing still after awhile

You are delusional Zap.

There are no black projects.
There is no super duper advanced tech.
This could never be kept a secret.

You are getting sleepy...your eyelids are getting heavier...sleeeeeeep.

These arent the droids youre looking for.......

LOL. Whatever it is its fast and moves like its butt is on fire. I wonder what the range is on a glide bomb released at mach 5?

I have absolutely nothing to add to the topic but would still like to express big thumbs up for the thread and pretty much every other thread you guys "in the know" are involved in. Most intersting part of ATS for sure!

a reply to: BASSPLYR
Hang on.. que in a recon guy here Interceptor ,fighter bomber or Ardvark?

a reply to: cavtrooper7

Northrop's got a high speed F-111 type going on.

Lockheed's got an SR-72 spin off going on as well as the Boeing team flying wing bomber.

The USAF is looking right down the barrel of an amazing over haul in the next 12 years.

a reply to: Astr0

Isn't that the "tailless" deal that is the replacement? (Sorry meant Raven but you know...)

a reply to: cavtrooper7

The 'Vark replacement is going to be NIIIICE. I can't wait until they roll it out.

Sorry still smarting about the damn A-10 mess.

a reply to: cavtrooper7

The A-10 will be sticking around it appears. The House voted overwhelmingly to fund it.

I have a little doubt about the capability to fund a F-111 remplacement and a strategic bomber, my feeling is that LRS-B will be more in the F-111 class than the B-2 class.

Why is everyone quoting the F-111 replacement.

Im not being rude or disresptectful, but as an Englishman and now living in Australia, I have neve heard of any exploits of the F-111.

What did it do, except for the fuel dump burn and amazing cockpit ejection?

a reply to: IamSirDrinksalot

The F-111, down low was untouchable. There was no other aircraft anywhere that could keep up with it, and they were so fast down there that if there was a SAM site they were past it before they could fire.

a reply to: darksidius

The LRS-B is about 3/4s the size of a B-2. It's a B-2 class aircraft.