What aircraft are actually at Area 51?

originally posted by: Bfirez
a reply to: Blackfinger

I just wish Dreamland was more active

As a thought to what you have just written. The first use of stealth was to reduce the RCS. The next logical step is to reduce the IR and/or the visual spectrum. If you think that there is no activity in Area 51 COULD it be the use of new technologies? Visual stealth could be a huge game changer in the combat environment.

Visual stealth testing could employ low end aircraft like the general aviation aircraft normally seen in and around Area 51. This would give an impression of no special activities happening...just my 2 cents.

a reply to: buddah6

Sorry I meant the website, the base itself is 100% still active. You don't build new multi-million dollar hangers on an inactive clandestine air base without something fun going on.

a reply to: Bfirez

Sorry!

a reply to: buddah6

Its all good!

These days I think Area 51 is more a tourist attraction wrapped in myth,legend and folklore than a dedicated research facility where people would camp out in the faint hope of seeing something.

a reply to: Blackfinger

And yet they have expanded quite a bit in recent years.

At one time, they had the world's oldest known flying pig. I'm not sure if it retired.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yeah, honestly why move anywhere else when you already have all that infrastructure already pretty much hidden. Yeah you can hike up to tikaboo or watch the skies from the highway, but its still just about as remote as it gets. Although I would bet not everyone flies out of Groom, some probably stay away on purpose.

a reply to: Bfirez

There aren't really a lot of good areas to operate from.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Definetly, Area 51 is still ideal imo.

a reply to: Zaphod58

You also need a significant enough population center nearby so the employees can go home and infrastructure to get them there and back for the commute.

I mean I guess you can do some stuff on Kwajalein and Wake Island without a whole bunch of people noticing, but not the day in day out regular engineering & measurement jobs for years on a project.

Probably the high tech electronics and optics are all developed in ordinary suburban office parks which have water filter distributors and dentists.

Where does Russia develop its aircraft? There's an immense amount of remote space and no-questions-allowed security posture, but wouldn't much of it be a 4 month to fly year?

The other point is having various subcontractor parts arrive and technical backup if things go wrong.

a reply to: mbkennel

The office park part of that equation has always fascinated me. I grew up around Raytheon HQ, Hanscom, Lincoln Labs, and Draper and had friends, roommates, etc who's parent's work involved flying to Kwajalein to do stuff they couldn't talk about.

So it always get's my mind racing every time I drive by a some remote Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, etc facility in some random office park...

a reply to: Bfirez

Seriously, Bfirez? It is hard to imagine how Dreamland could be more active. With nearly continuous construction of hangars and other facilities, and some 2,500 military and contractor personnel, it seems to be a very busy place.

a reply to: Shadowhawk

I think he was referring to the website. He should have said Dreamland Resort.

I dont know of even any other blogs that stalk out the goings on at Groom.Maybe things have gotten more professional now and any info goes straight to the magazines or news..

a reply to: Blackfinger

A lot of people don't stake out much because it's a matter of pure luck if you catch something. Twenty year projects have gone on without a single sighting, or any pictures showing up.

Would be a nice retirement project..Camp out in a trailer or pod house nearby and then stalk out on overwatch.

a reply to: Sammamishman

Yeah, I should have specified