Skunk Works Promo Video

theaviationist.com...

a reply to: anzha

here is a cool article i found on that site link

a reply to: penroc3

Yeah, so that article may result in Bad Things happening. Great shots though. I have one as my wallpaper, and plan to blow at least one up into a poster.

a reply to: Zaphod58

bad things? going to re read it to see if i glossed over something.

a reply to: penroc3

No, it's not in the article really. I know the guy that wrote it and took the pics. There was a screwup by the public affairs office and some things that aren't technically classified, but they didn't want posted were put in.

a reply to: Zaphod58

ahh the refueling remark was interesting refueling 15 times in 30 hours, sounds like allot of refueling that kind of grabbed my attention.

your friends got a great job, i'd be lying if i said i wasn't a bit jealous

a reply to: penroc3

Yeah, he's got to do some amazing things, including flying in the back seat of a Red Air T-38 out of Langley, and in the WSO seat of the Scorpion.

a reply to: Zaphod58

www.flightglobal.com...


Afrl is hunting for leading edge materials for hypersonic flight. It seems they want something other than what is known. I'd bet for cost reasons.

a reply to: anzha

There are several new ceramics that were developed specifically for high speed flight, that are supposed to be relatively cheap compared to other materials.

a reply to: anzha





that is a soft insulation and you could use some interesting ceramics and maybe mix in some microwave boundary layer control and you're all set

a reply to: penroc3
Ooohhh havent heard of Aerogel in a while..

Speaking of strange hanger edges, can anyone explain this at plant 42?

Dropped pin
near Palmdale, CA, USA
goo.gl...

Strangely when you click on the link it takes you to a satellite version of when said hanger wasn't there so copy and paste the coordinates into google maps app instead

originally posted by: spaceaceuk
Speaking of strange hanger edges, can anyone explain this at plant 42?

engine test pits
Interestingly enough, they built the shelters only between 2006 and 2009...

aviationintel.com...

a reply to: spaceaceuk

They're hush houses. They allow you to do a full power engine run, such as on an F119, and reduce the noise. These vent trap the noise and vent it upwards, through that bit that sticks out behind the hangar. Some hush houses turn the exhaust into steam, and vent the steam upward, so you get a column of steam instead of engine noise.

a reply to: Zaphod58

So is the jagged pixelated silver mettalic lines to the entrance of the hanger steam then? Just looks artificial to me as if someone has scribbled over something sticking out the front in a metallic pen, also noticed. Small bit of the same on the right hand side of the hanger as well

Wonder if ex NASA photo editors?

files.abovetopsecret.com...

a reply to: spaceaceuk

No, they just blurred the entrance badly to hide something it looks like.

a reply to: Zaphod58

do they have jammers around that area? i might have to set up a drone operation. i would love to see there faces when my drone just pops thru the door.

a reply to: penroc3

I think it would last about 30 seconds. Heh.