Blackstar XOV: Wind tunnel model photos?

I got these today. Sender claims they are photos of the "Lockheed X-151," and iwas to be a replacement for the SR-71. The model depicted matches the "Blackstar XOV" in all important respects.

Hmmmm...

looks like a radio controled boat. you better be sure about the sender.

It does look like a boat

The above two are right, it does look more like a boat than a plane.

What I'd like to know, is what's attatched to the back of the model, not only does it look like it does'nt belong there, but if you look, you can see that those hole things are screws.

Originally posted by imbalanced
looks like a radio controled boat.

It does. But it also looks like a lifting-body hypersonic aircraft.

Originally posted by imbalancedyou better be sure about the sender.

Reasonably sure. Came with a bunch of other info, such as a photo of a display model of the WS-118P... which I'd never heard of before, along with BoMi and VTOL fighter and jetliner info which I had heard of before. Always possible it's fraudulent, but it certainly appears wind-tunnel-modelly enough. *Exactly* what it is, though... dunno.

Looks computer generated.

Even if it is real, it looks CGish.

your plane in the wood box has b-52 engine nacelles... and the other main picture does indeed look like a boat... and doesn't have the tail shape of a hypersonic wave rider at all... that fat tail would cause massive sonic booms and air disruption probably to the point of unusable control surfaces.

So sorry my friend but even at a glance you've been duped and rather badly.

it's got to be fake... Those wings aren't big enough to create enough lift...

I think some of the criticism is ill deserved. Sub-scale windtunnel models are often not complete in every detail. It does appear to have a keel - but then it could be upside down and some stealth designshave a distinct "keel" to the nose. having said that I personally am skeptical about the whole Aurora/blackstar thing. BUT, I am not so quick to be damning about what appears to be a credible photo.

Please post literally all the info you were sent so that we can research the public info element to see how credible the witness is.

Cheers for the photo.

Originally posted by Orionblamblam
Came with a bunch of other info, such as a photo of a display model of the WS-118P... which I'd never heard of before, along with BoMi and VTOL fighter and jetliner info which I had heard of before. Always possible it's fraudulent, but it certainly appears wind-tunnel-modelly enough. *Exactly* what it is, though... dunno.

I googled "WS-118P" and the only mention I found was here: www.astronautix.com...

On 4 January 1955 the USAF issued Systems Requirement SR-12 for the WS-118P high-speed reconnaissance vehicle. Range was to be over 5000 km, altitude over 30 km. Bell provided a proposal on 1 December 1955, calling for a three-phase program using a glider designed to be boosted by a two-stage rocket to Mach 15 at 50 km altitude (Phase I would produce an 8,000 km range vehicle; Phase II a 16,000 km range vehicle; and Phase III an orbital vehijcle).

General Operations Requirement GOR-12 of 12 May 1955 incorporated findings of the SR-12 studies and called for development of a new manned high-altitude platform by the third quarter of 1959.

In September of 1955 Bell received a funded contract extending its BOMI work under WS-118P. This was superseded in March 1956 by WS-459L, Brass Bell. Bell kept using the BOMI name in its studies through the subsequent Brass Bell and Robo studies, until they were all superseded by Dynasoar.

Clearly this info on what the WS-118P would be like conflicts with the picture which is certainly not of a hypersonic design. The box does appear to say "Bell" on it though. maybe the original photo is the "WS-118P/BOMI" concept?

Originally posted by Sugarlump
and doesn't have the tail shape of a hypersonic wave rider at all... that fat tail would cause massive sonic booms and air disruption probably to the point of unusable control surfaces.

Huh? "Fat tail" is almost synonymous with "hypersonic lifting body."

Originally posted by planeman

Clearly this info on what the WS-118P would be like conflicts with the picture which is certainly not of a hypersonic design.

True. However, the box does call it System 118P, and the guy I got it from said that it was a carrier plane for a smaller boost-glide recon system. The second stage is, sadly, not shown. I would hazard that it would look somewhat akin to the Super Hustler.

In reference to other recent threads and spys and copying, does anyone else notice a similarity between that WS 118P model and the Myasischev Bounder? Just a thought.



[edit on 26-3-2006 by waynos]

Originally posted by waynos
In reference to other recent threads and spys and copying, does anyone else notice a similarity between that WS 118P model and the Myasischev Bounder? J
[edit on 26-3-2006 by waynos]

Similar technologies and similar requirements can produce similar results. Witness the Lockheed CL-400 "Suntan."

dammit, not this guy again!


people people, check the pictures URL address...This guy owns that site, which we confirmed last time he posted pictures...back then he was saying he took pictures of the Aurora...after several pages of bickering he finally admited that they were just Aurora models....hes basically plugging in his site everywhere just so he can sell models.

heres the thread I am refering to.
Confirmation of Existence of Aurora?

I dont believe a word of what this guy is saying....While yes, the model he posted does look like what Aviation Week had on their mag a few weeks ago...I think he made his model, based on there renderings.

Murcielago said it. I took a quick look at the link he posted and Orion drags out for 4 pages lies about his model that he claims is Aurora. He constantly lied and refused to answer questions with a straight answer, until the very end.
I personally believe this is another lie he is hoping to get attention from and that we should ignore his claims that accompany this model.

Thought your name sounded familiar, and I do remember this little skit that went on a long time ago.

Definitely fake.

Shattered OUT...

Originally posted by Murcielago
back then he was saying he took pictures of the Aurora...



Ah... no.

Originally posted by Murcielagohes basically plugging in his site everywhere just so he can sell models. [/quote

No again. I have no models of this, Blackstar or anything related.

Originally posted by Murcielago.I think he made his model, based on there renderings.

No yet again. But believe as you will.

Originally posted by Night Raptor15
Murcielago said it. I took a quick look at the link he posted and Orion drags out for 4 pages lies about his model that he claims is Aurora. He constantly lied and refused to answer questions with a straight answer, until the very end.
I personally believe this is another lie he is hoping to get attention from and that we should ignore his claims that accompany this model.

Again, believe as you will. However, please note that there are those of us out here who do *actual* research into aerosapce history, and find things you may well not have. If you would prefer that such things be kept from you, that is of course your choice.

I suppose I made this up, too:

Originally posted by ShatteredSkies
Definitely fake.

Fake in what way? In that they are photos of models and not the real vehicle? That was made apparent in the thread topic title.