posted on May, 1 2006 @ 05:47 PM
Well, the Blackbird was first named the RS-71 Blackbird and during the announcement speech by one of the presidents (I forget his name), he
mispronounced it as the SR-71 Blackbird, so they changed it. Many people saw this long aircraft being flown in the Mojave Desert (by Edwards AFB) and
had no clue what it was. When they asked, they were immediately shot down because they didn't want anything being leaked out on accident.
As for the F-22 Raptor, we all know it was "modelled" after the YF-23, but it's design was just less expensive, so it won out. The battle of
Lockheed and Northrop/McDonnell Douglas, and just the whole project itself was denied. Once again, the airplane was seen flying in the Mojave Desert,
and people looked at it flying above and wondered what airplane could be making that wing-shape, as it had never been seen before. They questioned
it, as did I, and was shot down. I asked my father about this, as he works as a Test Manager by China Lake. He also denied anything was going on.
About 6 months later, I found out that he is also the F-22 Project Integration Coordinator for Edwards AFB and China Lake NAWC.
oops...said YF-22 instead of YF-23
[edit on 1-5-2006 by mlindahl]