This is the amazing Lockheed Martin SR-72—the space Blackbird

reply to post by MystikMushroom


You don't think a C-130 carrying four Firebee UAVs is cool? I sure do.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Your right...I have never seen one of those before.

reply to post by Zaphod58

Amazing information everyone; The UAV's being carried by the DC 130 high wing, we're those drones for target practice? Circa 1970 or so?

reply to post by The Undertaker


Not initially. The Firebee was programmed to fly a route over Vietnam, and other target areas, afterwards it would splash down at a predetermined point, where it was picked up by a Navy ship, and the film processed and analyzed. They found a number of intelligence coups that way, including the POWs that they attempted to rescue, that were in a hidden camp.

Later on, after Vietnam until today the Firebee has been used for a target drone. In fact I used to have a piece of one that washed ashore during a RIMPAC exercise that I found.

reply to post by The Undertaker


Yes, they were used for target practice but the DC130 with its Firebee's were also used for recon., Chaff dispersal and used as recently as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

en.wikipedia.org...

reply to post by Zaphod58


Aww,.... you got to it before I did.

reply to post by Sammamishman


What else am I gonna do while sitting here down? Besides I have a rep to maintain.

reply to post by The Undertaker

You'd be surprised, actually.. The US has been using unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance, since the 1960's.

And for decoys/targets, much earlier than that!!! 1930's, I believe...

reply to post by weavty1


Waaay earlier than that. You'll read all about it soon enough.

reply to post by Zaphod58

Another Gigidity Gigidity moment!! Any more OMG hints in this new (book) thread?

reply to post by The Undertaker


Other than it's probably going to take me the better part of a week, with a 1+ page OP? Nope.

warpboost

Astr0

This is from an old Nat Geo video - looks beautiful. Looks very familiar.

Do you know the name of the Nat Geo video or show this was on? I would like to see it. Thanks

At a certain point, the physics of what you're trying to accomplish will dictate the shape. It's why cars are generally so boring looking these days. Something blasting through the upper atmosphere at Mach 6 is going to look a certain way.

reply to post by Zaphod58

Good!! Because I've been racking my brain trying to figure out page 9's white to black teaser.

weavty1
reply to post by The Undertaker

 

You'd be surprised, actually.. The US has been using unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance, since the 1960's.

Yeah but the super sexy fast ones weren't all that successful!!

reply to post by The Undertaker


That one will continue to taunt you, for a long time coming.

reply to post by Zaphod58

Uncool- I've always wanted a universal translator.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Not sure if anyone but zaph has seen these, but came across this tonight when looking for live pics of the 72 in action

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by kingofyo1


Looks like GCI that's been purposefully blurred to hide the fact it's CGI.

I've seen better screen caps from Stargate SG:1. Here's one, the F-302. Looks pretty real, doesn't it?

The F-302 fighter-interceptor has four different sets of engines: air breathing jets, modified aerospikes for high altitude, a rocket booster, and a hyperspace window generator.

Stargate Wiki

Actually, the F-302 didn't have a "hyperspace window generator" -- it's predecessor the X-302 did.

Anywho -- this fictional design seems quite possible of SSTO, given the engine designs discussed in this thread.

reply to post by kingofyo1


Those were the CGI images for the proposed HTV-3X Blackswift that fell under the Falcon project. It was to use the same type of engines as the SR-72.

reply to post by Sammamishman


Black swift is probably the program that the SR-71 came from.