Anyone interested in aircraft over the last fourteen years or so will have heard about sightings across the world, including the UK, of unknown / secret aircraft. I am talking, not about UFO's, but it is presumed very advanced aircraft that possibly replaced the Lockheed SR71 Blackbird when it was first withdrawn from service with the USAF in 1989. UK sightings include locations ranging from the North Sea, by an ex ROC member Chris Gibson in August 1989, Machrihanish airfield, on the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, and in the USA, mostly over the West Coast states. More recently a sighting in May 1999 in southern Lincolnshire by an aviation enthusiast of an aircraft similar to, but not, an F117.
Two airfields in Nevada, USA are known to have been connected with secret aircraft programmes in the past and both lie within the Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) Test Range. They are Groom Lake, often known as Area 51, and Tonopah AFB. Groom Lake is protected by extremely elaborate security and Tonopah has unusual security measures in place even though "no aircraft are based" there. These two airfields are to my certain knowledge active today (November 1999) although what I saw were only the mysterious and anonymous Boeing 737's, call sign "Janet", that daily operate out of Las Vegas's Mc Carran airport. Testing known to have taken place at Groom Lake of aircraft then secret and unknown to the outside world are :-
As far as is known Tonopah's contribution to this would seem to be restricted to hosting the first operational units equipped with the F117, between October 1983 and July 1992 when they moved to Holloman AFB in New Mexico. Note this covers a period of five years of operation of the aircraft before it was announced to the public.
Looking at the above list the question that comes to mind is what has happened over the last seventeen years ? The answer of "nothing" is just not plausible. Groom Lake has one of the longest runways in the world, and a second substantial runway has been constructed during the late 1990's.
The aircraft for which confirmed sightings and descriptions are required have become known as Aurora and the TR3 Black Manta. These names may, or may not, be accurate but such types are very likely to have been developed over the last two decades. It has been proved that such aircraft programmes can be kept secret for years and during the last twenty years the US has had the will to keep ahead in reconnaissance systems, and other roles, and has the technology and funding. The "Black" budget is openly known, and proven, to exist and accounts for substantial amounts within the Military and Intelligence budgets.
These aircraft could conceivably be seen over the UK - don't forget that B2's have operated over Europe, from their continental US base, and returned without landing on numerous occasions by the use of in flight refueling. Farnborough (1996) and Mildenhall (1997) air shows are examples as well as operations over Kosovo.
Precise dates, times and location and as much detailed description as possible would add credence to any reported sighting. Presumably photographic proof is too much to ask for ?
If this sounds far fetched and a bit like science fiction then refer to the June 1998 edition of Janes International Defence Review. This refers to a US Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office's (DARO) 1997 report which refers to "the U2 and the Air Force "Special Platform". DARO's director Maj. Gen. Kenneth Israel acknowledges that this refers to "a covert reconnaissance aircraft......in the classified world".
Over to you. The truth will come out eventually.
[by DB, Knutsford 06/01/00]
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