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? The fact that you and I can talk about it (with pictures to boot!) means this isn't very secret. Given the retirement of the SR-71, the knowledge that the F

? The fact that you and I can talk about it (with pictures to boot!) means this isn't very secret. Given the retirement of the SR-71, the knowledge that the F-117 went into service in 1983 and stayed unknown for almost a decade, the rumours of pulse-engines, contrails and specific aircraft like the tr-3 and Aurora, it is almost certain that the US (and likely other nations) have aircraft or spacecraft that are flying right now that the public doesn't know about. It would be hard to gather intelligence if they didn't.

borism 16y ago
Read past headlines. The issue author raises is clearly with it's dual use. Secrecy in the title comes from that. Satellites and UAEs have long replaced planes, no matter how fast or stealthy, for intelligence gathering. One thing this thing will do good is deliver a some payload to any place on Earth REALLY fast. Anyway, since 2007-8 there's brand new hangar at Area 51, the biggest so far: http://dreamlandresort.com/area51/2007_new.html http://dreamlandresort.com/area51/2007_new.html
- run4yourlives 16y ago
  Satellites will never replace aircraft until they can be "on demand". Orbits have been able to be tracked for years... changing orbits demands fuel that can't easily be replaced. A fast aircraft with stealth is best for "cuban missle crisis" type issues. A slow one for less urgent requests for tactical concerns. As of current public knowledge, UAVs do not have the type of speed or range that we're talking about here as being required... as far as we know...
  - borism 16y ago
    Just wanted to amend my previous statement a bit: One thing this thing will do good is deliver a some payload (including satellite or UAV) to any place on Earth REALLY fast. This thing is simply not very good platform for intelligence gathering in itself. Not very easy to gather intelligence at speed of Mach 20+.
    - run4yourlives 16y ago
      Um, the ISS is moving at around Mach 24 right now, so I'd imagine most satellites used for spying are already doing a similar speed, and they have no issues snapping pretty high resolution pics. I don't think this would be a concern for an aircraft doing a similar (or much more practical, slower) speed.

borism 16y ago

Read past headlines. The issue author raises is clearly with it's dual use. Secrecy in the title comes from that. Satellites and UAEs have long replaced planes, no matter how fast or stealthy, for intelligence gathering. One thing this thing will do good is deliver a some payload to any place on Earth REALLY fast. Anyway, since 2007-8 there's brand new hangar at Area 51, the biggest so far: http://dreamlandresort.com/area51/2007_new.html http://dreamlandresort.com/area51/2007_new.html

run4yourlives 16y ago
Satellites will never replace aircraft until they can be "on demand". Orbits have been able to be tracked for years... changing orbits demands fuel that can't easily be replaced. A fast aircraft with stealth is best for "cuban missle crisis" type issues. A slow one for less urgent requests for tactical concerns. As of current public knowledge, UAVs do not have the type of speed or range that we're talking about here as being required... as far as we know...
- borism 16y ago
  Just wanted to amend my previous statement a bit: One thing this thing will do good is deliver a some payload (including satellite or UAV) to any place on Earth REALLY fast. This thing is simply not very good platform for intelligence gathering in itself. Not very easy to gather intelligence at speed of Mach 20+.
  - run4yourlives 16y ago
    Um, the ISS is moving at around Mach 24 right now, so I'd imagine most satellites used for spying are already doing a similar speed, and they have no issues snapping pretty high resolution pics. I don't think this would be a concern for an aircraft doing a similar (or much more practical, slower) speed.