Mythbusters have done several myths regarding planes and have purchased (parts) from graveyards as well as smaller junkyard type dealers. They cut a large section out of one airliner and dropped it from a helicopter..
Mystery Aircraft over Texas 10th March 2014 - Steve Douglass
- Thread starter TEEJ
- Start date
Some people make homes out of old planes.
http://www.airplanehome.com/
I bet They would be good for making Hobbit holes.
http://www.airplanehome.com/
I bet They would be good for making Hobbit holes.
TEEJ
Senior Member.
Yes the escort aircraft are Mirage 2000s. French Air Force E-3F Sentry with Mirage 2000s. Here is the underside view of that formation.
The Mirage 2000s have a single engine whereas the black aircraft have twin engines. There was a Mirage with twin engines, the Mirage IV, which has long since been retired.
The black aircraft appear to have quite a distinctive trailing edge - almost boomerang shaped.
Mirage IV. Which has been retired from service.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_IV
The Mirage 2000s have a single engine whereas the black aircraft have twin engines. There was a Mirage with twin engines, the Mirage IV, which has long since been retired.
The black aircraft appear to have quite a distinctive trailing edge - almost boomerang shaped.
Mirage IV. Which has been retired from service.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_IV
Keith Beachy
Senior Member
Yes, the F-117 was a night only, it stands out like a big target in the day against the white clouds. And the F-117 most likely flies low, no contrails. The B-2 in the OP was taken with a low resolution lens; next time shoot it with a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens with a D800 or a D7100.
Seems some testing was done to determine if it could be used in daytime operations.
http://theaviationist.com/2013/02/25/gray-dragon-story/
deirdre
Senior Member.
ummm..because if they were grey it was harder to find the plane on the tarmac?furthermore the new paints were evaluated by measuring the impact that the gray had on the maintenance.
deirdre
Senior Member.
I guess you might have to power wash the base more with grey. cause the brake pads kick up black 'soot'?
MikeC
Closed Account
That too - although just general dust and dirt have to be washed off too - airlines I worked for generally did a surface wash every 2-3 days on every aircraft as they cycled through bases with a cleaning staff, but that was just "mop and bucket" on a glossy enamel or similar - the half-matte or "satin" finishes probably require a bit more care.
Mumbles
Active Member
The F-117 was a medium altitude operator when it was in front-line service. Whatever the remaining flyers are doing now is open to question.
Yes, the paint on these aircraft has a radar attentuating aspect to it. This was pioneered on the U-2 and SR-71 in the 1960's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_ball_paint#Iron_ball_paint_absorber
pseacraft
Active Member
The paint is special but stealth is not that big of a deal. It just means it has a lower radar signature, they are not invisible, just ask the driver who got a telephone pole up the side of his head in the Balkans a few years back. The F117 always was "escorted" or 'shadowed' by an EA-6B and when it wasn't, well lets just say it could have and has ended badly. Not as familiar with the B-2. My airplane is "painted" black and from my perspective the color black does not make it stand out much more than other colors at altitude, if anything I think it blends in better as its not reflecting nearly the same amount of light.
MikeC
Closed Account
The RNZAF has announced their new T-6C trainers will be painted all black as it is a high contrast colour scheme!! See this pdf
(from another site)
How the all-black T-6C will look. Black is a high-contrast colour scheme to enhance air to air visibility
(from another site)
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Jason
Senior Member
Yes but didn't they find that stealth fighter using cell phone towers, or something like that
TEEJ
Senior Member.
Jason,
That was just one of the many rumours going about. It appears that it was simply down to one very experienced commander and his team coupled with the fact that the F-117 didn't have EA-6B Prowler jammng cover and was apparently egressing on a previously used route. Lt. Col Zoltan Dani nearly had a second success against another F-117 during the conflict but that managed to recover back to base with missile damage. I was doing some research into Operation Allied Force and requested the serial of this combat damaged F-117 under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Five documents were retrieved during a 2011 search, but all are still classified.
The USAF did admit to another F-117 being damaged by an SA-3 Goa. The SA-3 missile was also used in the shoot down of the first F-117.
http://www.af.mil/
This following is the first documentary featuring Lt. Col. Zoltan Dani. Unfortunately not in English, but contains video footage of the wreckage and the part that Lt Col Dani keeps in his garage (Part 4). Part 4 also contains the F-117 pilots account being translated to Zoltan Dani.
The F-117 Pilot, Lt Col Dale Zelko, and the 250th Missile Brigade Commander, Lt Col Zoltan Dani, are now firm friends.
That was just one of the many rumours going about. It appears that it was simply down to one very experienced commander and his team coupled with the fact that the F-117 didn't have EA-6B Prowler jammng cover and was apparently egressing on a previously used route. Lt. Col Zoltan Dani nearly had a second success against another F-117 during the conflict but that managed to recover back to base with missile damage. I was doing some research into Operation Allied Force and requested the serial of this combat damaged F-117 under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Five documents were retrieved during a 2011 search, but all are still classified.
The USAF did admit to another F-117 being damaged by an SA-3 Goa. The SA-3 missile was also used in the shoot down of the first F-117.
The above was originally on the timeline page of the USAF website several years ago.Jun 9, 1999 Operation Allied Force ended. More than 800 SAMs were fired at NATO aircraft, but only one F-117 and one F-16 were downed. Another F-117 suffered minor damage from a SA-3 that exploded nearby and two A-10s were damaged by anti-aircraft artillery fire. During the campaign, 35,219 sorties were flown, 16,587 non-precision guided missiles and 6,728 precision guided missiles (23,315) were dropped
http://www.af.mil/
This following is the first documentary featuring Lt. Col. Zoltan Dani. Unfortunately not in English, but contains video footage of the wreckage and the part that Lt Col Dani keeps in his garage (Part 4). Part 4 also contains the F-117 pilots account being translated to Zoltan Dani.
The F-117 Pilot, Lt Col Dale Zelko, and the 250th Missile Brigade Commander, Lt Col Zoltan Dani, are now firm friends.
Balance
Senior Member.
Thought I'd share for those not familiar with the "playground" (training area). A bit old but still thrills me to watch it again
WeedWhacker
Senior Member
This is an example of pilots playing with their "Big Boy Toys", within (usually) the regulations that must be adhered to.
But of course, to reference the Opening Post...there exist "Known airplanes", and "Experimental" (aka possibly "Top Secret" designs) that may occasionally by observed...especially in this era of many cell-phones with cameras.
Many in the general public who happen to "grab" either still or grainy video via whatever device that they had handy, at the moment, then post such "captures" and ask questions. So, getting the answers (and 'debunking' any assertions made by those still/video takers) is important to better understanding of the facts.
(Side note, risk of going "OT"....and this sort of relates...to..."UFOs". These OP photos might be considered "UFOs" until described, in thread. But, my point is, with the current preponderance of just about "everyone" with a Cell-Phone camera...seems the instances of "UFO" sightings have diminished, somewhat?)
Jason
Senior Member
Absolutely incredible. I would love to be where those guys are standing. What a show, and boy are they impressive.
WeedWhacker
Senior Member
Jason, there are other YouTube videos that I have seen...some amazing stuff!!:
I have used such examples (of many, after some searches) to explain a lot to people, on various topics related to aviation.
Just to add, it is great that there exist people who make such videos, and then post them online, so that they can then be found to help explain a LOT of stuff that just pales, when trying to write about it!! (As explanation).
Jason
Senior Member
The guy in your first video is a little nuts as is the camera man. I'm surprised they weren't knocked over as the jet flew right over them
Mumbles
Active Member
I've seen this particular display several times in person, haven't got bored of it yet
That's the end of the routine, the take-off that begins it is pretty sporty as well (pic taken by me a few years back):
J
Joe
Guest
They have no more F-14s . all scraped or for display . here it is in action . I think its the same one that has been called a UFO http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...filmed-blitzing-Taliban-base-Afghanistan.html
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WeedWhacker
Senior Member
Joe...not true. The F-14 may be on the way out...and not in active service, but many are still airworthy.
It's a bit like the fact that some WW2-era B-17s are still airworthy...and of course, those are very, very obsolete:
http://www.azcaf.org/
http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/
http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/images/CAF_Aircraft/Ghost_Squadron/GhostSquad-B17.pdf
(I could go on, as a pilot and obvious aviation enthusiast...but, the Internet is now available to EVERYONE, so a simple search will find other sites).
EDIT: And as a modeler....the F-14 is still a viable candidate, for modeling...whether as a 1:48 or 1:32 scale plastic model, or even in 1:6 or 1:8 scale as an R/C model. There are MANY possibilities. AND, this includes just about EVERY airplane in the past, as a candidate to model, in various scales.
To attempt to get back ON-TOPIC....this "mystery aircraft" might be one that already has a model kit out there....
TEEJ
Senior Member.
They have no more F-14s . all scraped or for display . here it is in action . I think its the same one that has been called a UFO http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...filmed-blitzing-Taliban-base-Afghanistan.html
Joe,
That is the worst fake. It really is surprising how much this hoaxer 'Section 51' is getting with his ridiculous video. The following is where he/she obtained the original footage from. The original video is from Iraq and shows an airstrike called in to destroy a car bomb factory. The munitions used were JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs.
The hoax video produced from the above footage.
pseacraft
Active Member
WW - my understanding is that the boneyard is now empty of Tomcats. As there were only roughly 165 left in the yard in 2007 and all not bound for a museum were to be shredded.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-02-shredding-tomcats_n.htm
Edit: Just looked at google earth of Davis - Monthon and saw only 3 Tomcats remaining as of Oct 2013 imagery. Lot of aviation history sitting there....
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WeedWhacker
Senior Member
I stand (and sit) corrected! I seem to be a couple decades late...getting long in the tooth, so to speak. (sigh)....
J
Joe
Guest
The Only remaining F-14 or with the republic of Iran . I come from a Grumman Family . My father in law who passed around the same time they retired the F-14 worked on every F-14 from inception to the end . I am a F-14 memorabilia collecter . From The Pinball game to photos and models and aircraft parts
Iran (not our closet ally) is the only other country to fly the F-14.
When the U.S. retired the F-14 fleet, they mothballed them.
However, it was found some parts were being (illegally) sold to Iran.
After than, the decision was made to destroy them.
From Wikipedia:
"The remaining intact US Navy F-14 aircraft have been stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group "Boneyard", at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. As of July 2007, many of the remaining 165 aircraft were being shredded to prevent parts from being acquired by Iran, the only other nation to buy the F-14. By July 2007, 23 F-14s had been shredded at a cost of $900,000. Due to the strength of the landing gear, it was removed before shredding and cut up with a torch. The last remaining F-14 after demolition will be located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida."
yea thanks I noticed the video I saw was opposite a mirror image .
J
Joe
Guest
we have two here locally one is in Deland where my daughter will be attending college . It will never fly again
J
Joe
Guest
Some of the comments seem think they are something else
Seems like a old story ?
Christina • 4 months ago
I live In Iola Kansas and I have been watching these "jets" almost every single day in the the skies here as well. There are sometimes more than one and they often fly in a grid pattern and also in the "S" shape and will fly straight up then straight down. I've literally seen them for months and months and I don't understand. What are they up to? Are they truly spreading chemicals to control global warming as suspected or is it something more? We will never know, how government doesn't have an ounce of honesty in them.
apikoros
New Member
Interesting article on Warp Drive
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/physicist-builds-star-trek--warp-drive--in-his-garage-104242491.html
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/physicist-builds-star-trek--warp-drive--in-his-garage-104242491.html
Hevach
Senior Member.
The device may or may not do something, but it doesn't do what he says it does, for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is using less electricity than a good lamp. Much better scientists than I have given much more accurate explanations than the trainwreck I just edited down.
His background is in biology and geology, neither of which he was able to get his doctorate, he's not a physicist. He's active in UFO groups and has claimed that he didn't design the device himself, but the design was given to him by aliens. Based on his multiple crowdfunding campaigns, all on flexible funding so he gets it even if the goal isn't met, he's nothing more than a con artist.
Thankfully, most of the internet hasn't fallen for it. The crowdfunding attemps I can find are all expired, and total he made less than $5000 out of a cumulative goal of about half a million.
His background is in biology and geology, neither of which he was able to get his doctorate, he's not a physicist. He's active in UFO groups and has claimed that he didn't design the device himself, but the design was given to him by aliens. Based on his multiple crowdfunding campaigns, all on flexible funding so he gets it even if the goal isn't met, he's nothing more than a con artist.
Thankfully, most of the internet hasn't fallen for it. The crowdfunding attemps I can find are all expired, and total he made less than $5000 out of a cumulative goal of about half a million.
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