West Texas Spanloader

darksidius asked:
"Is it possible flying supersonic with this kind of triangle shape ?"

Yes, I think so, based on the wing sweep angle. I have no inside information on this particular program, but from standard aeronautical engineering principles, there is a relationship between the wing sweep angle and the top speed the aircraft is capable of. I won't go into all the mathematical derivations, but the basic principle comes from the idea that when an aircraft is flying along at some Mach number, the nose tip of the aircraft represents a pressure disturbance source that is sending out pressure waves in all directions. The pressure waves propagate outward at the speed of sound (Mach 1) but they are swept backward at whatever the flight Mach number is. Collectively, the pressure waves form a conical surface attached to the aircraft nose, where the cone angle gets shallower and shallower as the flight Mach number increases. (For a mathematical discussion, just Google on "Mach angle").

Standard design practice is to keep the wings of the aircraft entirely within the Mach cone, so you don't have shock waves cutting across the lifting surfaces. At a flight speed of Mach 1, the Mach angle is exactly 45 degrees. Look at the wing sweep of a B-2, and you will see that the wing sweep is 45 degrees. (The included angle between both wing leading edges is 90 degrees.) This allows the B-2 to fly very close to Mach 1, while keeping all parts of the aircraft within the Mach cone.

A flight speed of Mach 2 would create a Mach angle of 30 degrees, so the wing sweep would have to be at least 60 degrees. That's one reason the old F-102s and F-106s used classic 60 degree delta wings; it was aerodynamically the simplest way to get Mach 2 aerodynamics. To my eye, the wing sweep of the mystery Texas aircraft is definitely more than 45 degrees and could be as high as 60 degrees. My guess it is a super-cruiser, intended to fly somewhere between Mach 1 and Mach 2. Probably intended to operate in concert with the F-22.

a reply to: 1947boomer

Almost like a stealthy platform that can go in with a strike package, to act as escort/control platform.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I guess if F-117 has a secret santa sister, then so does F-35.

This was posted on the Dreamland Resort forum today, and have seen little response.

Lockheed Skunk Works Hangar Door Open

Located at one of our favorite locations, USAF Plant 42 Site 10, not far from the JSF B model hover pit. Looks to be a round-nosed planform similar to AARS/Quartz/RQ-3B Darkstar.

You reckon the Super Sentinel, Minion/Minotaur or B-190/RQ-190? ; )

a reply to: TAGBOARD

The Super Sentinel was the -180, which was NG.

LM isn't going to show anything they don't mean to show us.

; )

a reply to: TAGBOARD

They've been in this game far too long to accidentally let something out like that.

It could be something that we've already heard about, it could be their bomber.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I think we are going to be seeing this bomber in daylight rather soon. And she'll be showing some skin.

a reply to: aholic

Before the end of the year.

a reply to: Zaphod58

As per my other post - it's her skin that's important.

a reply to: aholic

Active camouflage? New electro magnetic spectrum absorbent materials? Plasma generation? Combination of the above? Something so cool I didn't even think of it?

a reply to: cmdrkeenkid

Something cool as hell, and that's about all that will be said.

a reply to: Zaphod58

This reminds me of something.

Will she be floating out of the hanger?

a reply to: grey580

It does have some insane technology on board, but the hidden one is much more fun.

a reply to: Zaphod58
And therefore probably a LockMart product. (Referring to your comment about this being a stealthy ISR type platform.)

a reply to: 1947boomer

Ah, but ISR isn't the only thing that would be extremely useful to have with a strike package, in close.

a reply to: Zaphod58

As usual.

They keep all the cool stuff out of reach.

almost looks like a tacit blue front end...almost.

a reply to: TAGBOARD

I've only got access on my phone right now. The Bing map won't load right for me. Anyone care to post a screen grab?

a reply to: Zaphod58

Is that an allusion to a part of it? Or just a figure of speech?