Weird California sighting

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Yeah. It was the only place we couldn't go.

Double post again

a reply to: Zaphod58

They let you walk around the main bomber hanger at south base?😯 me jealous Now.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

We went all over the ramp. He was program manager for the C-17, so he took us to the NASA center, all the big hangars, the C-17 hangar, onto the first C-17....

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: BASSPLYR

We went all over the ramp. He was program manager for the C-17, so he took us to the NASA center, all the big hangars, the C-17 hangar, onto the first C-17....

===

Just a curious question....would that have been around 1991 to 1993?

And if it was...by any chance was in that particular "at-the-time-classified" article
you were talking about earlier....I don't suppose it was a modified Grumman X-29
forward swept wing aircraft? If I remember AFTER 1986 there was a program
(1988-to-1994) to further research and extend the capabilities of US forward
swept-wing craft and I had heard some agency had modified the original X-29 test aircraft!

I suspect the "article" you aluded to earlier was that modified aircraft!

a reply to: StargateSG7

Wasnt that project called Highwire? That x-29 was covered in a skin designed to emit electricity/plasma to increase air flow/decrease resistence i think.

originally posted by: yuppa
a reply to: StargateSG7

Wasnt that project called Highwire? That x-29 was covered in a skin designed to emit electricity/plasma to increase air flow/decrease resistence i think.

===

I have no idea about the X-29 being covered with a reactive skin,
but I have been right finger-touch close IN the X-29 so I know
it's original test configuration. The extended configuration
was added later AFTER it's original test was cancelled in 1994.
I do know on a personal basis that SOMETHING was added
as a test bed platform to the X29 which is WHY I asked
Zaphod as to WHAT (not that he'd tell me directly if it
was classified!). He might have at least given us an idea
if it was flight control surface related or avionics related!

As an aside, the X29 is the most cramped cockpit i've ever
been in. Even the already tight F-18 has a bigger one and
as a big guy that one is utterly cramped. Add in my G-suit/
helmet and I'm a sardine and was just under the 250 lbs
boarding limit on the F18!

I couldn't IMAGINE trying to fly an X-29 who's boarding limit
was about 200 lbs (being F5 based!) talk about a sardine can!

---

Anyways, I am curious if NASA was the actual agency
that did the X29 mods or another agency was doing work.

a reply to: StargateSG7

Neither X-29 was modified. After the research program ended, the first aircraft was eventually transferred to the Air Force Museum in Ohio. The other one remained in storage at NASA Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center until it was placed on static display. It will likely be moved to the new Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards once that is built. Both airframes remain in their original configurations.

a reply to: Shadowhawk

.... So...... Youre saying its likely that stargate has never sat in an x29?

Cause thats what i got from your post.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

While I agree that I think he is usually great at spreading disinfo, in this case he said he rode in an F18 not the X29. The way he worded it would leave one to believe he had been inside an X29 on first read through, whether that was intentional or not i'll leave that for others to decide.

I stand by my original statement.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Well it wasn't wrong lol. Also upon re-reading his post he did claim to have sat in one. Definitely headache and a half whenever I see his posts.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

I'm saying that Ship 1 made 254 flights between December 1984 and August 1990. It remained at NASA Dryden until being transferred to the USAF Museum in 1994. You can examine the cockpit here:

www.nmusafvirtualtour.com...

Feel free to compare it to period photos, documents, flight manuals, etc.

Ship 2 made 120 flights between May 1989 and September 1991. It remained at Dryden and was eventually placed on static display next to the Visitor Parking lot. I used to see it every wok day for nearly two decades, and somewhat frequently even before that. I examined it closely on many occasions.

There are detailed flight logs for both aircraft, as well as a comprehensive and detailed history of the flight research program:

www.nasa.gov...

In the course my work, I had access to a large collection of technical documentation on the aircraft and the test program. I cataloged much of it for the Dryden Historical Reference Collection.

a reply to: Shadowhawk

So......im taking that as confirmation that he most likely has not sat in the cockpot of an x29.

originally posted by: Bfirez
a reply to: BASSPLYR

While I agree that I think he is usually great at spreading disinfo, in this case he said he rode in an F18 not the X29. The way he worded it would leave one to believe he had been inside an X29 on first read through, whether that was intentional or not i'll leave that for others to decide.

I COULD NOT HAVE FIT IN THE X-29 PERIOD !!!
Although I actually HAVE been up close and personal with it!

I actually could NOT HAVE fit in the cockpit as a civilian on the X-29
at a certain unspecified location but I have seen it ultra close up
looking right in the cockpit...No way in heck I could EVER fit!

I can actually fit in the F18 (actually rode in the twin seat F/A-18F
config during an attached civvy program demo --- !) I even had to
go through the ejection seat simulator, do multi-day flight
pilot/navigator briefings and emergency procedures instruction
and then get dumped in a swimming pool before I was let aboard as
a "passenger"! I even got to do the land-based tailhook landing
pad runs with both full grab and hook miss passes. I did not get
to go aboard a carrier in that specific craft though....

They kinda take flight safety seriously....!

Then we had some mission-specific fun....

originally posted by: BASSPLYR
a reply to: Shadowhawk

So......im taking that as confirmation that he most likely has not sat in the cockpot of an x29.

NO....haven't actually sat in an X29 !!!
Have I ridden in an F-18F? --- YES! ---

and I suspect if I had asked politely I MIGHT have been
allowed to sit in the X29 had I been smaller at the time....

---

MY original question WAS whether
Zaphod KNEW if a secretive craft in a
NASA test hangar sometime during
1988 to 1992 an earlier post WAS the
X29 as I did NOT know if it was or not.

You might want to ask around though as to any
esoteric modifications that came later in 1992 to
possibly 1996 either during or after the original test
programs which I assumed existed to find out whether
forwardswept wing was a viable option in
US fighters.

I personally have NO IDEA what specifically was done
related to avionics OR aerodynamics but I am NOW
curious as to what (or not!) was done in later testing
after 1992.

It is very interesting that you've seen it almost every day
during work --- I really like the look of that craft --- they
should revive it in say an F20 body form as a light tactical
craft or advanced trainer.

I will read throughthe aircraft logs you posted earlier
as an academic exercise as I have always been fascinated
by forward swept wings. I really like the SU-47 Berkhut
forward wing concept! Thank you for the links!

a reply to: StargateSG7

I too like anything i can google

originally posted by: BASSPLYR
a reply to: StargateSG7

I too like anything i can google

---

I'm a Google Expert! -- Got the Certificate to prove it
form my mom in a special cermony in her basement....!

......

originally posted by: StargateSG7

originally posted by: BASSPLYR
a reply to: StargateSG7

I too like anything i can google

---

I'm a Google Expert! -- Got the Certificate to prove it
form my mom in a special cermony in her basement....!

......

I'm gonna have to google that to see where I can get one !

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Ahem...