Musings about the F-117 companion

a reply to: Zaphod58

Does that include both officially and unofficially?

a reply to: OccamsRazor04

Yes. The SR-71 was announced in July of 1964 and first flight was in December of 1964. The first prototype was delivered in October.

I always assumed the companion was more like the "Whale" if not a similar planform, similar capabilities.

a reply to: Zaphod58

And still, the YF-12 gets no love as the first white appearance of archangel, beating the the SR-71 out by over 6 months of public acknowledgement, and beating the first flight by nearly a year!

a reply to: gfad
Don't go de-railing this thread with LRS-B stuffs.. Lol

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: OccamsRazor04

Yes. The SR-71 was announced in July of 1964 and first flight was in December of 1964. The first prototype was delivered in October.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: MystikMushroom

The SR-71 didn't fly operationally until after the announcement of its existence. The A-12 had been flying prior to that. They are different aircraft.

The A-12 was flying well prior, and it's existence still wasn't publicly acknowledged for several decades after the SR-71 was unveiled and the A-12 stopped flying operationally ('68, '69?) superceded by the SR-71's. You're sort of parsing hairs here.

a reply to: _Del_

Not really. If you look at the F-15C and F-15E there are some significant differences between the two. Just as there were between the A-12 and SR-71.

originally posted by: Flipper35
I always assumed the companion was more like the "Whale" if not a similar planform, similar capabilities.

So.. an EW / Target designator / Refueling craft in support on the F-117?..

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: _Del_

Not really. If you look at the F-15C and F-15E there are some significant differences between the two. Just as there were between the A-12 and SR-71.

Sure. And if you know what you're looking for you can tell the difference without too much of a problem. Yet, the A-12's existence still wasn't acknowledged until the early eighties... Which is sort of parallel to what MM was alluding to with his SR-71 comment (operational "black" programs).

It's clearly been kept out of sight to this point. Maybe they'll release docs in the 2020's

Wonder if Boomers have to close their eyes when they refuel it

a reply to: Blackfinger

They also have to put their fingers in their ears and go "la la la la".

And absolutely positively can never post it here. At least for the time it takes ATS's DIA guys to find it. And they troll this thread in real time. Alas.

a reply to: Bedlam

Hasnt a certain boomer that hasn't been around lately pretty much said he has refueled it and didn't even have to close his eyes?

a reply to: Bfirez

I think he was told to ignore the pointy aircraft and others.

That were on base.

a reply to: grey580

Yeah but you can only ignore them so much....

How is an aerial refueling crew member able to keep photos of classified aircraft if he's no longer in the service or has a Security clearance? Hasn't he also said that the photo or photos have been copied and given to a few well known aviation writers to release after it's been declassified?

a reply to: johnthejedi24

Don't ask stupid questions

a reply to: weavty1

^This

a reply to: Bedlam

Wouldn't it be hard for your average Joe to differentiate the difference between outlandish lies and the real deal? I mean some of this stuff is so advanced, most people would just assume the info is hogwash and a lie.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

It would be hard thats why OSI has at times had such an easy job with the general public.