"Contractor:
Some people believe that it is the Skunk Works, but most believe that it is Northrop, since Northrop has great experience with flying wings and
stealth
Mission:
Reconnaissance
Length:
About 30 feet
Width:
About 60 feet
Height:
About 10 feet
Engines:
GE F-404
Range:
About 3100 miles
Operating Height:
Can operate at high and low altitudes
Armament:
Possibly carries 1 Paveway II LGB in an internal bay."
Website-
www.area51zone.com...
"Little is known about the Black Manta, and there have been fewer sightings than of it than the Aurora. There is also dispute as to what the
contractor is, although everyone knows that it is Northrop (If the Black Manta actually exists).
The TR-3A Black Manta was designed for stealth. It is a flying wing, and a cross between the F-117A and B-2. Observers say that it has rounded tips,
but there are also reports of a craft with more sawteeth across the trailing edge, called the "Artichoke". The TR-3A is said to be much quieter than
the stealth fighter F-117A. It is supposed to be a follow-up on the F-117A. Although some people say that it could be used in the Gulf War, in
operation "Team Stealth", that would mean that the F-117A and the TR-3A were developed at roughly the same time (+/-10 years), and that would be
almost impossible. The TR-3A is much more advanced than the F-117A, and it takes many years to produce such a big improvement. Still, the TR-3A is
reported to be flying with KC-135 tankers, F-117s and T-38s, and is thought to have a capability to collect and transmit information back to F-117s,
which was supposedly it's role in the Gulf War.
Although I believe that the Aurora is a myth (there might be an aircraft just slightly faster than a SR-71), because the government is in the process
of researching Mach 3.5+ flight as we speak, I think that the Black Manta exists. It is really not that hard to produce a really stealthy aircraft,
much harder than producing an aircraft that goes Mach 6-20."
www.area51zone.com..." target='_blank' class='tabOff'/>
It was all copy and pasted, but i put it under quotes, and the website is-
www.area51zone.com...
Shattered OUT...
[Edited on 6-4-2004 by ShatteredSkies]
[Edited on 6-4-2004 by ShatteredSkies]