Another "F-117 Companion" thread and a bit of history!

Did Chris Gibson see a Companion aircraft from an oil rig back in 1989?

Background on following ATS thread.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

I can vouch for his recognition skills. I served alongside Chris in the Royal Observer Corps before joining the RAF. Instant recognition was second nature to Chris and the training was conducted on flash trainers where the image would appear for extremely brief periods. Half second and even quicker were used in training. The nearest in shape that Chris could come up with was the plan form of the Handley Page HP115. It gives you some impression of how much wing sweep Chris estimated that this unidentified aircraft had. Chris did consider the F-111 swept wing theory, but it simply didn't sit right with size. The triangle shape was too long.

Handley Page HP115 video.



See from 3:30 for an interview with Chris Gibson.

originally posted by: SpeedFanatic
a reply to: Badgermole42

There is one comment left on The Drive(it is the one that mightmight posted few posts above) that refers to Testors F-19 model and there is one comment here on this forum that clearly says the same. I'll quote it now.

originally posted by: trueknowledge
The F117 program was actually 2 different aircraft. The F117 was only part of the program and it was what was revealed to the world. The second part is an aircraft with a twin engine, single pilot design that was flying in the mid 70s. It was more rounded shape and looked very close to mock ups of the F19. This is the aircraft that boomer135 is referring to. It does not look like the F117 at all, and it much more along the lines of the SR71 design with the engines being mounted internally. From what I understand it was not originally designed for ECM, but it would make sense to use it for this. The reason people can not talk about it is because it is still classified to this day and is still in use as far as I know.

Mid 70s design would match the timeline perfectly but the idea that F-117 program was two different aircraft really makes me think... That would mean that Companion is strictly related to Nighthawk which doesn't seem right. I may be wrong of course.
Good guess would be the idea that Companion was designed pre 1984(trueknowledge and EBJet posts matches perfectly). It was designed and waited few years to born. It could have the first flight as a "classified advanced technology demonstration prototype" in August 1983.
F-117s were tested at Groom around the same time so 1983 is good for a Companion to flew together with it.

Made me think of this image I picked off a Russian site years ago. No story to go with it and never saw it anywhere else.

a reply to: StratosFear

I have seen this picture before. I'm not sure what is it. Zaph don't know too. Definately not the Companion.

a reply to: SpeedFanatic

I think it's just a speculative drawing from a magazine

It was originally a colour ad from the 80's that was dirtied up and reprinted in a Russian mag. I want to say Lockheed ATB concept art, but it's been awhile since I've run across it.

Pardon my ignorance but why do we rule out Tacit Blue as being the 'companion' ? Seems to tick a lot of the boxes, it just doesn't fit the description given by certain people. Is there consideration that the descriptions are wrong or for other aircraft and not the targeting/ECM/whatever else it supposedly did 'companion'.

Might explain why there has not yet been a more heralded reveal since it's already well known and in the public eye.

Just tossing ideas out there.

a reply to: PhantomTwo

I know one other member here on ATS that has similar thoughts. But I don't think Tacit Blue would be Companion.
Tacit Blue could help with development of the Companion but it is definately not the same aircraft.
Wonder if Companion has its own patch somewhere in black world.
Boomer said one day that in the other thread here is a name of the Companion(yes name, not designator). It's not that someone tried to guess it or something, it is just in the text.

originally posted by: PhantomTwo
Pardon my ignorance but why do we rule out Tacit Blue as being the 'companion' ?

Because there is no way to get from the Tacit Blue Experimental aircraft flying between 1982 and 1985 to an operational Companion aircraft built within years of the F-117 and flying with the F-117 while it was still black. Timelines just dont add up. The Companion is as old or older than the F-117.

And of course there are two reputable user on ATS stating:

The "companion" aircraft was pre 84 conceptually
There was Tacit Blue/BSAX from 83-86

It's not a one off, or Tacit Blue. It was built in smaller numbers than the F-117s, but there is more than one.

More thinking out loud!!
I think that the "companion" may have been built along side or just before Tacit Blue, and was maybe a stealthy concept for the wild weasel missions after Vietnam and Cuba (there's a good article in the Aviationist called "first in, last out"), and became a combination of this and maybe a competitor for the BASX program.
The US air force (I think) was trying all sorts after Vietnam, low level, high, stealth to give them the upper hand during the cold war. Area 51 must be littered with concepts and demonstrators buried in that dessert, I think it must now be a few feet higher than when it was first built.

Long time lurker...........

I was always puzzled by the black ‘curve’ at the top patch

What do you guys think?

www.powells.com...

originally posted by: T3rrap1n
Long time lurker...........

I was always puzzled by the black ‘curve’ at the top patch

What do you guys think?

www.powells.com...

The shape bears a striking resemblance to Testor's F-19A concept as seen straight from the front or back without the vertical tail fins...

Throwing a little more info out there:

A buddy of mine who was Marine Recon back in Gulf War 1 told me that much of the laser targeting came from embedded hidden teams on the ground near the targets & not from the air.

True?

a reply to: spaceman42

I thought that it would make sense but the other planes were both operational, why have that on there?

originally posted by: PhantomTwo
Throwing a little more info out there:

A buddy of mine who was Marine Recon back in Gulf War 1 told me that much of the laser targeting came from embedded hidden teams on the ground near the targets & not from the air.

True?

Sure, its common knowledge numerous SOF teams were send in to find and mark targets. SCUDS especially. One thing doesnt rule out the other though. And as already said, dont get to hung up on the finding/marking targets mission for the Companion. I think we have established that SEAD/DEAD is the more likley tasked they performed during the Gulf Wars.

a reply to: T3rrap1n

Good find, but this is why:
www.thedrive.com...
People get creative.

The other patch has been discussed here:
www.abovetopsecret.com...
Too young for the Companion, related to RQ-3 - x - RQ-170.

Wasnt there a thread saying companion had Canards or was that towards the Green Lady?

What always fascinated me is the lack of it being mentioned in many post battle analysts, there a few PDFs on line from formerF-117 pilots publishing thesis for their promotion, one I read goes into detail about the EW-111 and how the press (and then some in congress) were down playing the Stealth capability because 'these super jets needed escorting by non stealth EW birds.

This thinking was having a negative effect on future stealth projects, so it makes sense that you would not discuss this bird as it opens the door to these kind of questions. I'd. How effective is all this spending if you can't rely on it.

With this in mind, you get a picture of just how secret this thing is.

It also mentioned that the lack of EW systems on the F-117 was a real issue on returning to base as a lot of aircraft were up there who they couldn't see and who couldn't see them!

This is a really cool puzzle, along with the "stealhhawk" I really look forward to them going public one day.

a reply to: Blackfinger

Towards YF-24.

This seems far away from the design of f117, could this early stealth concept be the basis for the companion?

Silent night