What is this Delta aircraft at the Arizona USAF boneyard?

Well I discovered a bit of newer imagery on the Microsoft Virtual Earth around the Davis-Monthan boneyard. What I see is a Delta aircraft looking similar too say a Swedish fighter but Im not too sure as its a bit smaller.
I know quite a few folks here know their aircraft so please fill me in on what the Delta craft in this pic is.
Thanks.




[edit on 6-11-2007 by VType]

Google Earth has it tagged as a D-21 UAV reconnaissance drone. It was meant to be launched from the top of a modified A-12.

Details here

In the end, 38 D-21/D-21B drones were built with 21 expended. The other 17 were put in mothballs at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base "boneyard" near Tucson, Arizona and redesignated as GTD-21B.

Thanks for the link sure seems like it from the link below as well.
Very cool looking craft. And quite interesting.
www.spyflight.co.uk...

Cool picture you've found.

I don't know what these planes are, but it sure does seem like an interesting picture. I give you an applause.

Flagged and starred.

edit: I'm not sure, it doesn't look anything like the "D-21 UAV reconnaissance drone", lol.

[edit on 6-11-2007 by TheoOne]

reply to post by TheoOne


It is a D-21 drone. it looks a bit different because of the white material they use to protect it from the elements.

small things those - only 7 feet shorter than an F-16! - and in comparison the launch aircraft the M-21 (SR-71) is over 107 feet long - to get an idea of the real size of the blackbird - she is longer than a C-130 Hercules

reply to post by Harlequin


D-21 Mounted on the back of a modified A-12 which was renumbered to M-21 and the Project was called TAGBOARD

D-21B's were modified to be carried on a B-52

The SR-71 was NEVER used to carry / launch the D-21

[edit on 6-11-2007 by ajsr71]

reply to post by ajsr71


i am very much aware the SR-71 never carried the drone - but some people will go `M-21 - huh` which is why i put the `common` knowledge name of `SR-71` in brackets so the casual reader can go `now i get ya`.

different roles , different numbers -similar looking aircraft.

reply to post by VType


Thankyou, you have 100% identified the item in question. A buddy of my dad's, George, used to fly the SR-71. And my dad an intelligence specialist for over 20 yrs, has positively identified the item in question as the D/M21, and if those who do not believe the SR 71 did not carry the drone, The YF 12 did. Look very closely, oh heck its the same airframe. YF was experimental version and the SR was operational version.

edit profanity

[edit on 6-11-2007 by djaybeetoo]

A picture I took at Seattle's Air & Space Museum. Your boneyard victim's brother complete with chauffeur.

i172.photobucket.com...

Is it just me or is does the large white aircraft look identical to the one spotted over NYC and the Pentagon on 9/11?

reply to post by mizzu


Yep thats the Birds- D-21 mounted on top of the M-21 ( Modified A-12).
A-12 Recon C.I.A
M-21/D-21 Recon - Only one to carry the drone
YF-12 - Experiment Fighter
SR-71- Recon

Spent the first week in October at the Roadrunbners Internationale Reunion talking with test pilots, engineers etc who worked on the A-12/YF-12/M21 / U-2 At Groom Lake and Some of the SR-71 operational pilots.

[edit on 7-11-2007 by ajsr71]

reply to post by fooffstarr


Its just you

Sorry mods for the excessive sized quote earlier.
I have a link to imagery of two more drones as well as other test craft and with the amazing clarity of the Microsoft Virtual Earth Birds eye view option.
Highly recommended imagery of very High quality and Details. Heck you can even make out fine details of the equipment and other stocked items.
Heres a link too the Imagery page I saved. Cool stuff.
maps.live.com...

Originally posted by fooffstarr
Is it just me or is does the large white aircraft look identical to the one spotted over NYC and the Pentagon on 9/11?

Expand on that please? Or is it a part of the grander conspiracy theory that something other than jihadists made the attack?

Originally posted by VType
Sorry mods for the excessive sized quote earlier.
I have a link to imagery of two more drones as well as other test craft and with the amazing clarity of the Microsoft Virtual Earth Birds eye view option.
Highly recommended imagery of very High quality and Details. Heck you can even make out fine details of the equipment and other stocked items.
Heres a link too the Imagery page I saved. Cool stuff.
maps.live.com...

The link doesn't work for me

Originally posted by DeltaNine

Originally posted by fooffstarr
Is it just me or is does the large white aircraft look identical to the one spotted over NYC and the Pentagon on 9/11?

Expand on that please? Or is it a part of the grander conspiracy theory that something other than jihadists made the attack?

Considering that the member that posted that doesn't frequent the aviation forums much I would deffently question the motive behind a statement like that.

Only 38 D-21/D-21B drones were built with 21 expended. The other 17 were put in mothballs at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base "boneyard" near Tucson, Arizona and redesignated as GTD-21B. The programe was also cancelled in 1971 and NASA was given 4 later on but declined to use them and instead used the X-43A. I guess the only question out of that then is where is the location fo the 4 that where given to Nasa? Even with that though it was a one time use plane and only had a flight time of half and hour you have even more problems.

Hey Canada Eh I think you have too allready have Microsoft Virtual Earth installed for the Birds eye link I posted too work. Sorry about that but well worth trying IMO.Honestly the clarity is beyond the pic I posted earlier up.

Originally posted by fooffstarr
Is it just me or is does the large white aircraft look identical to the one spotted over NYC and the Pentagon on 9/11?

The ONLY similarities between them is that they're both white.

[edit on 11/8/2007 by Zaphod58]

reply to post by VType


Very COOL!!!

I other than the obvious I spotted a Lockheed Jetstar (The lear like a/c with twin engines each side on the tail

A Big winged B-57 and a small one just south of the big one