In honor of the trending meme, here are few of my fav, wild, and known programs from #Area51. Thread:
1/ The AQUATONE project created the U-2, designed by Kelly Johnson, the father of Skunk Works (the origin of the term “skunkworks” to mean secret project btw). This ultra high altitude spy plane is so awkward it requires a chase car to help it land:
2/ The OXCART project, also by Kelly Johnson, created the A-12. This insanely fast CIA plane preceded the record-setting SR-71 Blackbird.
When it was flown, 1000+ personnel on the base not affiliated w the program had to be put in the cafeteria so they wouldn’t see it.
3/ OXCART also led to the YF-12, which is summarized as “yo, what if that crazy plane had missiles”.
Fun fact - one of the test pilots, Jim Irwin, became the Apollo 15 lunar module pilot and walked on the moon.
4/ Area 51 also hosted all the enemy aircraft we stole during the Cold War. Code names included HAVE DRILL, HAVE FERRY, and my favorite…
HAVE DOUGHNUT. An Iraqi pilot defected w his Mig21 after being ordered to bomb civilians, and we tested the hell out of it.
5/ Have Blue was the code name for what I think is the coolest looking aircraft ever, the prototype that became the F-117 stealth fighter.
Fun fact: it’s polygonal design was the result of the limitations of 70s-era computers and software.
Kelly Johnson also originated the design principle of KISS - “keep it simple, stupid”. Man was a legend.
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