EXPERIMENTAL CRAFT
The claim by researchers is that as many as “one half of all UFO reports in the late 1950’s and 1960’s were the “U-2”, “A-12” or the “SR-71.” They may be right, up to a point.
The “given” of all UFO reports has been that some are likely misidentified common objects (either natural or man-made). Some, at the time of their sighting, were unrecognized and were a concern to the government. Their performance, maneuverability and other features could not be matched by current technology. Some, were known to the government (or parts thereof), but passed off as natural or misidentified common objects due to high levels of security imposed. Note, also, that the time span encompasses a developing rocket, satellite program, early manned orbital projects, and space exploration. All in competition with a Cold War opponent in the form of the U.S.S.R.
Before 1950
Flying Flapjack, formally the name was Vaught XF5U , was project of the U.S. Navy. It first flew 1943 but was cancelled 17 March 1947 because the military was switching from propellers to jet powered craft. Structurally it was well built but massive, 32 feet wing tip to wing tip and weighing 16, 722 lbs. Its top speed was only 462 mph and its ceiling was 34, 500 ft. with a low range. Only a few were actually made and most tested were in the area of Connecticut. Its design was as the nickname suggested, flat, somewhat round with propellers.
When the first “flying saucer” reports started coming in from around the county (mostly in May and June) this was a craft many suggested as a possibility. It had appeared in magazine and newspaper articles so “John Q. Public” was aware of the craft and the concept.
In fact very quickly in the post “crazy” days of the Arnold, Pacific Northwest, and Roswell events, military spokesman competed for both claims of new impressing soon-to-be-released aircraft designs and rhetoric that boiled down to “saucers are bunk!”
BELL X-1 Jet was first flown in January 1946. The first manned supersonic flight occurred on 14 October 1947, less than a month after the U.S. Air Force had been created as a separate service. The airplane was drop launched from the bomb bay of a B-29 and reached Mach 1.06 (700 mph). This was XS-1 flight number 50 indicating numerous previous versions or test runs.
1950’s – 1960’s
The files of Project Blue Book, and a look at news pieces, interviews, and commentary of the 1956 to 1963 period as increasingly secretive (new restrictions via AFR 200-2), a removal of access to files, a return to files being stamped “secret” when previously many were “classified” or “restricted.” A new aggressive and often antagonistic attitude to civilian research groups (“flying saucer hobbyists” as AF Spokesman Tasker said and also the “science fiction writers” referring to those who held to a ETH of the origin of many of the reported UFO’s).
So – what were some of those potential ‘top secret’ or highly secret project craft that might have been viewed, reported, and then dismissed with one of the favorite labels (“insufficient data”, “air craft”, “balloons”, “astro” or others) DURING SPECIFIC TIME PERIODS/
The U2 aircraft had its first flight in August of 1955. It was noted for its ability to fly very high (50,000-90,000 feet) but at only about 500 mph. Its profile from the side had a slightly staggered double dome appearance with one end toward the tail merging into a long slant. That gave the profile a slight art deco line. Used primarily for high altitude spy missions and reconnaissance the aircraft was so finely constructed and enduring that they are still flying today.
The A1-12 from Lockheed operated from 1962 (first flight) until 1968. The craft, “archangel class” was part of Project Oxcart and the CIA in conjunction with “Skunkworks.” Flying at Mach 2 (2212 mph) at 95, 144 ft. ceiling, the aircraft, if seen, would have been noted for its altitude but also its rapid speed probably moving in a straight line course in most instances.
Next, most probably, would be the prototypes and actual finished project known as the “SR-71” or “Blackbird.” This craft, or an earlier version, had a first flight date of around Dec. 22 1964 amd functioned until 1999. Some sources state it did not go into widespread operation until 1966. Most agree, however, that only 32 of the planes were built. The aircraft, designed to be fast, silent, and unseen could reach Mach 6 (4,5667 mph) and fly at 80,000 ft. (that may not have been its ceiling). Head on sketches indicate a bell shaped or slightly round triangle center body with two large lights/housings (one to each side) with an antenna like protrusion leaned back toward the center. Looking straight on someone would most likely see three very bright lights and three legs that might disappear in the bright lights on the ground or the air. Another sketch shows an object looking like a center triangle with one large light on either side. In the air the side one vision might seem a fat diamond shape. Looking straight up the main configuration would appear a dark triangle, possible with one projection (holding those lights) on each side. In the sky a witness might have seen a dark triangle moving very high and very fast. On the ground, three lights, the center one a bit larger, that seemed to hover above the ground (due to the legs being hidden from view or concealed by light shining downward from those lights. When this craft took off the noise was recorded at 17 decibels it would be like a whisper (most jets rate a 100+ rating on the decibel chart. See the Yale chart at https://ehs.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/decibel-level-chart.pdf) .
BELL XV-3 was a hovering craft that made its first flight Aug. 11, 1955 and went into out of production Aug. 31. 1966 due to an ongoing instability issue. It could land and take off like a helicopter and fly like a plane. It early efforts achieved 32,000 feet and topped off at 450 mph. But later versions were stuck at 15,000 and less than 200 mph. Its profile, however, remained easily identifiable as a helicopter from all directions.
Another helicopter workhorse was the HUGHES OH-6 Cayuse that had its first flight 27 Feb 1963 and its last in 1966. In 1964 ALL fixed wing aircraft were transferred to the USAF. The ARMY transitioned to rotor-wing aircraft (helicopters, etc.). In early April 1966 one OH-6 flew from California to Florida demonstrating its long haul capabilities.
Another potential aircraft sighted might have been the F-11 Aardvark. A massive wing spread of 63 feet head-on would have revealed a large rounded bottom triangle in the center with wings spreading thin and far out to achieve that breath and a single narrow shaft at the back over the crown of the triangle. This was a craft that easily reached Mach 2.5 and had ceiling 66,000 ft. It first flew on 21 Dec. 1964 and was retired in 1998.
The YF-12, a Lockheed design had its first flight in 1963, achieved Mach 3.35 (2,275 mph) and had a ceiling of 90,000 ft. The one the ground, head on profile was similar to the SR-71 with a wing span of 55 feet. In the air the outline could be a square with a triangle on top (house like).
The F-117, “Nighthawk” or possibly ‘Boomerang” apparently was flown (or a prototype) as early as June 1981 and Oct. 1983. The records indicate it was in service from 1983 until April 22, 2008. Head on profiles of the craft give an almost shallow turtle shell appearance with thin wings tops and two thin tail fins like antennae. Seen from the ground had a sleek bird, with wings fanned back, appearance that no doubt gave it the “Nighthawk” nickname.
A McConnell-Douglas and Boeing Aircraft design was responsible for the YF-118g, “Bird of Prey” that flew from 1996 to 1999. From below it had a sharp, pointed nose, wide shoulders and tapered body with two wing projections that gave it the appearance of a pointed and armless turtle.
Author William Knell in his work “UFO Guy” recounts a story about the record-breaking test pilot Chuck Yeager. Allegedly, while testing the Bell X-plane (Bell X-1 jet flying) he was paced by a “UFO”. The new craft was going about 700 mph, was 30-40 feet wide, moved close and frankly frightened the seasoned pilot. It vanished shortly thereafter. After a flight he would normally be debriefed by the test team people but on this occasion there were only two civilian men with the look of “Air Force Security.” They did not introduce themselves but told him not to tell about what he had seen. It was a “new experimental craft.” At which time, Yaeger demanded, “Then why am I flying this pile of crap?” He stomped out certain of one thing, whatever it was he saw it did not belong to the Air Force.” It is unclear how much truth is in this story, there are some questions (such as how to tell AF Security if they were civilians) and the fact that the answer was limited to the “Air Force” may hint that it was one of the other agencies at work designing new and top secret craft (DID, CIA, etc.). The date is unclear but it is known the BELL X-1 was first test flown in January of 1946.
Proving a UFO requires that the craft seen exhibit some non-normal characteristics in the technology and maneuvers. Many of the alleged "Airship" sightings of the 1890's are not technologically impossible for their time period; they exhibit in shape, actions, and movements perfectly logical extensions of the experiments into airships, dirigible, powered balloon, and aircraft of the day. Further, their appearance was advertised by numerous articles around the globe citing the research being done along those very lines. So, likely several inventors, a good PR job and some willing tall tale tellers combined to create the great airship mystery.
What will stand out in a true UFO sighting will likely be :
- Maneuvers beyond current potential actions (High speed (High G) turns), reversals at speed, etc.)
- Speeds or altitudes beyond current potential achievements
- Other aspects that indicate this object is not "one of ours": tracked high speed transits from place A to place B, massive and possibly controlled electrical interference.
When exploring the Unidentified Flying Object topic, it is important to be able to classify reports within time periods to known possible explanations. This was hampered for most of the years of the Air Force Projects (SIGN, GRUDGE and BLUE BOOK) but conflicting interests that hampered true scientific study and understanding of the phenomena being reported.
Scientific study requires sharing ideas and information. Discussing and reviewing methods, test results, and challenging conclusions. It involves the creative and imaginative energy found in pure research. Science has often been the captive of agendas of control and conflict.
In the early stages, the sharply dipping temperature between the one time allies – USA and USSR – meant that tensions and fears of a “communist plot” using mysterious new craft was afoot clamped secrecy onto the whole topic. To maintain control and fight “spies” reports were ridiculed and the people seeing things were shamed and insulted as a means of getting rid of the stories.
As the end of the 1950’s emerge, new secrets and new agendas are at work creating what Eisenhower called the military-industrial complex. A symbiotic relationship where the fear and paranoia of some fueled and directed the spending and actions of others.
Today, the real coin of the global realms is not gold or silver but information. Secrets are therefore both hoarded and sought in ways unimagined a century ago.
The quest of the UFO searchers is one of truth. It has always been that. Since the first things whizzed through the skies all people have ever asked was a simple, “What is that?”
So much time and effort could have been saved had governments merely informed their people that they were testing some new designs, they were using balloons to conduct some tests, or yes, we do not know what that was but we have gathered a large and global community of thinkers to make it a priority to learn more than we know now. This, they should have said, is a matter of global importance, and we should work together instead of fighting one another.
Maybe if they had done that, we would be using those hover cars and visiting resorts on the moon by this time.
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