Aurora refers to the roman goddess of dawn who flies across the sky each morning ahead of the sun. The lockheed martin sr 72 is an american hypersonic uav concept intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Dayton, ohio the lockheed sr71a on display in the cold war gallery at the national museum of the united states air force. Throughout the 1980s, financial analysts concluded that lockheed had been engaged in several large classified projects. The sr 71 has served as one of the only aircraft capable of performing a mobile reconnaissance mission. The lockheed l1011 tristar, commonly referred to as just l1011 pronounced ellteneleven, was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the boeing 747 and the mcdonnell douglas dc10. Detailing the development and operational history of the lockheed sr72 hypersonic unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. The name aurora is not assured to have ever been connected to this putative spyplane, as. I have been attempting to research a top secret prerifts reconnaissance aircraft known as the aurora and have examined both lone star and chitown archives on the aircraft. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
Nov 28, 2019 the lockheed cp140 aurora is a maritime patrol aircraft operated by the royal canadian air force. Aurora also credited as the sr91 aurora is the popular name for a hypothesised united states reconnaissance aircraft, believed by conspiracy theorists to be capable of hypersonic flight speeds of over mach 5. However, they werent able to identify enough of them to account for the companys income. Lockheed sr 71a 617967 flight log compiled by peter w. The plane is reportedly the successor to the lockheed sr71 blackbird. According to the hypothesis, the aurora was developed in the 1980s or 1990s as a replacement for the aging and expensive sr 71. Im sorry that this is such a long answer, but there is a lot to say. The entire sr71 program, massively expensive, was taken down in retrospect way too early in consideration of the inefficiencies of. The lockheed martin sr72 is an american hypersonic uav concept intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. A hypersonic successor to the sr 71 has been the ultimate goal for darpa and the air force usaf since the early 2000s. Thirty years after entering service, the blackbird is aloft again after a premature retirement.
Lockheed martin will utilize the collected data from the darpa falcon htv2 program to power the capabilities of its new sr 72. Pdf file for printing and display in your classroom, showing kids the relative heights and shapes of all kinds of clouds. Probably one of the most incredible examples of the analog age, the technology behind the lockheed sr 71 begs a post which i am, actually, in the process of writing. Lockheed sr71 an sr71 in flight the lockheed sr71 type a, unofficially known as the blackbird, is a longrange, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the lockheed yf12a and a12 aircraft by lockheeds skunk works also responsible for the u2 and many other advanced aircraft. The sr71 blackbird, once the worlds fastest and highestflying aircraft, is capable of sustained speeds in excess of mach 3. In 20, lockheed martin announced development of the successor to the sr71 blackbird spy plane. It was developed as a black project from the lockheed a12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by lockheed and its skunk works division. Air force reactivation of the sr71 for reconnaissance missions. Aurora is a stealth military aircraft, possibly british. A hypersonic successor to the sr71 has been the ultimate goal for darpa and the air force usaf since the early 2000s. Lockheed martin will utilize the collected data from the darpa falcon htv2 program to power the capabilities of its new sr72. Aurora, also known as sr 91 aurora, is the popular name given to a possibly fictional american secret hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft.
Probably one of the most incredible examples of the analog age, the technology behind the lockheed sr71 begs a post which i am, actually, in the process of writing. The entire sr 71 program, massively expensive, was taken down in retrospect way too early in consideration of the inefficiencies of. Lockheed s skunk works, now the lockheed advanced development company, is the most likely prime contractor for the sr91 aurora aircraft. Lockheed sr72 hypersonic unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Lockheed sr71b 61 7956 nasa 831 flight log compiled by peter w. The successor to the sr71 blackbird, which was capable of. In 20, the usaf, at last, announced that it had begun to design a scaled. According to the hypothesis, aurora was developed in the 1980s. Lockheed martin reveals plans for this insane hypersonic spy plane artists rendering shows. Lockheed martins skunk works has confirmed that it is developing the sr72 spy plane. The sr91 aurora is an alleged hypersonic spy plane developed in the 1980s or the 1990s, but currently there is no hard evidence to support its existence, even though many people have reported sightings.
The sr74 scramp is the daughter ship, and rides piggyback on the huge sr75 until take off. Like the dc10, the tristar is a threeengine jet airliner. On 6 march 1990, one of the united states air forces lockheed sr71 blackbird. Please note this product is licensed for personal use, classrooms, for small craft businesses where you are hand making items or hand finishing printed. Lockheeds skunk works, now the lockheed advanced development company, is the most likely prime contractor for the sr91 aurora aircraft. Lockheed martin announces progress in hypersonic sr72. The aircraft is based on the lockheed p3 orion airframe, but mounts the electronics suite of the lockheed s3 viking. The lockheed sr71 blackbird owners manual is one of those books that anyone with even a passing interest in aviation or cold war history should have on their coffee table.
The lockheed cp140 aurora is a maritime patrol aircraft operated by the royal canadian air force. Aurora, also known as sr91 aurora, is the popular name given to a possibly fictional american secret hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft. The blackbird was the fastest, highest flying aircraft in the world that could literally outrun surfacetoair missiles that had been launched to intercept it. Nov 06, 20 lockheed martins skunk works has confirmed that it is developing the sr 72 spy plane. The aurora is a hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft developed by lockheed martin. Jun 18, 2008 im sorry that this is such a long answer, but there is a lot to say. May 25, 2011 aurora developed by lockheeds sunk works. This page was last edited on 29 november 2018, at 15. Aviation and space reference site concluded, the evidence supporting the aurora is circumstantial or pure conjecture, there is little reason. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license.
Lockheed martins mysterious sr72 the fastest plane ever. Work on the aurora began after the failure of project isinglass, the cias followup on the oxcart program that led to the sr71. The sr 91 aurora is an alleged hypersonic spy plane developed in the 1980s or the 1990s, but currently there is no hard evidence to support its existence, even though many people have reported sightings. Aurora may have been used by lockheed and by northrop grumman. The air force had retired the blackbirds in 1990, but congress. The air force had retired the blackbirds in 1990, but. Lockheed martins advanced development programs, better known as skunk works, might be further along in the development process for the sr72 than it has let on. The story of secret sr91 aurora hypothesized aircraft. There is no substantial evidence that such a plane was ever built or flown, though experimental planes similar to its alleged design have been shown to have at least been considered if not exactly in active development see fact or fiction. Work on the aurora began after the failure of project isinglass, the cias followup on the oxcart program that led to the sr 71. Aurora, also known as sr91 aurora, is the popular name given to a. Aurora is rumoured to be a a top secret aircraft being built by us military, that has been in development since it could be behind lockheed martins plane concept pictured. Following demonstrator flight testing, a fullscale twinengine sr72, about. Although satellites are useful in this role, the sr 71 had the advantage of.
Aviation week and space technology first reported the news that the term aurora was. The stealth military aircraft aurora is the popular name for a hypothesised american reconnaissance aircraft, believed by some to be. Just as the sr71 blackbird served as a new generation of reconnaissance aircraft. There is no substantial evidence that it was ever built or flown and it has been termed a myth the u. The sr91 aurora aircraft topics the world news media. Shown images are of much lower quality, due to resizing.
It seems that there is too much smoke to deny that an aurora like plane isnt out there. Lockheed martin optimistically plans to fly an frv in the early 2020s. The successor to the sr 71 blackbird, which was capable of mach 3. Dayton, ohio the lockheed sr71a left tail art on display in the cold war gallery at the national museum of the united states air force. Rather than making a spaceplane, oseas nextgeneration reconnaissance platform was intended to be yet another stratospheric aircraft. It is rumoured that the aurora was designed and built by lockheed aeronautical systems co. Lockheed, the blackbirds performance characteristics and capabilities, and the national. But for seven years the us government denied that the top secret aircraft nicknamed nighthawk existed.
Lockheed s skunk works, now the lockheed advanced development company, is the most likely prime contractor for the aurora aircraft. Detailing the development and operational history of the lockheed sr 72 hypersonic unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Aurora was a rumored mid1980s american reconnaissance aircraft. The lockheed sr 71 blackbird is the most spectacular performer ever to leave the ground under its own power and spread wings. I think its unlikely that the plane exists, at least as a replacement for the sr71, and its also very unlikely that we wouldnt know about a replacement for the sr71, especially with all the time thats passed. From researcher colin walker, coalition lone star archivist. Lockheed sr 71 an sr 71 in flight the lockheed sr 71 type a, unofficially known as the blackbird, is a longrange, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the lockheed yf12a and a12 aircraft by lockheed s skunk works also responsible for the u2 and many other advanced aircraft.
Jun 26, 2007 lockheeds skunk works, now the lockheed advanced development company, is the most likely prime contractor for the sr91 aurora aircraft. Hypersonic sr72 demonstrator reportedly spotted at skunk. Aurora also known as sr 91 aurora is the popular name of hypothesized american reconnaissance aircraft. Since it may not even exist, it was hard to find some information about this thing, but i gathered as much as possible and came up with this triangle shaped blended wing design. According to the hypothesis, aurora was developed in the 1980s or 1990s as a replacement for the aging and expensive sr71 blackbird. Lockheed sr71a national museum of the united states air. Lockheed martin privately proposed it to succeed the retired lockheed sr 71 blackbird. Air force photo by ken larock photo details download hires 6 of 20. Sep 28, 2017 lockheed martins advanced development programs, better known as skunk works, might be further along in the development process for the sr 72 than it has let on.
For the canadian maritime patrol aircraft, see lockheed cp140 aurora. Sep 09, 2008 aurora also credited as the sr 91 aurora is the popular name for a hypothesised united states reconnaissance aircraft, believed by conspiracy theorists to be capable of hypersonic flight speeds of over mach 5. According to the hypothesis, the aurora was developed in the 1980s or 1990s as a replacement for the aging and expensive sr71. If you remove the fuselage will see its internal structure. Lockheeds skunk works, now the lockheed advanced development company, is the most likely prime contractor for the aurora aircraft.
The lockheed sr71 blackbird is the most spectacular performer ever to leave the ground under its own power and spread wings. Lockheed sr71a 617967 flight log compiled by peter w. This aurora has been edited with xml and has several pairs of wings. Does blackbird successor lockheed sr72 aurora actually exist. Merlin september 2002 nasa crews flew four lockheed sr 71 airplanes between july 1991 and october1999. Aurora also refers to the aurora borealis, the northern lights, that are. Jan 16, 2018 the sr71 blackbird, once the worlds fastest and highestflying aircraft, is capable of sustained speeds in excess of mach 3. Nasa operated the sr71 between july 1991 and october 1999 for research. I think its unlikely that the plane exists, at least as a replacement for the sr 71, and its also very unlikely that we wouldnt know about a replacement for the sr 71, especially with all the time thats passed. According to the hypothesis, aurora was developed in the 1980s or 1990s as a replacement for the aging and expensive sr 71 blackbird. Merlin september 2002 nasa crews flew four lockheed sr71 airplanes between july 1991 and october1999. Im here to speak about secret government technology, black programs, and the.
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