Bases/title> <style type="text/css"> .style1 { text-align: center; } .style2 { border: 3px solid #000000; } .style3 { font-family: Verdana; font-size: large; color: #0000FF; border: 3px solid #000000; background-color: #00FFFF; } .style4 { text-align: left; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #000000; } .style5 { border-style: solid; border-width: 3px; } .style6 { font-family: Verdana; font-size: large; color: #0000FF; } .style7 { text-align: left; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #0000FF; } .style8 { color: #000000; } .style9 { font-size: medium; } .style10 { text-align: left; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #000000; font-size: medium; } .style11 { border: 3px solid #000000; background-color: #00FFFF; } .style12 { text-align: center; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #000000; } .style15 { text-align: left; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; } .style16 { font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: medium; } .style17 { text-align: left; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; } .style18 { text-align: center; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #0000FF; } .style20 { color: #0033FF; } .style19 { font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #0033FF; } .style21 { font-family: Verdana; } .style22 { font-size: large; } .style23 { color: #0000FF; } .style24 { font-family: Verdana; font-size: large; color: #0033FF; border: 3px solid #000000; background-color: #00FFFF; } .style30 { font-size: medium; } .style31 { font-family: Verdana; font-size: large; color: #0033FF; } .style32 { font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: medium; color: #000000; } .style33 { font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; } body { background-image: url(); } .style25 { text-align: left; font-family: Verdana; color: #0033FF; } .style27 { text-align: left; font-family: Verdana; color: #0000FF; } .style28 { font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: #000000; } .style34 { border: 3px solid #000000; font-size: medium; text-align: center; background-color: #00FFFF; } </style> </head> <body> <p class="style1"> <img alt="Bases" src="Images/bases.gif" width="500" height="100" /></p> <p class="style1"> </p> <table style="width: 60%" cellspacing="10" cellpadding="10" class="style2" align="center"> <tr> <td class="style3"><strong>RAF Macrihanish<br /> <br /> </strong> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>Whenever someone mentions any form of secret aircraft, people automatically think of Area 51, Nevada. This is obviously going to happen because for the last decade, the public has been bombarded with magazines, books, T-shirts and TV shows about Area 51, apparently the most secret base on the planet. I personally feel that this is not the case, the base itself is not a secret, its known by just about everyone with access to some form of media, its what goes on within the base that is the secret. However, although it is so widely known, it still remains the place where the U.S Government goes when they want to be alone. You cannot get anywhere near the base, and with its security you would be foolish to try.<BR> On a global scale, there are many military installations, which conduct covert testing but at the same time, remain pretty much unknown to the general public.</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>One of these bases is located on the West Coast of Scotland, RAF Machrihanish. Many rumors have came out of the area for over 10 years from the secret hypersonic spy plane "Aurora" being operated from the base, to the other extreme of crashed UFO's being dismantled and reversed engineered at the base. As with most things of this nature, the only people who really know the truth, are the people who conduct these operations, everyone else can only look at what evidence there is regarding the activities of these installations and then make their own assessment based on what they have learned</strong></p> </td> <td class="style1"> <img alt="Mulder" src="Images/mulder.jpg" width="325" height="244" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style6"><strong>Look Familiar ?</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"> <img alt="Runway 3" src="Images/runway3.jpg" width="346" height="152" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style6"><strong>Hi res aerial photo of RAF Macrihanish,looking straight down the run-way.The Gaydon Hangar is just out of sight to the right.<br /> <br /> <img alt="Graydon" src="Images/graydon.jpg" width="346" height="152 " class="style5" /><br /> <br /> Gaydon Hangar</strong></span></td> <td class="style11"> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>From that point on, the activities at Machrihanish are currently unknown until we come to the late 1980's when the US Administration decided to spend tens of Millions of dollars to upgrade the base. The exact details of the money spent remains unknown. These figures however show some of the money that was spent on the upgrade:</strong></p> <div align="left"> <UL type="disc"> <LI class="style4"><strong>£407,000 on the construction of a new control tower, representing 20% of a NATO-funded project </strong> <LI class="style4"><strong> £2,090,000 VAT payment on NATO-funded construction of underground fuel pipes and pumps </strong> <LI class="style4"><strong>£2,000,000 VAT payment on NATO-funded airfield pavement improvements, including the strengthening of runway aprons </strong> <LI class="style4"><strong>£1,807,000 on the construction of new single living quarters. In the same period NATO has contributed </strong> <LI class="style4"><strong>£28,306,000 on upgrading at RAF Machrihanish</strong></LI> </UL> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"> <img alt="Graydon2" src="Images/graydon2.jpg" width="346" height="152" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style6"><strong>Close-up of the Gaydon Hangar <br /> <br /> <img alt="Bunker" src="Images/bunker.jpg" width="346" height="152" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> Bunker Entrance</strong></span></td> <td class="style11"> <p align="left" class="style10"><strong>As of 1995, the base became officially under the highest state of advanced care and maintenance. How would a base, which had millions spent on upgrading the base just 5 years previous, suddenly become disused and require maintenance.</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style7"><strong><span class="style8"> <span class="style9"><BR> It should also be noted at this point, that Machrihanish was the European staging area for No.2 Detachment of the US Navy SEALS. Spec War 2. They were actively engaged at the base since the early 80's, with a unit being stationed there for 6 months at a time. There were three units who would be stationed at the base, switching every 6 months. From what I can gather, the SEAL teams were relocated sometime in 1997/1998 to a base in Germany so that they were more centrally stationed in Europe.</span></span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style7"><strong><span class="style8"> <span class="style9"><BR> What involvement they have with this base is anyone's guess. After speaking to a retired Navy Seal Operator, I was told that if the SEALS are at the base, then it will only be for a few weeks on some form of training mission. This is consistent with Operation Springbank 2001. This involved four MH-53Ms from the 21st Special Operations Squadron (SOS) based at RAF Mildenhall being deployed to Machrihanish between July 16th-27th. Two MC-130 (SOS) also flew up from Mildenhall every day to take part in the exercise</span></span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style7"> </p> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>The British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) also uses the base from time to time to conduct various training exercises. Many people have reported seeing these exercises taking place, including military personnel practicing water insertions from low flying helicopters. A private aircraft was also diverted away from the area one day since the US Navy SEALS were practicing their HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) parachute jumps, and using the base as a landing site. Various other units have been known to use the base as a stop over while on long range exercises.</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>A lot of stories to come from the area, just like Area 51, are rumors. Many of which cannot be confirmed by anyone apart from the military who are operating in the area. When questioned, the usual response is "we can neither confirm nor deny that."<BR> The base has allegedly been used as a refueling station for Aurora, the American's secret hypersonic spy plane. It is believed to operate from Groom Lake, Nevada and fly to Machrihanish taking a route over the North Pole. Many civilian air traffic controllers have reported fast moving, unidentified targets in and around the area of Machrihanish and the North Sea.</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style9"><strong><span class="style12"><BR> Several stories of American testing secret aircraft over the North Sea have been going around for years. American military would contact Air Traffic Control and request restricted airspace over the North Sea for testing. A short time later, an unidentified target would speed through the restricted zone. The Americans would then inform Air Traffic Control that testing was complete, and thank them for the airspace</span></strong>.</p> <p align="left" class="style7"> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"> <img alt="Admin" src="Images/admin.jpg" width="346" height="152" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style6"><strong>White Buildings <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="Stores" src="Images/stores.jpg" width="346" height="152" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> Brown Structure - Use Unknown</strong></span></td> <td class="style3"><strong>Recent Timeline <br /> <br /> </strong> <p align="left" class="style15">Mid 80's - The Machrihanish airbase has long been believed to have had a strong connection with the testing and development of the F-117 Stealth Fighter which remained "unacknowledged" for over seven years.<BR> 1989: Chris Gibson, a former member of the Royal Observer Corps, while working on the Gavelston Key oil rig in the North Sea reported seeing what could possibly be the USAF's new spy plane. He observed a loud black triangle in the process of refueling with a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker, being escorted by two F-111 Fighter-Bombers. He said that if he could not identify the craft, then it is not in any book.</p> <p align="left" class="style15">November 1991: RAF radar operator (location unknown) tracked an unknown target leaving Machrihanish and then quickly accelerating to Mach 3. When the radar operator called up Machrihanish to find out what just happened, he was told simply to just "forget about it."<BR> There were also a lot of reports of mysterious lights in the sky and sonic booms in the area during this time.</p> <p align="left" class="style15"> </p> <p align="left" class="style7"><b><span class="style8">January 1992: More fast-moving targets were tracked by both RAF and civilian radar controllers operating around the Machrihanish area. The target was travelling at speeds between Mach 3 and Mach 6.</span></b></p> <p align="left" class="style7"><b><span class="style8"><BR> May 1992: A photographer in Amarillo, Texas got several pictures of a strange looking contrail stretched out across the sky. A few days later, the same contrails were spotted over the Machrihanish area. They are described as "doughnuts on a rope."</span></b></p> <p align="left" class="style7"><b><span class="style8"><BR> 1993 (Sometime during the winter months): Windows shattered and houses "shook" in the Machrihanish area as what appears to be some form of sonic boom happened over the area. Local residents initially thought it was a plane crash due to the loud noise of an explosion, but this was not the case. At the same time, a radar controller at Prestwick Airport (Ayrshire) reported tracking an unknown target close to the base.</span></b></p> <p align="left" class="style15"> </p> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>1994: A Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre killing all 29 people on board, 25 of which were military and police intelligence officers. The military initially blamed pilot error and only recently have their names been cleared. Many people believe that there was a large cover up involving the United States Military.</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>1995: A Mr. McRoberts had been playing golf on the Machrihanish Golf Course and when he looked out to sea, he was surprised to see the tell-tale sign of an aircraft's exhaust effecting the water. The aircraft was travelling at such a high speed that it was not spotted, only the jet wash affecting the waves</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style9">.<span class="style6"><strong><span class="style8"><BR> </span></strong></span></p> <p align="left" class="style15"> </p> <p align="left" class="style15"> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style11"><strong><span class="style6">Time Unknown:<span class="style8"><br /> <br /> </span></span><span class="style8"><span class="style16">A local resident of the area was playing golf on the famous Machrihanish Golf Course (which borders the base). He had played a bad shot and sliced the ball, so he set off to try and retrieve it. He thought that he had heard movement just a few feet from him, coming from some hedgerow, but dismissed it as his mind playing tricks on him. Once he found his ball, he played it back onto the main course. As he walked away from the area he had a glance back and to his surprise, saw an armed guard, complete with beret and machine gun staring back at him. This sighting has raised a lot of suspicion and speculation.</span></span></strong> <br /> <br /> <p align="left" class="style17"><strong><span class="style8">Time Unknown: A person driving to Campbeltown spotted a man walking in the same direction and stopped to offer him a lift. The man he picked up was an American heading to the Machrihanish base. What he did at the base remains unknown. Conversation was minimal, as it seems the man didn't want to answer any questions. As they approached the main gate, the driver was instructed to carry on and take a smaller road, which leads to an over look of the base. As they turned down a narrow dirt track, the car was suddenly surrounded by armed men in camouflaged clothing with no insignia and wearing blue berets. The weapons were aimed at the car as they surrounded the vehicle. The American passenger reassured the driver, got out of the car and walked over to the soldiers, showing some form of I.D. The weapons were then lowered. The American then came back over and thanked the driver for the lift to the base, he also said "best not say anything about what you have seen."</span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style4"><strong>February 2001: An air traffic controller mentioned that he had noticed a large increase in American activity at Machrihanish during the month. What sort of activity is unknown. Around this time there were multiple sightings of black triangular aircraft around the West Coast of the UK.</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style4"> </p> <p align="left" class="style7"><strong><span class="style8">September/October 2001: There are several reports of B-2 Stealth Bombers using the base after the September 11th terrorist attacks. This was also published in the British Intelligence Magazine "Eye Spy".</span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style7"><strong><span class="style8"><BR> November 2002: USAF Special Forces radio traffic intercepted, operating in and around Machrihanish. Aircraft involved included MC-130 Combat Talons and Mh-53 Pave Low Helicopters. Crews belonged to the 352nd Special Operations Group based at RAF Mildenhall, England.</span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style4"> </p> </td> <td class="style1"> <img alt="Aerial" src="Images/aerial.jpg" width="346" height="180" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style6"><strong>Another aerial photograph of RAF Macrihanish from a different angle <br /> <br /> <img alt="Runway2" src="Images/runway2.jpg" width="274" height="315" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> </strong></span><span class="style21"><span class="style22"><strong> <span class="style23">This aerial photo taken in May 2005 shows the length of the main run-way.<br /> Photo Paul McAllister with kind permission</span></strong></span></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td class="style11"><strong><span class="style12">August 2004: Reports of unusual flying objects reported from around Kintyre. Received reports of US Military personnel present at RAF Machrihanish by a Loganair Captain, who flew into Machrihanish on a routine civilian transport flight. No NOTAMS posted stating that there would be any sort of military activity at the base.<BR> Update 3/2005: </span></strong><span class="style18"> <A href="http://www.dreamlandresort.com/black_projects/machrihanish_trip.html"> <strong><span class="style20">Visit to RAF Machrihanish (March 22, 2005)</span></strong></A></span><span class="style6"><strong><span class="style8"><BR> For further information please visit the </span></strong></span> <A href="http://www.black-triangle.co.uk/" target="_blank"> <span class="style19"><strong>RAF Machrihanish Research Centre</strong></span></A>. </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style11"><span class="style16"><strong>My thanks to Kevin Patterson for allowing me to use the information and photographs relating to Machrihanish Air Base and whose excellent web site can be found </strong> </span> <a href="http://www.kevinpaterson.co.uk"><span class="style16"> <strong>here </strong> </span> </a> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"> <img alt="Westfreugh" src="Images/westfreugh.jpg" width="377" height="175" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style31"><strong>Location of RAF West Freugh </strong></span></td> <td class="style24"><strong>RAF West Freugh <br /> <br /> <font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#000000"><span class="style30">RAF West Freugh, on the West coast of Scotland, is used as a test range for bombs and Air-to-Ground Missiles. Recently, reports have suggested that West Freugh has been used to test BAe's HALO project. As HALO may well be a Stealth Strike replacement for the Tornado GR 4, this would seem to fit.</span></font></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style24"><strong>RAF Boscombe Down <br /> <br /> </strong> <p class="style21"><strong>Location of Boscombe Down</strong></p> <div id="Layer4"><blockquote> <font color="#000000" size="2" face="Comic Sans MS" class="style30"><strong>Boscombe Down is DERA's main test center for experimental projects. As mentioned on the HALO page, Boscombe was involved in a major incident in September 1994. This may have related to a Black Aircraft, possibly Aurora or HALO.<br> "THE MINISTRY OF Defense would have you believe that nothing untoward occurred at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, on the night of September 26, 1994. But something sinister did happen at the airfield that night. The fact that the incident involved the USA's most highly-classified black project aircraft helps to explain the scale (and to some extent the subtlety) of the disinformation campaign which ensued. The story had begun to unfold on that windswept night as the aircraft began its take-off run along Runway 23.<br> Whatever happened in the few seconds following application of take-off power was sufficiently catastrophic for the two American crew members to abort departure immediately. Military controllers at the London Air Traffic Control Centre (LATCC) were alerted either directly or indirectly to the fact that a serious incident had occurred, and that the runway was blocked. Later that night, the stranded aircraft was seen by at least one witness near the eastern end of Boscombe Down's Runway 23. A tarpaulin-covered frame had already been erected above the aircraft's forward section, around which were a number of emergency vehicles. The rear section appeared unnaturally elevated by virtue of an apparent nose wheel collapse, the only clearly definable characteristic being inward canting twin fins."</strong></font></div> </td> <td class="style1"> <img alt="boscombe" src="Images/boscombe.jpg" width="500" height="241" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style31"><strong>Location of RAF Boscombe Down </strong></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="Images/f111e.jpg" width="500" height="270" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <span class="style31"><strong>F-111 At RAF Boscombe Down</strong></span><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="Images/C5Galaxylarge.jpg" width="500" height="367" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style31"><strong>C-5 Galaxy<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="Images/an183.jpg" width="500" height="333" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> Boeing AWACS at Boscombe Down</strong></span></td> <td class="style24"><strong>Incident at Boscombe Down <br /> <br /> <span class="style32">The Ministry of Defense - as always - refused to comment on it, and to this day (since 1994) we only have testimony from witnesses who saw the incident - and the aircraft involved. Unfortunately, no pictures were taken of the incident, so we do not actually know exactly what the aircraft looked like, but we can get the general idea from the witness reports. <br> Featured in this report are several other aircraft that do not normally transit the UK, which suddenly appeared at Boscombe Down after the 'incident'.<br> The incident report is full of unexplained answers, and you will see the word 'apparently' appear often, because we have no evidence apart from what witnesses 'thought' they saw and the fact that, the MoD won't comment on it...which makes it suspicious even more. </span> </strong></p> <p class="style32"><strong>On September 26th 1994, something happened at RAF Boscombe Down - apparently involving the United States most secret and number -one Black Project aircraft. <br> During that night, the Aircraft involved made its take-off run down the long runway. Just before rotation, the aircraft experienced some serious problems which led to the crew immediately letting-off the power and shutting down the engines. <br> Boscombe controllers immediately contacted the London Air Traffic Control Center (LATCC), that a Serious Incident had occurred at RAF Boscombe Down, and that the runway was now totally Blocked to Aircraft. ("Black" in aviation terms) <br> Initial reports suggested that all it was, was a DERA Tornado GR1 having a mishap with a Target Towing Banner and landed with it still deployed. However, why won't the MoD comment on what happened if it was only a target towing accident? Also, Tornado GR1's do not do target towing.</strong></p> <p class="style6"> </p> <p class="style6"><strong><span class="style32">A Witness remembers seeing the aircraft at the end of runway 23, surrounded by the base fire vehicles and other emergency vehicles. What the witness noticed, was the aircraft was half-covered in tarpaulins. Also spotted, and this was maybe the cause of the crash, the rear of the aircraft was in actual fact much, much higher than the front of the aircraft - indicating the nose wheel had collapsed or broke off. <br> Now, we don't know that this was the actual cause of the crash, because the witness did not state if the aircraft was actually on - or off - the end of the runway. If it was off, then the nose wheel could have collapsed while skidding over the grass. If it was on, then this may have been why the crew immediately aborted take off - who knows? </span> </strong></p> <p class="style32"><strong>Whatever happened, the aircraft was sitting there - surrounded by emergency vehicles - with tight security, and an apparent nose wheel collapse! What was also noticeable, was that the tarpaulins were actually over a frame, which in turn covered the aircraft - this may have been not to give way part of the aircraft's lines and shape...until later that is. <br> The witness described seeing the rear section completely in view, with the tarpaulins only covering the nose and center sections. <br> Quite clearly apparent, was that the aircraft had Inward - Canted - Tail-planes - reminiscent of the F-19 'scribbles' we have seen in the past.</strong></p> <p class="style32"><strong>So why was the Tarpaulins only over the center and front sections?, immediate reports of other witnesses and apparently a leaked paper suggested that the TWO crew were actually KILLED in the accident, and if that is true, then obviously there was more to it than a nose wheel collapse. If the accident was indeed that serious, why didn't the crew of the aircraft eject to safety, or atleast try to? And could the MoD & DoD cover up such a story if the crash was indeed fatal? <br> It's hard to say what really happened, whether or not they did get killed or they survived without a scratch, mainly because, the MoD and DERA are remaining really tight shut about the whole incident... <br> From what Ren and Marco found out, the next day an Army Air Corps Agusta A109 appeared at Boscombe, after transiting from Bournemouth's Hurn airport. </strong></p> <p class="style32"><strong>Interestingly, located near Hurn, at Poole in Dorset is the HQ for the Special Boat Sqn (SBS). Some of you may have not heard of these, but they are the maritime equivalent of the SAS (Special Air Service), and like their counterparts, are regarded as the world's most 'elite' force. The SBS however are very secretive in their operations, much more so than their equivalent, the Navy SEALS and it is extremely rare you ever hear of any operation involving the SBS. <br> The Army Agusta A109 aircraft are only operated by the SAS at Hereford. So, did the MoD (and DoD) draft-in either the SAS or SBS - to maximize security around the airfield? The Army A109's are based at Credenhill, SAS Headquarters in Hereford but are seen in various locations, even using civil airfields for refuels and make frequent stops at the nearby Army Helicopter Training School at AAC Middle Wallop near by Boscombe Down. A question is also asked, as to why the A109 was at Hurn, and was it really there to pick up SBS troopers, in my opinion I doubt it as the HQ in Poole has it's own Heli-pad. </strong></p> <p class="style6"><strong><span class="style33"><span class="style9"> <span class="style8"> <br> Also, according to Marco and Ren's research, a RAF Special Forces Chinook from 7 Sqn (Special Forces Flight) was flown in direct from nearby RAF Odiham, to assist in the 'security' during the night of the crash. </span></span></span> </strong></p> <p class="style32"><strong>During the following day - the 27th - not much was seen on the base by witnesses, and the security operation in effect wouldn't have allowed that anyway, until they had shifted the aircraft into a hangar. <br> So, September the 28th came, and this is what follows: <br> DERA was retiring an old RAF - come DERA - Buccaneer, serial XV344, which was used for testing advanced avionics and weapon systems and appropriately named 'Nightbird'. During the roll out from the hangar on Boscombe Downs North side, witnesses were faced with a remarkable site within the hangar. <br> In the front left hand side, the aircraft that had the incident was sitting there - and within view was not just the rear section, but the forward fuselage as well. The center section was covered in tarpaulins. They described the color of the aircraft as 'charcoal grey', and not black as was expected. Also, as well as the inwardly canted fins came another prominent feature, the Cockpit Canopy was in fact hinged at the front, and not at the back - like most 'normal' aircraft. <br> Also described were 'Chines' extending from the front to the back of the aircraft, similar to the SR-71 and YF-23. </strong></p> <p class="style32"><strong>On that evening another aircraft sighting was reported, a C-5 'Galaxy' landed at Boscombe and taxied to the hanger. As expected, the 'Tarpaulin-Covered Aircraft' was hauled into the C-5's belly - via the huge front cargo door. So much for the Tornado/target banner story.......! (But we are still only going by witness reports) <br> What Marco and Ren found out about this particular C-5 is linked with the whole 'Black Project' issue. The C-5 was apparently inbound to Ramstein AFB in Germany, not uncommon for a C-5 as this happens every day. But this C-5 was monitored by airband enthusiasts like myself, saying that their trip to Ramstein was now changed, and that they wanted to divert to RAF Boscombe Down.</strong></p> <p class="style32"> </p> <p class="style32"><strong>Well, the only time you usually get to see a C-5 at Boscombe is when some sort of airshow or USAF deployment is being held (which is so rare) - so you can see, it was a pretty weird thing for a C-5 to be landing at Boscombe 'out of the blue'. Also, if it needed to 'divert' from it's original flight plan to Ramstein, then it would have some sort of problem and so would divert to the near by 'Military Emergency Divert' airfields of RAF Brize Norton and Lyneham or the most obvious choice, RAF Mildenhall or Fairford, the latter of which is not that far away. Anyway, what was even better, and linked it more to 'the project', was that its departure flight plan was from RAF Boscombe Down to 'KPMD'. KPMD is an ICAO code designator for the airfield at Palmdale, commonly known as 'Plant 42', which incorporates the Lockheed 'Skunkworks', and the Northrop Black Projects Division.</strong></p> <p class="style32"><strong>Also of note was the callsign being used by the Galaxy - "LANCE 18", which is not a regular C-5 unit callsign. After the event, the RAF Public Relations Officer denied that a USAF C-5 had recently visited Boscombe - As one of the world's largest aircraft - it was hard to miss!</strong></p> <p class="style6"> </p> <p class="style6"> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style24"><strong>Area 51 Groom Lake<br /> <br /> <font color="#000000" size="2" face="Comic Sans MS"> <span class="style30">Perhaps more has been written about Area 51 than any other airbase in the world. Depending on who you listen to, Area 51 contains captured alien technology, or secret aircraft, or both! What is certain is that whatever it contains, they dont want you to find out about it: security is tight, from the friendly "Use of deadly force authorised" signs, to the closing of several mountains nearby that the base can be seen from.</span></font></strong></p> <p class="style25"> </p> <p class="style25"><strong> <font color="#000000" size="2" face="Comic Sans MS" class="style30">There can be no doubt, however, that Area 51 has always been associated with classified aircraft programs. In the 1950's it was set up to allow Lockheed to test the classified U-2 in secret. Later, the F-117 and its HAVE BLUE prototype were tested there. Is it now home to the Aurora and BRILLIANT BUZZARD aircraft?<br> Just from looking at the (illegal) photographs of Area 51, it is clear that this is not a normal airfield. The runway is the longest anywhere in the world, implying that something large or heavy lands there. There are facilities for storing liquid oxygen, a high energy fuel used in many rocket engines. Most impressive of all is the huge hangar, which base personnel call "Hangar 18" (A joking reference to a piece of UFO folklore). Rumor says it is cooled with liquid nitrogen to prevent satelites imaging its contents in Infra-Red</font></strong></td> <td class="style1"> <img alt="area51" src="Images/area51.jpg" width="425" height="269" class="style5" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style31"><strong>Area 51 Groom Lake</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style1"> <img alt="fast" src="Images/fast.gif" width="488" height="183" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span class="style31"><strong>Artist's reproduction of FAST MOVER witnessed by the Swiss hikers Meinrad "Swiss Mountain Bat" Eberle.Raphael "T-Bird|" Boetblinger and Dino "Godzilla" Regli at Area 51.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="fast2" src="Images/fast2.gif" width="345" height="519" /></strong></span></td> <td class="style24"><strong>Fast Mover at Groom Lake<br /> <br /> </strong><p align="left" class="style4"> <strong>FASTMOVER 6AM: Recorded at exactly 06:00 AM atop Tikaboo Peak on 9-8-99: "...Now...traffic departing off the Runway Three-Two is a Fastmover....the wind calm... cleared for take-off!" [Fastmover = generic term for any low but fast flying aircraft. The black project triangular craft that took off from Groom that morning at 06:00 AM is therefore not necessarily nicknamed "Fastmover". Although...you never know, right?...]<br> Are you aware of how quickly one manages to swirl around, reach out for a pair of binocs and point them towards a target? We are talking split seconds here.</strong></p> <p align="left" class="style27"><br> <span class="style28"><strong>Our eyes glued to image-stabilized lenses, the following is the description of the aircraft that eye-and ear-witnesses Raffi Bloechlinger, Dino Regli and this writer spotted standing on the southern end of Runway 14L-32R at Groom:</strong></span></p> <p align="left" class="style7"><strong><span class="style8"><br> -Streamlined silhouette<br> -Smoothed-out overall appearance<br> -Massive upper main body/fuselage<br> -Estimated overall heigth: 12 ft.<br> -No shining parts whatsoever visible<br> -Aircraft colored in deep black<br> -Cockpit hardly visible, well integrated into aircraft body<br> -Two very high and massive-looking rear fins close to wingtips (rudders only?)<br> -No undercarriage whatsoever visible<br> -No signs of engines mounted under, at or right above wings<br> -No signs of engines integrated into lower aircraft body<br> -No engine inlets visible</span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style27"><br> <span class="style28"><strong>The aircraft then starts rolling on the tarmac, accelerates, gets airborne swiftly to get altitude, accompanied by a distinctly audible low rumbling - but not pulsating - noise (remember the distance from our viewpoint to the Base).<br> Hanging a left high above Emigrant Valley, not too far away from Bald Mountain.<br> Previously seen in sideview, the silhouette of the craft now starts growing - into a delta shaped platform, showing us its flat, dull black belly: No engines visible there, no apparent air intakes, no fuel pods, no TARPS pods. Just a smoothed-out triangular bodywork, estimated details as follows:</strong></span></p> <p align="left" class="style27"> </p> <p align="left" class="style7"><strong><span class="style8">-Estimated overall lenght: 100 ft.<br> -Estimated overall width: 55 ft.<br> -Estimated wing sweep: 75 degrees</span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style7"><strong><span class="style8"><br> Also striking: The complete lack of lights all over the aircraft: Neither any lit position-, blinking/turning red anti collision- nor any other lights of whatever color visible. Just one dark mass turning westward, steadfastly heading out of sight.</span></strong></p> <p align="left" class="style27"> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style34"><font color="#990000" face="Comic Sans MS"><strong> <span class="style8">The secrets of Area 51 will certainly be interesting - if we ever find out what they are!</span></strong></font></td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>