Dark Eagles : A History of Top Secret U. S. Aircraft

by Peebles, Curtis

• ISBN13: 9780891416968
• ISBN10: 089141696X
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: Presidio Pr

Summary

Beyond the mountains that rimmed their secluded desert test sites, the "dark eagles" did not officially exist. They were "black projects, " airplanes designed, manufactured, tested, and often flown under the shroud of deepest secrecy, subterfuge, disinformation, and even outright denial.

In this new, updated edition, Dark Eagles reveals what have been some of America's most closely guarded, and politically sensitive secrets. It also gives credit to many of the hitherto anonymous scientists, engineers, and designers responsible for creating these remarkable aircraft.

"A top-notch survey...of the undercover activities that have Wen t America air superiority over friends and foes alike." -- Kirkus Reviews

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
The First Black Airplane: The XP-59A Airacomet	p. 3
The Angel of Paradise Ranch: The U-2 Aquatone	p. 18
The Archangel from Area 51: The A-12 Oxcart	p. 47
Alone, Unarmed, Unafraid, and Unmanned: The Model 147 Lightning Bug	p. 83
Orphaned Eagle: The Model 154 Firefly	p. 114
The Last Blackbird: The D-21 Tagboard	p. 119
The Dark Eagles of Dreamland: The Have Blue Stealth Aircraft	p. 135
The Black Jet of Groom Lake: The F-117A Senior Trend	p. 158
The Return of Black Reconnaissance: HALSOL and the GNAT-750	p. 199
The MiGs of Red Square: Have Doughnut and Have Drill	p. 217
Still Black: The Enigmatic Shamu	p. 244
Tales of Darkness and Shadows: The Illusive Aurora	p. 251
Invisible Horizons History, Stealth, and Innovation	p. 280
Notes	p. 293
Index	p. 341
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