The early history of the Groom Lake test site, from 1955 to the mid 1980s, is fairly well known. In recent years, thousands of pages of documents have been declassified, revealing details of test programs involving the U-2, A-12, and foreign types such as the MiG-17 and MiG-21. Many of the early low-observable (or stealthy) aircraft designs such as HAVE BLUE, SENIOR TREND, and TACIT BLUE have also been unveiled to the public. We are only beginning to learn about some of the programs that followed. On October 18, 2002, Boeing uncloaked its secret Bird of Prey technology demonstrator that was used to pioneer revolutionary advances in low-observables, aircraft design, and rapid prototyping in the late 1990s.
But, how many more programs have yet to be revealed? While many current and historic programs at Dreamland remain classified, some information has been released to the public through formal announcements, published technical papers, and official personnel biographies that often reveal details of previously "black" projects.
By these means, it is apparent that there have been at least seven (and possibly as many as 11) classified manned aircraft flown at Groom Lake since the mid-1980s that have yet to be unveiled. This doesn't include the modified aircraft, foreign aircraft, or ordinary platforms (C-130, F-16, etc.) carrying experimental avionics, or unmanned classified aircraft.
Since the late 1970s, the Groom Lake facility has been operated by Detachment 3 of the Air Force Flight Test Center (DET 3 AFFTC) under Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) and later Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC).
Frank T. Birk piloted the first flight of a "classified technology demonstrator" at Groom Lake in 1985. For his work on the project, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots gave Birk the 1986 Lt. Gen. Bobby Bond Memorial Aviator Award for Superior Airmanship that "recognizes an AFSC military rated crew member for outstanding contribution to AFSC's test and evaluation mission while participating in aerial duties."
During his career, Birk served as a test pilot for the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, B-1A Test Program Director of Operations, B-1B Combined Test Force Director of Flight Test, Chief Test Pilot for three different joint NASA/USAF F-111 experimental programs, Chief of the B-1B Division at Strategic Air Command Headquarters, Commander of the 412th Test Group and Director of the B-2 Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base. When he retired, he was the most highly decorated pilot in the Air Force. He had 7,200 flight hours in more than 65 aircraft and logged more than 1,100 hours of experimental flight time. He was a semi-finalist in NASA's Group 10 astronaut selection in 1984.
Daniel R. Vanderhorst has flown at least seven classified aircraft including Northrop's TACIT BLUE. Many of his flights, from the 1980s into the 21st Century, have involved one-of-a-kind technology demonstrators. In one such aircraft he tested modified landing gear and conducted initial tests of internal weapons bays, and weapon separation tests. According to his official Air Force biography, he "holds the altitude record" in this still-classified aircraft.
The use of internal weapons bays suggests stealth characteristics, as external carriage of weapons results in unwanted radar reflections. The cryptic reference to "the altitude record" is hard to fathom. Does this mean the highest flight in this model or an unofficial absolute world altitude record?
Vanderhorst was scheduled to be honored at the October 2004 "Gathering of Eagles" banquet in Lancaster, California, but was unable to attend because he was working on another classified program.
In the early 1990s Dennis F. "Bones" Sager was handpicked to command a "Classified Flight Test Squadron" (Special Projects Flight Test Squadron) and lead a "classified prototype aircraft" called the YF-113G from design to first flight. As a fighter pilot and experimental test pilot, Sager accumulated over 2,900 flight hours in 54 aircraft types including Soviet fighters at Groom Lake. He was first Air Force pilot to fly the YF-113G.
Contrary to reports in Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, this was NOT a Mig-23. The confusion comes from the fact that other YF-113 designations (i.e. YF-113A, YF-113B, YF-113C, and YF-113E) have been used for various models of MiG-17 and MiG-23 aircraft.
| Doug Benjamin, while assigned to the Special Projects Flight Test Squadron, was the only Air Force pilot to fly the McDonnell Douglas/Boeing Bird of Prey. He flew 21 test flights including envelope expansion, mission utility, and tactical applications sorties.
Following Benjamin's retirement from military service in 2000, it was revealed that he had flown three other classified aircraft during the last half of a 20-year Air Force career. His biography as presented for the 2004 "Gathering of Eagles" noted that he "flew on and commanded a variety of classified programs."  |
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Joseph A. "Broadway Joe" Lanni flew first flights of two classified prototypes during the late 1990s. One of them was designated YF-24.
Assignments throughout his career include Commander of the 412th Test Wing (2004-2006), Director of the F/A-22 Combined Test Force (2002-2004), assistant operations officer for the 6513th Test Squadron "Red Hats" (1992-1994), operations officer for the 413th Flight Test Squadron (1994-1995), commander of the Special Projects Flight Test Squadron (1995-1997), vice commander of DET 3 AFFTC (2001-2002). Lanni has served as an operational fighter pilot, aggressor pilot, and experimental test pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours in over 70 different types of aircraft including numerous classified prototypes. Lanni was a semi-finalist in NASA group 14 (1992) and 15 (1994) astronaut selections.
When will these projects be unveiled? Historically, black aircraft have been unveiled from a few years to a few decades after the first flight. Will the pilots who flew these planes get a chance to bask in well deserved glory?
Birk, who died in 1993, failed to outlive the secrecy surrounding the project for which he was honored by the SETP.
Vanderhorst continues to labor in the silent service of the "black world." His "Gathering of Eagles" biography proclaimed: "Since Vanderhorst has made his career in the cockpit of so many classified aircraft, there is not much we can say about him, on the record. In letters of recommendation, it is noted by his superior officers that his work has been outstanding and will probably never be recognized by the public."
Sager said several years ago that it is unlikely the YF-113G will be declassified anytime soon. During the test program he posed with the aircraft for a photographer, but the photo is still classified. "It's waiting for me in a vault, " he said, "if they declassify it."
Benjamin is now a test pilot for Boeing. He has been involved recently with tests of the Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force.
Lanni, a rising star in Air Force leadership is unable to discuss his accomplishments. His qualifications could one day place him in command of the Air Force Flight Test Center.
