Message posted by Thud on January 12, 2004 at 18:55:46 PST:
Interesting article in AW&ST today. "On the morning of Jan.7 an aircraft using the call sign "Lockheed Test 2334" told the FAA's Albuquerque Center it would be "going supersonic somewhere above Flight Level 60 [60,000 ft.]" for about 10 sec. It was flying over the Pecos Military Operating Area in eastern New Mexico at the time, transmitting on 350.350 MHz. When the center controller queried, "Say aircraft type," the unidentified vehicle's pilot responded, "We are classified type and cannot reveal our true altitude". About 15 min. later the same pilot - on a different frequency (351.700 MHz) - requested permission for a descent to 30,000 ft. and flight-following to "Las Vegas with final destination somewhere in the Nellis Range" complex. The U.S. Air Forces super secret Groom Lake test facility is located in the northwest portion of the Nellis AFB, Nev., ranges. The Albuquerque Center controller quipped, "Trip home a bit slower, eh?" There was no response from the classified aircraft. The radio interchanges where recorded by by Steve Douglas, a "military radio monitor" hobbyist in Amarillo, TX." Do you think this was some joke , or the real thing? ((grin)) Thud
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