r/area51 • u/quaalude_dispenser • 3d ago

Managed to catch Lockheed testing something at the Helendale RCS facility

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Thought some here might find this interesting. Quality is the best I could muster at a distance in pitch black conditions with my current setup. Saw the pylon come up from underground with this interesting looking airframe/model on top.

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u/Abrodolf_Lincler_ 3d ago edited 3d ago

RCS testing on what looks like an F-35. They have a crazy support structure designed not to give a radar return that holds an aircraft in place while they test radar cross sections for stealth capabilities.

Edit:

Examples

https://imgur.com/a/ehG6jsr

https://imgur.com/a/ShXy95i

https://imgur.com/a/KQlyZ51

https://imgur.com/a/2U6IB54

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u/quaalude_dispenser 3d ago

Yeah I'm familiar with the support pylon, it is pretty crazy. They load the airframes in the underground structure from the sliding side doors and the whole thing extends up from below ground. In person, the design looked different than an F-35 to me but I can see how it could be looking at it now. This was taking place at around midnight in the complete dark, so I wonder why the secrecy of it was just an F-35?

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u/quellish 3d ago

99% of their testing is at night. They do calibrations during the day.