The 5 secret stealth aircraft you've never heard of

[@jonathanryan9946]

So stealthy they had to redact the audio.

[@soumyajitsingha9614]

really I agree

[@zakiducky]

Yeah, I thought something went wrong with my connection at that part lol. I played it back again and it was still there, so I figured something was actually redacted lol. It’s unlikely to be an editing error, because those usually happen when joining separate audio bites. This was a clean cut out from the middle of a single sentence. Bro got black inked lol

[@Anarchy_420]

Prt2 11* Stealth Aircraft you've never heard of! Lol He forgot to mention YB-49, Tacit Blue, X-44A UAV--- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqO9lH2ubcaBaNE, X-45A, MQ-25*, MQ-28A Ghost Bat, XQ-58A Valkyrie, MQ-20 Avenger, Boeing Phantom Ray, X-47B, and RQ-180!

[@Anarchy_420]

Lol prt2 12 Stealth Aircraft! Almost forgot about "The Stealth Blackhawk"

[@pat8988]

Yes, sound dropout at 4:43.

[@kathrynck]

The coolest thing about the X-36, is that it was modular. There were about a dozen possible combinations, with different wings, canards, vertical stabilizers, etc. It allowed for testing a LOT of ideas, all on one airframe. It was retired in it's current shape, with no vertical stabs.

[@joebaker5421]

I’ve seen the Bird of Prey at the Air Force museum. Strange looking and hard to believe it could fly. If you haven’t been to the museum, make the trip, if only to see the XB-70. It is something else in person.

[@Napoleon1815-l8c]

The B-29 Bockscar is also present there.

[@TONYPARAMOTOR]

i wonder what the shunk works have???

[@paul85039]

Where is this museum at please

[@falkenlaser]

@@paul85039 Dayton, Ohio

[@Cincy32]

The XB-70 is the coolest plane I've ever seen in person.

[@jrobertsrhs]

The audio cut out at 4:40

[@angelosasso1653]

You are correct of course, upvote!

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

That was censored by the defense department.

[@JB00092]

@@glenn_r_frank_author doubt it

[@Anarchy_420]

Prt2 11 Stealth Aircraft you've never heard of! Lol He forgot to mention YB-49, Tacit Blue, X-44A UAV--- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqO9lH2ubcaBaNGM-45A, X-45A, MQ-25, MQ-28A Ghost Bat, XQ-58A Valkyrie, MQ-20 Avenger, Boeing Phantom Ray, X-47B, and RQ-180!

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

@@JB00092 it's called ... a JOKE...

[@tomnekuda3818]

My brother used to work in relatively unpopulated areas of WY and SD on the railroad sections. He saw the F-117 about 4 or 5 years before the public ever heard of it as the Air Force put it thru it's paces.....he used to tell me about it when we got together in those days. Good upload.....thanks.

[@soumyajitsingha9614]

hey quiet now dont get yourself and your brother in trouble lol

[@AlexRa911]

Tnx for info ☢️

[@tomnekuda3818]

@@AlexRa911 I think that they were based out of Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City at that point. They seem to have a lot of black ops at Ellsworth.

[@tomnekuda3818]

@Karl with a K He merely described the aircraft he had seen while laying track and we wondered and discussed what it might be is all. I don' t see how that requires investigation. You sound like a real weenie to me............

[@UncleKennysPlace]

@@soumyajitsingha9614 Many saw it, it was widely discussed.

[@b1air77]

I understand the argument that F-22 and other air to air fighter platforms have very limited use in future conflicts but I would have loved to seen the next generation of that aircraft. The maneuvers it is capable of pulling off are mind boggling.

[@abba-Flammenfresser]

@Karl with a K +672 social credit comrade 😩

[@willstikken5619]

It is the conflict between the progress of aviation technology and military aviation doctrine. The aircraft we could build would be amazing if doctrine did not make them useless. Rather than the F-22 what makes me thing about this is the SR-71 and her sisters. We built them so soon after the development of the turbine engine that I've often wondered what we could build today.

[@willstikken5619]

@Karl with a K I'm not sure they are. There were rumors going back decades that were likely proving technology but the underlying need just inst there. Because we can isn't really a very convincing argument today.

[@falkenlaser]

What’s crazy about the Bird of Prey was despite its radical design, it was stable enough to not need fly-by-wire.

[@-MAJIK-]

That fact alone is something that is one of the most important and impressive aspects of the platform. Seeing as it’s now a 30 year old design shows just how forward thinking the design team was. It’s just a beautiful aircraft!

[@FoxtrotYouniform]

I'll still always pine for the Black Widow II 😭

[@FrantisekPicifuk]

4:40 Oh the Army didn't like that :D

[@beaclaster]

Air Force*

[@patrickcuyno2586]

Alex, I love all your amazing posts and can't thank you enough for bringing them to us! I'm extremely interested in seeing more of the F16 Viper's pure dogfighting abilities and how they did/would do against all the other top US fighters such as the F15, F18, F18 Super Hornet, F35, F22, and other country's top fighters (friend or foe). Thank you very much! Pat

[@TheOriginalFaxon]

If you want to see how that would work out, you should check out channels that do content on DCS World, which is a flight simulation video game that has fighter jets modeled as accurately as is possible based on available data. Growling Sidewinder is my favorite channel for watching these kinds of dogfights since he specializes in them, being able to fly anything from a WW1 biplane to an F22 Raptor skillfully. He uses a mix of head tracking and VR setups to play, so you'll get to see what he's seeing as he looks around the cockpit as well, and he explains a lot of how the systems on these various fighters work as well, since they're also fairly accurately simulated. And yes, the P51 does beat the F22 in a pure guns dogfight a good chunk of the time XD

[@smithyMcjoe]

The F22 is the king of the sky, The DCS suggestion is a great one, but take it with a grain of salt as obviously it is still just a sim game and the full extents of these jets aren't publicly available. The F22 isn't allowed to demonstrate it's full capacity in training with NATO groups. In short the F16 wouldn't get close to the 22 and 35 to engage.

[@cancelanime1507]

@@smithyMcjoe The F-22 in DCS is a monster

[@smithyMcjoe]

@@cancelanime1507 It is, but it doesn't have the stats of the actual article ;) King of the sky baby

[@memelephant]

@@TheOriginalFaxon bro when he maneuver killed that F-22 in a P-51

[@DurocShark]

Audio cutout at 4:40-ish... "While most stealth..." What were you going to say? WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO SAY?!?!?!?!

[@soumyajitsingha9614]

YF 23 is my fav of the programmes that didnt make into production

[@RazyrDiarmait]

Same here. It's so much better than the F-22.

[@defenestrated23]

It still looks futuristic AF, even decades later.

[@soumyajitsingha9614]

@@defenestrated23 I know wish it comes back in the form of NGAD

[@soumyajitsingha9614]

@@RazyrDiarmait true

[@Static161A]

If the 3 in development are: B-21, NGAD and F/A-XX, does the MQ-25 count? Also, does the RQ-170 count as an in-service platform?

[@Anarchy_420]

He forgot to mention YB-49, Tacit Blue, X-44A UAV--- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqO9lH2ubcaBaNE, X-45A, MQ-25, MQ-28A Ghost Bat, XQ-58A Valkyrie, MQ-20 Avenger, Boeing Phantom Ray, X-47B, and RQ-180

[@Anarchy_420]

Almost forgot about "The Stealth Blackhawk"

[@russelbrown6275]

I lost a friend in Fallujah, Brian Buesing USMC, he was wounded and in an ambulance that was straffed by friendly fire. He was an Awesome Person. I haven’t forgotten you.

[@jimmiller5600]

That A-12 debacle still rankles me. General Dynamics team won with a $8B bid while Northrup's team, based on B-2 experience, bid $12B. Years later GD came back and demanded another $4B. Instead it was cancelled. But it wasn't all GD's teams fault. The Navy started the A-12 as an A-6 replacement, so drop bombs and aerial refueling. Then they added a little thing called air-to-air. And then they added..............

[@m1k3droid]

What are you talking about? A-12 was a McDD contract.

[@jimmiller5600]

@@m1k3droid Whoops. I should have said McD-GD.

[@m1k3droid]

@@jimmiller5600 np. My father and I werre both working for a subcontractor of McDD on the A-12. It was definitely plagued with unrealistic weight requirements. We were working on the electroluminescent formation lights and they were demanding we make them 1/4 the mass of all previous models we made for other fighter planes.

[@jimmiller5600]

@@m1k3droid I was structures from the B-2 N-G side. I knew GD folks pulling their hair out because of bad final dimensions after curing the composites. Just had to laugh at them since the AF refused to share tech data with Navy back then.

[@willstikken5619]

That is following standard DoD contract management practices. Inject as much scope creep as you can get away with before the contractor wants too much money then either cancel or play politics to apply pressure.

[@phoenixl.2339]

I subscribed to your channel last month. And I've watched every single one of you videos at sandbox. They're awesome 😍. I love the way you give a detailed analysis on them all. You're skilled bro. Great job man.

[@ToastNips]

Weird little mute there at 4:41 to 4:45

[@tomnekuda3818]

The "Bird of Prey" looks like it came out of Star Trek.

[@solarfinder]

Love the Intro bud. Respect to the achievements, especially the purple hearts and still running around. Your content rocks man, thanks for what you do

[@Space_Racer]

Does the audio at 4:41 cut off for anyone else?

[@MatthewKimble]

yes. I think the editor left the music background track accidentally muted as well. it's present in most other videos too

[@Thomas..Anderson]

3:52 Boeing YF-118G Bird of Prey 7:01 McDonell Douglas A-12 Avenger II 9:11 Boeing Model 853-21 Quiet Bird 10:35 NASA/Boeing X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft This is only four. Where is the fifth? is it so stealthy it cannot be seen?

[@duanebrimhall2556]

YF-23?

[@SteveWard151]

Now people…..this is how you make a video if you wanna be taken seriously. No loud music and the person actually says something. No computer voice and not all captions that you have to read as annoying music is in the background.instead of listening to a real voice with facts and not an arm chair military coach giving his editorial comments . Well done uploader!!

[@Gillymonster18]

For all the silliness of its nickname, the A-12 is a sublimely beautiful aircraft.

[@kadelefox8946]

Am I crazy or does the audio cut out right after he says "While most stealth..." ?

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

Redacted by the CIA

[@RazyrDiarmait]

@@glenn_r_frank_author Yuh huh.

[@texasranger24]

There is a slight audio bug at 4:40, but otherwise a very cool video

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

That was censored by the defense department.

[@RazyrDiarmait]

@@glenn_r_frank_author Except he has posted videos about that particular aircraft, as well as stealth technology videos, so no.

[@krustdogg131]

The yf 23 is an amazing aircraft that would still be relevant today if it were selected

[@maddantt7757]

Always love and appreciate your awesome content, Alex. Thanks!

[@benhudman7911]

The Bird of Prey or Pray it flies, would be an awesome kit application.

[@dutchtreat8087]

I live in Hawaii Maui on the jungle side and there’s a route a lot of military planes and helicopters use from Oahu crossing above my area heading to the big Island.. i’ve seen a lot of stuff I feel like must be prototype testing. For a couple months back in 2019 or 2020 I think- it was really weird I would keep hearing a plane flying what sounded really low but would see absolutely nothing. Once caught a jet trail on a cloudy muggy day coming from seemingly nowhere the plane if it was one was straight invisible I swear.... also seen what looks like an osprey helicopter (Think that’s what they’re called) flying very low enough to shake the house but it wasn’t much louder than a vacuum cleaner. Not sure if that’s special but it struck me as very quiet for a helicopter which normally roar overhead so fucking loud

[@derkatzenfuerst6077]

The last one could have been a Bell V-280 Valor. It's smaller and newer than the V-22 Osprey and I wouldn't be surprised if they have worked on noise reduction. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_V-280_Valor

[@dreamhunter2973]

The bird of prey is simply the most future looking jet I have ever seen....

[@FoxtrotYouniform]

4:40 [REDACTED]

[@phoenixl.2339]

Always excited to see you drop a new video

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

Excellent post!!! The Good News is, if you are a model builder, there are model kits of these A/C in 1/72 ( except the 'Quiet Bird', but I'll check ). I have most of the models mentioned including the A-12, 'Bird of Prey', and X-36.......but Look Up the 'Tacit Blue'.......THAT is Weird!!

[@timgarrett203]

11:56 is the X-45A taking off not the X-36. What kind of thrust vector control does the X-36 have? Very good analysis!

[@dennishorsthuis1507]

YF23 was so far Ahead of its Time! It would still be flying today unlike the F 22 which is slated to be retired because of its lack of range and crazy to maintain skin

[@Axemantitan]

The sound cut out from 4:41 to 4:45.

[@jeremyholland4527]

I think this video is just as good and detailed as all your other videos. I’m just happy you still put one out deplete traveling!

[@TheCleric42]

U😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@aerospacematt9147]

8:41 It’s still a primary air-to-ground attack platform, even if it has air-to-air capability. The A-10 can (and has been) armed with AIM 9 sidewinders.

[@handzar0]

What about CIA's RQ-170 ISR UAV that was lost over Iran, Stealth Blackhawk (pics just came out this year) that was used during the Bin Laden raid, X-47B UCAV demonstrator?

[@Anarchy_420]

Prt2 11 Stealth Aircraft you've never heard of! Lol He forgot to mention YB-49, Tacit Blue, X-44A UAV--- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqO9lH2ubcaBaNGM-45A, X-45A, MQ-25, MQ-28A Ghost Bat, XQ-58A Valkyrie, MQ-20 Avenger, Boeing Phantom Ray, X-47B, and RQ-180!

[@Anarchy_420]

Lol yeah 12 now! Almost forgot about The Stealth Blackhawk, however I'm pretty sure that's not what its really called, and that's just a nickname. I believe Very little is known about it. Should still definitely be in prt2 as well!😁👍

[@69fcortina]

It might be fun to do a similar compilation episode on military training aircraft. Isn't there a new one, anyway? The T-7?

[@crewdawg7677]

I was a crew chief on the X-45A while in the Air Force. I worked with the Boeing/NASA/DARPA crew who did the X-36 which was in the hangar with us. It's a little guy. Best assignment of my career.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

The Model 853-21 was also a scale model IIRC a half scale model, which is why the X-36 also made the list. If it is a stealth aircraft then the BAe Hawk trainer is also a stealth aircraft (if you hand the 30mm ADEN gun pod on the Hawk you double its RCS. But in both the YF-118 and the X-36 it was McDonnell Diuglas that did all the work is designing and building them. Boeing came in after both aircraft were already flying and close to the ends of their test programmes.

[@mikemurphy5898]

I thought the bird of prey was also involved in project starlight, or their ability to project the stars above the plane onto the bottom so if it flies by, all you see is sky

[@Petriefied0246]

The bird of prey looks like Burt Rutan has had some input!

[@StatmanRN]

Early 80s my company was on DRF 82nd ABN. We deployed out west to help secure a crash site with only 2 hours notice. Some hadn't even made it in yet when wheels up but we didn't need full combat loads. Rumor was it was a stealth prototype. They were careful to keep us away from it and everything was covered with tarps. Guy I knew from 1st Batt said there was a similar incident mid 80s in Central America,

[@nimbusnation9584]

Hmmmm.. the X36 could be considered the world first stealth drone....

[@jimdorsett]

FYI the sound drops out at 4:41 for a few seconds.

[@aaindtharivalan8720]

I imagine it would be difficult to do low level flight in NGAD fighter without the empannage.

[@MrCateagle]

From all I've heard, the A-12 suffered from the even design responsibility between GD and McAir which resulted in no one in a position to make final design decissions.

[@scottbaker9066]

The bird of prey is an amazing plane made from spare parts. It's not a mistake that it's hung over the YF-22. The F-22 Raptor is simply peerless.

[@f.m.4138]

Fantastic channel! Any chance you could do a sort of summary of the armed services’ ability/efforts to field a laser weapon capable of functioning as a legitimate defense to hypersonic technology? Alternatively, maybe something looking into what efforts we are undertaking to harden/defend space based assets against an asymmetrical threat intended to deny us access to GPS and other satellite based systems?

[@onenote6619]

I'd have included the Northrop Tacit Blue surveillance aircraft. For how weird it looks, if nothing else.

[@bigmike9128]

The bird of prey would make a good design for a stealthy drone.

[@charharn7011]

I think the YF-118GG stats are awesome considering what's under the hood gets me excited thinking of the possibility's yea it looks cool to, makes you wonder what the next gen has from this.

[@dblankenship88]

I used to see the F-117 all the damn time when I lived in Bishop, CA as a kid. There was no black flying triangle at that time and it used to scare the crap out of everyone in the INYO valley when it came through.

[@cowboyCWOLF]

Why dose the audio cut out at 4:42 ?

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

top secret - eyes only

[@RazyrDiarmait]

@@glenn_r_frank_author Dude. Quit spreading misinformation.

[@markbarton8872]

Alex you should make videos, tired, more often. You can't make many of these but this was a gem. thanks again.

[@FtwAviationMuseum]

The original mock-up of what we call the General Dynamics A-12 Avenger II resides at the Fort Worth Aviation museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

[@liddz434]

Gee you’re good mate! Very hard content to beat..always a great seeing your videos pop up on my feed👍🏾

[@maxgaetz7432]

That bird of prey is beautiful. Imagine if it would’ve had its own parts and own manufactured engine(s)… nice plane

[@roy19491]

the A-12 development was a heavy part of the A-12 mentioned in the Stephen Coonts novel "the Minotaur" in the 90's

[@stemartin6671]

F117 is my personal favourite aircraft ever.

[@stevenhoman2253]

Even Von Braun's V2 rocket, used carbon fins to interrupt the rocket's exhaust, which allowed directional control.

[@michaelgautreaux3168]

Any content is most appreciated! Many thanx Alex 👍👍

[@stevenhoman2253]

You raise an excellent point. Pure science and pure research are worthwhile in themselves. The outcomes of both, are generally answers, waiting for the right question.

[@leeofallon]

Good to see you back safe and sound: as usual, amazing heritage presentation, aside from “saucers and stealth” ...

[@SCFPV]

The X-36 Kinda looks like an F-22 Raptor and a YF-23 Black Widow II had a baby which became the X-36.

[@kayliibensen387]

This is fast becoming my favorite channel to watch while I climb in War Thunder

[@itsmezed]

Great job on a very informative report! I was surprised to see a couple aircraft that I've never heard of be presented.

[@seandickson9804]

keep it up, bro!!! Very knowledgeable.

[@tonyhaynes9080]

That bird of prey is one cool aircraft. But if they put a modern engine in it, what would the performance figures be? How would it affect the ceiling height and speed?

[@sgsheff]

The Boeing Loyal Wingman is probably the closest thing to being a descendant from the x-36. Similar main wing configuration but it got rid of the canards because it doesn't need the maneuverability of a fighter so it went with a y tail instead.

[@anotherdave5107]

We used to call SAPs special amnesia programs.It used to drive my dept boss crazy that when he would charge a program a hour a week for supervising it it would come back rejected. When he would ask what I was working on I'd answer " i'm told i can't remember. By who? I can't remember. Most never make it to see the light of day before being canceled for good reason. Where do you think all those gaps in AC designations go.

[@colekarrh9114]

Really like your videos wish you would do more than just airpower. What about Seapower and groundpower

[@krustdogg131]

Love your videos about military jets !

[@HaZe_Da_PiTBuLL]

The gen 6 stealth fighter F-22 replacement is gonna be sick

[@Chan-minion]

I seen ( Yf-118G ) Boeing's bird of prey that exact on in that museum at WPAFB. The A-12 I never have even seen a triangular in my life put perfectly on a plane. That Boeing's Quiet Bird I never have heard. The X-36 I seen in the same museum as the Yf-118G at WPAFB.

[@ianandjohnandmaniandreni9323]

I'd love to see the YF-23 used as a next gen Stealth A-10 replacement. Just build that amazing plane around the gun and have slide back covers when firing that cover it to remain stealthy.

[@mrwhips3623]

🤮🤦🤦🤦🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@RichardBaran]

4:43 "most stealth..." What did you cut out?

[@mikejohnson5900]

Great job! I love this subject. X planes are fascinating.

[@SmokinGoodd420]

4:43 stealth audio?

[@sayharris1361]

Great vid thanks👍🏽

[@solidkreate5007]

It would be an amazing kit-plane today. I wish they'd release the shape of it at least for use by the public to create HBX aircraft.

[@freema22]

No Tacit Blue!? Come on man! It paved the way for the B-2 and F-22.

[@rodneyjackson7147]

warbird would of been a cool name as well.. always found the romulans more menacing then the klingons

[@cosmiccuttlefish5765]

You actually got one past me. That’s impressive!

[@jnl8389]

I have been told by officials that anytime you see new technology being released to the public there are far far more advanced projects already in the works. It’s all part of the plan.

[@dougiedrever7168]

the f117 was given the f prefix to persuade fighter pilots to fly it, if it had been a or b they wouldnt be interested, in the end them that did got a plane made for them pretty much

[@michaelsparrow8033]

How about a full length video on the X-36 next? Thanks

[@ronjon7942]

Nice work

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Thanks Alex Shoe🇺🇸

[@poodlescone9700]

I find the prototypes to be more fascinating. They took ideas in new directions and used impressive and outlandish solutions.

[@9HighFlyer9]

Yeah, that's the whole point of experimental aircraft.

[@itsallspent]

Is there a publication with pictures, of fighter and bombers since 1950?

[@christopherskipp1525]

Just last week I had two USAPs removed at the clinic.

[@kimarykorlumiose7728]

the Bird of Prey legit looks like a ship straight out of Star Fox on the SNES

[@iangray5105]

Could you do a video about the Sentinel (GBSD) program?

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Just because an aircraft is fitted with a radar and carries defensive weapons doesn't make it a fighter. The Lancaster bomber of WW2 had both but it wasn't a fighter. The more modern Tornado GR1 was also equipped with Sidewinders and carried a radar but was still an attack aircraft not a bomber.

[@williamromine5715]

Your introduction video shows this super advanced fighter, with the pilot smacking the left and right sides of the bubble canopy to communicate with his wingman! I had to laugh out loud on that one. I guess the air force wanted to save money by leaving out radios. I wonder what they did at night, light a candle maybe?

[@jonathanbutson1385]

This made me laugh too, til I thought it through. When you use your radio your emitting radio waves the enemy can use to locate you, so smacking the canopy is being stealthy.

[@jonathanbutson1385]

and i don't know what they do at night!

[@williamromine5715]

@@jonathanbutson1385 So, the idea of using candles at night, has some merit?

[@animaldon31]

Please lookup the Rockeell Xfv-12a, and the HiMat projeects

[@stevenhoman2253]

Hi, great episode as always. The have-blue, was probably the ugliest crate to ever fly. Personal opinion. That it was stealth, is a shock in itself.