Secret Photos of Have Blue: The First Stealth Fighter
The F-117A Nighthawk's precursor likely fueled many theories on Area 51.
Published 7 months ago in Wow
In August of 1990, a group of F-117A Nighthawks got the Gulf War underway by infiltrating Iraqi territory and devastating the nation's defensive capabilities before most even knew a war was afoot.
But while the Nighthawk and subsequent B-2 Spirit bomber are some of the most well known aircraft in American military history, the concept of the "stealth" fighter started all the way back in the 1970s with Lockheed Martin's Have Blue.
Designed by the company's Skunk Works division, it aimed to combat sophisticated Soviet radar and anti-aircraft missiles with its unique shapes.
Tested tested at Groom Lake, Nevada, (Area 51), its existence and occasional sighting likely spawned many conspiracy and UFO theories.
Here are 11 top secret photos of Have Blue, the original stealth prototype.
1
In the Hanger
Lockheed's Have Blue
2
Areal
The Have Blue in testing.
3
Bottom View,
Seen during testing in the 1970s at area 51.
4
On the Runway
Getting ready for takeoff.
5
Spotted
The Have Blue in testing, as seen from the window of a normal plane.
6
Soy Shots
As viewed from a regular plane window, continued.
7
"Hopeless Diamond"
Prototype shape on a pole for radar testing. The pole itself returned more of a radar signature than the prototype, which presented problems. Eventually engineers designed a new "stealth" pole.
8
Bill Park
The Lockheed test pilot who flew Have Blue.
9
Have Blue Prototype
At Lockheed's Skunk Works in Burbank, California, 1978.
10
Taking Off
The Have Blue once suffered a crash after a landing gear failure.
11
In the Hanger
The Have Blue sits. It became the first aircraft designed with radar signature in mind over performance.
