Beyond the limit E5: The Eagles of Area 51 with Colonel Dan 'Tanna' Isbell.
Analysis Summary
Summary
The person in this account worked at Edwards Air Force Base, particularly around Area 51. During a flight in 1989, they filmed the first takeoff of the B-2 bomber while preparing a movie for the test pilot school. They were instructed to hold short of the runway and unexpectedly captured the B-2's launch on video. After landing, two officials from the Office of Special Investigations asked for the footage. They allowed the person to keep the video as long as they cut out the B-2 footage. This encounter left the person with cherished memories and a deep appreciation for the extraordinary experiences at Edwards Air Force Base.
Program Intelligence Analysis
The video features firsthand accounts from an individual who worked at Edwards Air Force Base, sharing experiences with advanced aircraft like the B-2, YF-23, and XB-70. It highlights interactions with notable test pilots, including Chuck Yeager, and provides insights into the historical significance of these aircraft and their development.
The individual inadvertently filmed the B-2's first takeoff while gathering footage for a project.
Chuck Yeager
“How do you get to be an old test pilot? By never getting a street sign named after you at Edwards, cuz all the street signs are named after dead test pilots.”
Dana
“I inadvertently caught the B-2 on my film, wasn't planning to.”
Managed by: United States Air Force
Stealth bomber development
Managed by: United States Air Force
Air superiority fighter development
Managed by: United States Air Force
Advanced tactical fighter development
I inadvertently caught the B-2 on my film, wasn't planning to.
The YF-23 looked like something out of Star Trek.
The XB-70 had forward canards and a six-pack of engines under it.
Chuck Yeager flew into his 80s and recreated the sonic boom on the anniversary of his first flight.
I had a chance to meet Valery Menitsky, the chief test pilot for the Soviet Air Force.