Message posted by Griffon_314 on May 21, 2019 at 5:50:00 PST:

It's possible that *some* of the boom reports were from the YF-23 PAV2, but for most the timing doesn't quite line up.

The YF-23 made it's first flight in August, 1990, and evaluation flights had wrapped up by Dec of 1990. Lets compare that to the various reports that spurred Aurora speculation.

The Aurora ("black aircraft" "production" $455M) budget leak was 1985 (but not reported until 1990).

The north sea spotter report (matt black triangle approximately the size of an F-111) was 1989.

Mojave "donuts on a rope" report is 1990.

The southern California USGS sensor reports began mid 1991.

AW&ST reports of briefings to congress on the aircraft are mid 1991.

RAF radar reports of a Mach 3-6 high altitude target near Machrihanish are late 1991.

Various other reports span 1992-1994.

So YF-23 could have contributed to some "Aurora" reports, but doesn't correlate with most.

In Reply to: Northrop YF-23 PAV2 posted by JR on May 20, 2019 at 19:51:26 PST:

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