"Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:EOsvd.256610

Apparently the Air Force built a huge and extensive air base in Tonopah,

Slightly off-topic. My father-in-law served in the Oregon Air Guard as a
helicopter crewman. On their way south they tried to see how close they
could get to A-51. They got within distant viewing range and, any closer
than that, he said, they might as well have been Communist.

On the way back they were allowed to stop at Tonopah, however, and he
described seeing a B-25 in one of the older hangars there, looking by the
cobwebs and bird **** like it hadn't been touched in decades, but still in
mint condition.

What's at Tonopah now? No one will say for sure, but according to Bill,
that's where he thinks the fabled Aurora was tested.

Awesome! I wonder how much of that research went into the X-34a? Did he
happen to mention Pumpkinseed? If you're able to talk with him again,
that's one for him. IIRC, that was the external-combustion project (where
they injected the fuel right onto the surface of the wing at the appropriate
mixture, and ignited it there.)

This is great stuff, Jay! THANKS for including us.

-c