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Aurora: The Pentagon's Secret Hypersonic Spyplane (Mil-Tech Series)
 
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Aurora: The Pentagon's Secret Hypersonic Spyplane (Mil-Tech Series) (Paperback)

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3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)


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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Why did the Pentagon retire the SR-71 spyplane in 1990? What has caused sonic booms over the California desert since 1991? What was the triangular craft spotted over the North Sea in 1989? In this groundbreaking book, journalist Bill Sweetman argues these mysteries can be traced to a U.S. spyplane called AURORA, the existence of which--denied by officials--lies buried in a secret military budget.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 96 pages
  • Publisher: Motorbooks Intl (July 1993)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0879387807
  • ISBN-13: 978-0879387808
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 0.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,065,452 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Bill Sweetman
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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars When was the last time the government lied to you?, April 21, 1999
By Alexei2764@aol.com (Denville, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
This book makes a decent case about the existence of a hypersonic spyplane developed under the black budget. It describes the history of hypersonic flight from the X-15 to present and demonstrates how these programs are froth with budget cuts and lost interest. A large part of the book is also contributed to IF the Aurora were built, how would it operate? This book gives details about ramjets and other hypersonic engines. The only problem I had with it was that I sometimes had to read paragraphs twice before they were absorbed completly. You do not have to be a conspiracy theorist, or a military fanatic to get into this book. You just have to have to be curious about what kind of technology we have out there.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A sensible look at military secrecy, September 20, 2001
By Mark "arch-nerd" (Daytona Beach, FL) - See all my reviews
Most people who speak about military secrecy are kooks who believe that the government is in cahoots with "the Visitors." But Bill Sweetman isn't one of them. His "Aurora: The Pentagon's Secret Hypersonic Spyplane" examines the best available evidence and draws a logical conclusion: the military has at least one high-speed aircraft.

Sweetman overviews operations at Groom Lake from the U-2 to the A-12 to the Have Blue and F-117. He also looks back at most major hypersonic research programs that were carried out over the years. From there he talks about air-breathing rockets and arrives at the general shape of the aircraft known as Aurora.

My complaints? The book was such good reading that I was disappointed when it ended. It was too short (but the government has done a good job keeping the program secret, so we're lucky that Sweetman was able to write a book at all.) And I felt that Sweetman was holding some information back. He mentions that someone got a head-on view of Aurora at Groom and said that the intake 'resembled an evil smiley face.' I want to know more about this informant and if they had any more information.

Aviation fans, go out and read this book now. Just watch out for the black helicopters:-)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars It gets you to thinking......, March 29, 1999
By A Customer
Hey, this is a "fun" book! Sure, Sweetman doesn't have a lot of hard evidence, but he pieces it together well. You will note that in Ben Rich's book on the Skunk Works, he dismisses an Aurora-type project and changes the subject very quickly. Rich states that the materials and technology to build a Mach 6 air-breathing plane simply don't exist. I find it hard to believe that the quest for speed ended with the SR-71. I also experienced some unusally tooth-rattling sonic booms in the California desert in the early '90s. All of which leads me to believe that Sweetman may be on to something here.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Oldie, but definitely good.
Interesting little book, in the very readable style the author is know for. By its nature (dealing with beyond top-secret), not all sources can be named, but it is a VERY good... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Barry Fortier

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting argument that unfortunately lacks tangible evidence...
Bill Sweetman is to American aviation books what Yefim Gordon is to Russian. His books on the F-22 Raptor and Joint Strike Fighter were excellent, because they combined solid... Read more
Published on August 28, 2005 by A. G. Corwin

5.0 out of 5 stars "Aurora"
This is a well-written book and has substancial evidence that the Aurora exists.Hey,no one had any hard evidence the F-117 existed and look at it now.I think this is a good book.
Published on February 17, 2005 by Mikel

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Although one can speculate on whether or not this aircraft exists,or ever existed, the book itself is very interesting. Read more
Published on May 9, 2004 by Alex Salazar

2.0 out of 5 stars Not well written
While the basic subject is fascinating, this book suffers from diversions off its topic and from generally poor writing. Read more
Published on February 20, 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Intruging and informative introduction to the subject.
A wide ranging book with some carefully constructed logical reasoning. Aurora sightings, Scramjets, possible engine cycles and authoritive estimates of it likely performance -... Read more
Published on October 15, 1998

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice try, but....
The author assembles a lot of circumstatial evidence and then tries to reason backwards. A nice try, but sorry, no bannanna. Read more
Published on July 13, 1998 by Michael J Edelman

1.0 out of 5 stars Lies
I am also a former employee of the so called "area 51". I read the books and everyone has it wrong. We built these planes to be UFO's on other planets.
Published on June 15, 1998

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent review of the Aurora mystery and hypersonics
Sweetman's book is a well-researched account of the mystery of the Aurora Project as well as a fascinating look at the world of hypersonic aircraft. Read more
Published on January 14, 1997

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