Photo: Jeff Templin
A somewhat clearer photo of a so-far unidentified aircraft has emerged, this time from Wichita, and it shows a little more detail of the delta-shaped flying wing. The photo was taken by Jeff Templin in February, a few weeks before two photographers in Amarillo, Texas, got imagesof what may be the same type of aircraft. The pictures have caused a stir because the planform of the aircraft appears to be different than any known civilian or military plane. That has led to speculation that it’s a stealthy new addition to the U.S. military and/or surveillance fleet but if that’s true then it begs the question of why it has been so blatantly visible on at least those two occasions.
In both cases, the photos were taken on severe clear days with the aircraft in full view of anyone with a telephoto lens. In the Wichita incident, Templin reported his eye was drawn to the aircraft because it was doing sharp S turns over Wichita, leaving a telltale trail of contrail vapor. “Right over the city, clear as a bell. Anyone that was looking up would have seen it,” Templin was reported to have written in his account of the sighting. “You don’t usually see military or even civilian aircraft’s jets that leave contrails making those kind of severe departures off of the given route.” So far there has been no word from the Air Force concerning the identity and purpose of the aircraft.
