The Most Unstable Aircraft Man has Ever Flown - Tacit Blue

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The Northrop Tacit Blue was often overshadowed by its predecessor, the Lockheed Have Blue stealth demonstrator, but in reality it was one of the most transformational secret aircraft test programs ever developed by the US Air Force.

In the early days of the stealth revolution, combat aircraft were reshaped, and engineers started to use a design principle that put function over form when it came to new airframes. The physical appearance of aircraft was then revolutionized.

Still, even the Tacit Blue program director, Denny Jarvi, was taken aback, saying: (QUOTE) "I was able to hide that airplane in every way you can imagine, except visually. I couldn't make it disappear."

The aircraft was eventually nicknamed 'The Whale' for its particular rectangular yet slightly-rounded airframe, but some even called it an alien school bus.

However, Tacit Blue proved to be much more than that. Conceived to provide a means for real-time reconnaissance of Soviet armor crossing Western Europe, the aircraft known as one of the most unstable airships of all time ultimately never went into combat, but still redefined air warfare.

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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

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[kellywright]

Saw this aircraft at the Wright-Patt airforce museum and yes, you look at it and ask, "Did this REALLY fly?" That and the museum itself is one of the best in the United States.

[spergicide]

That's why I respect test pilots. It takes a lot of balls to look at a stubby winged butter dish sitting on the tarmac and say " I'm going to fly that."

[danielknauss]

One way they hid this program on budgets was to use parts from other aircraft as much as possible, so they would have very few airframe-specific parts internally and draw less attention from budget hawks. The Garrett ATF-3 turbofan engines were sourced from a drone program and were later sent back to that program once the Tacit Blue testing was completed. The USCG also used the ATF-3 on the HU-25 Falcon/Guardian and 5 or so of the Tacit Blue engines ended up in the CG fleet as a result. I looked up the serial numbers used a while back and realized I had been flying around on one for several months at that time. I started calling that falcon our “stealth” plane from that point on.

[glenn_r_frank_author]

I never realized that Tacit Blue had a planned mission purpose. I thought it was purely an experimental platform for early stealth testing - didn't realize it was intentionally planned to be a production reconnaissance ship.

[JamesG]

They should have called it "battlefield area long loiter surveillance aircraft experimental" or ballsax

[ChannelF]

Born in 1949, a model airplane builder and flyer i never outgrew my love of aircraft. The "Dark" series continues to amaze and inform of great aircraft designers and builders. These greats coupled dedicated flyers of some strange and wonderful airplanes and spacecraft, give an old man a glimpse of his youth in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Today as we reach the boundaries flight in our atmosphere, its slightly over 100 years ago that original visionaries lifted their shoulders, to stand on, for those that love and honor flight today! Great series! Great voice! And awesome material!

[ilikenothingtoo]

Really looks like a Star Trek OG shuttle craft with wings.

[twizz]

"alien school bus" is about the most proper description of this thing I have ever heard.

[bencremer]

My grandfather worked on this project. It was truly awe inspiring to hear firsthand accounts about the "whale" nickname and the development involved in making it so stealthy

[bryanrussell]

I had always (incorrectly) assumed that this aircraft was directly related to the B2 because the cockpit/cabin look very similar.

[drmarkintexas-]

RIP NORMAN "KEN" DYSON '60, LT. COL. USAF (RET.)

Norman Kenneth Dyson

Norman Kenneth Dyson’s testing of top-secret aircraft put him on the ground floor of stealth technology, flying Have Blue, the prototype for the F-117A Stealth Fighter, and Tacit Blue, which demonstrated radically different stealth technologies from Have Blue.


After graduating first in his class from the Department of Aerospace Engineering in 1960, Dyson went into flight training for the Air Force, and was the top graduate in his class. After four years as a fighter pilot, Dyson attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School prior to testing weapons in the F-100, F-101 and F-4 aircraft. He flew the F-100 and F-4 aircraft in the Vietnam War before returning to Edwards AFB as an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School and later as an F-15 test pilot and Director of the F-15 Joint Test Force. He began classified work in 1976, where he flight tested Have Blue and Tacit Blue until 1982.


After Air Force retirement, Dyson joined Rockwell and flew throughout the B-1B test program. He flew the first flight of the X-31 Post Stall Aircraft in 1990 and flew the X-31 through its early testing. He retired from Rockwell as Chief Test Pilot and Director of Flight Test in 1993.


Dyson was awarded the Kincheloe Award in 1989 for test flying Have Blue and in 1996 for Tacit Blue after these programs were declassified. He has also received the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, nine Air Medals and Aviation Week & Space Technology’s Aerospace Laurels. Dyson is an Engineering Fellow of the University of Alabama, a Distinguished Alumnus of the USAF Test Pilot School and was named to the Aerospace Walk of Honor in 1997.

[uberduberdave]

Some of the footage shows a C-5 Galaxy hydraulic training aid that I learned hydraulic systems on when I went to a C-5 hydraulic systems class on TDY to Travis AFB in 2005. I worked in the Robins Air Logistics Center in the C-5 engine and pylon shop until being drafted into the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III program in July of 2005.

[jessfrankel]

Overhead shot of Tacit Blue near the end of the vid reminded me of a platypus. Rather ungainly looking, but it flew, and flew quite well for its time drawbacks aside. Always interesting to learn something new about aviation history.

[chriswhiteaker]

It amazes me how many videos end in "It is now on display at the National Museum of the US Airforce" I've lived 15 minutes from the place all my life and been numerous times their collection is amazing.

[FloridaManMatty]

One of my most prized possessions is a photo of myself booping Tacit Blue’s nose on display in Dayton.

It’s funny to think that at one time, I could have spent MANY years in a Supermax Prison just for sharing a photo of the platform.

It’s also interesting to see how much of what they developed re: the shape of the plane was later seen on the YF-23. I love seeing that sort of evolution.

[videolabguy]

I like the way this one looks. It just needed some pin striping to spiff it up. But, an owl for a hood ornament is right out!

[charleshagenbuch]

Technician: why the sudden spike on the radar?
2nd technician: what could have caused that?
Owl: who's asking?

[johndough]

YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Ive wanted a video on this aircraft for a long time, thank you very much. Also check out the ye-5. Its clamed to be the very first stealth aircraft ever. It also has a similar story about a bird sitting on it during rcs testing

[centaura]

When the great earthquake hit in Northridge, California. The plane flew very close ground ( not sure on the altitude) taking pictures and monitoring the rescue around the city. The plane was also known as the flying “Bath tub”. Upside down tub with wings.

[paulybassman]

Great video Dark,
you really have to do a video on the aformentioned 'Dark' Star or even the Blue Steel Missile. 👍😁👌