Military clears up Beltway UFO mystery

Courtesy Juliee London via Instagram

The so-called "Beltway UFO" is actually an 82-foot drone.

Beltway traffic in Washington, D.C., is bad enough without adding extraterrestrial vehicles into the mix.

On Wednesday night, Facebook and Twitter users went wild over sightings of a saucer-shaped vessel being towed on local highways. The buzz called to mind the frenzy in 1947 Roswell, albeit in a much more modern way.

Drivers spotted the craft on I-270 and on the Beltway as it was pulled behind a tractor trailer.

For more, visit NBCWashington.com

But we can take the "unidentified" out of "unidentified flying object." (And yes, we realize that it wasn't actually flying, either.) The military has confirmed to NBC News affiliate News4 that the 82-foot-long craft is an unmanned military aircraft, known as an X-47B.

Maryland State Police towed it on a flatbed trailer from Garrett County, Md., to Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

The drone had come all the way from California -- and yes, it "always attracts attention," a military spokesperson told NBC4's Melissa Mollet.

The craft is the second of its kind to come to the area. An X-47B arrived in late 2011 -- although if they towed that one on the Beltway, no one must have noticed.

Poll: Americans OK with some domestic drones

"In the coming months, you can expect to see the X-47B flying over the base and surrounding area along the Chesapeake Bay," said Matt Funk, lead test engineer.

According to a military press release:

The X-47B is the first unmanned vehicle designed to take off and land on an aircraft carrier. As part of the program's demonstration, the X-47B will perform arrested landings and catapult launches at Pax to validate its ability to conduct precision approaches to the carrier. The base is one of only a few sites in the world where the Navy can run performance tests on aircraft-carrier catapult operations at a land-based facility with flight test and engineering support resources not available on a ship.

Although Maryland State Police helped orchestrate the the drone's Wednesday night commute, even they didn't know what it was at the time, police told News4.

"Don't worry, that's not an alien spacecraft, just a flying military robot. [That was a] totally normal sentence in 2012. I love the future," Ben Jacobs tweeted.

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Maryland State Police towed it on a flatbed trailer from Garrett County, Md., to Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

No, they escorted it. The military transported it, obviously.

  • 24 votes
#1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:03 AM EDT

Did Iran get their copy yet? Will these be going off the African coast for that secret war? Are there any FOs that are still U?

  • 14 votes
#1.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:48 AM EDT

The Beltway always has UFO's everyday, they are called motorist's! ROFL

  • 10 votes
#1.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:50 AM EDT

Beam me up Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here.

  • 34 votes
#1.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

Well, at least we know evrything is status quo with the media. They can't even get the obvious details of the story correct!

  • 20 votes
#1.4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:54 AM EDT

looks like the aircraft from the movie Stealth, kind of makes ya think how far the military is to making robot aircraft fights and bombers.

  • 5 votes
#1.5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:58 AM EDT

Buzzkills, all the alien freaks had their moment with an actual alien craft being towed, until the military killed it with the truth.

  • 11 votes
#1.6 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:58 AM EDT

Listen earthlings. You have 3 earth days to return my ship. Do not be stupid. This will be your only warning.

  • 56 votes
#1.7 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:03 AM EDT

In regard to Liberty and Freedom, I would consider my chances with aliens equally with our government.

  • 22 votes
#1.8 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:05 AM EDT

True, the author of this article either does not know how to write or does not know how to get his facts straight. Also, to call an X-47B saucer shaped is a joke, it is not even remotely saucer shaped. It actually has a shape that is somewhat similar to a B-2 bomber, in others words a "bat wing" shape. If it resembles any geometric shape at all it would be a triangle, not a circle. I guess the author of the article must have flunked geometry as well as English in school. The X-47B is also no where near 82 feet long. I think this is a typo because it is actually about 38 feet long with an approximately 62 foot wingspan with the wings extended (approx. 31 feet with the wings folded for transport). For anyone interested you can find out more about these new unmanned aircraft (UCAS) at http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/nucasx47b/index.html

  • 15 votes
#1.9 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:05 AM EDT

Yeah, its a military drone, SURE! Unmanned, yes, but not uninhabited!! THey are out there!

  • 4 votes
#1.10 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:08 AM EDT

The X-47B was probably broken down and packed into a saucer shaped container for transport.

  • 7 votes
#1.11 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:15 AM EDT

Listen earthlings. You have 3 earth days to return my ship. Do not be stupid. This will be your only warning

Look, alien, it's not the 1950's anymore. We prefer to be called "Earthers." And could you specify if there is a charge for luggage?

  • 19 votes
#1.12 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:25 AM EDT

Saw one of those On the show Storage Wars the other day. Barry Weiss won the bid on it! I KNEW IT!

  • 12 votes
#1.13 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:26 AM EDT

But isn't that exactly what the government would say if it was an alien aircraft?!? Hide it in plain sight is their new tactic! And within the next few months they will finally admit that our entire government has been taken over by alien overlords intent on enslaving all of us! Donald Trump is secretly their high leader!

It makes more sense then the reality does at this point...

  • 18 votes
#1.14 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:28 AM EDT

It's fitted with an undercarriage and wheels. The anti-gravity craft haven't wheels. Tripod legs only support those craft.

  • 2 votes
#1.15 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:29 AM EDT

"Don't worry, that's not an alien spacecraft, just a flying military robot.

This scares me more..

  • 33 votes
#1.16 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:40 AM EDT

Futureshock - I thought about the hide in plain sight too, but I think towing it down the highway is a little too far, a covered truck maybe, but not a flatbed trailer! Seriously though this author is anything but and JS does a good job pointing out the screw ups in the article. Oh well, that is the norm for these so called authors. Apparently the MSN Now bunch is also beginning to write, err cobble together, the main page articles as well. Maybe the end of the world is coming? Anyways to your last comment, sad but true.

It is time

  • 3 votes
#1.17 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

The Truth is out there, just not to be found at MSNBC!

I Want To Believe, but it appeared on MSNBC so I had better not.

( @ Y @ )

  • 4 votes
#1.18 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

like they would cart it down the highway...

    #1.19 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:48 AM EDT

    You media bashers are funny. Of course when Fox News gets it wrong, you don't admit it. But you must like this stuff, because you read it. It wouldn't be that you're just looking for an opportunity to bash the "liberal" media are you? No you wouldn't be that small minded now would you.

    Get a life!

    • 5 votes
    #1.20 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:50 AM EDT

    (approx. 31 feet with the wings folded for transport

    JS, with the wings folded for transport, the shape is considerably less B2-like and somewhat closer to round than traingular.

    my first impression on seeing the pics was "B2" (which is a bit large for a freeway). but by looking at the pic (profile angle), it does resemble the classic "flying saucer" from a distance

    • 2 votes
    #1.21 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:54 AM EDT

    Our country's obsession with surveillance disturbs me. Hopefully, I'm not the only one, unless the rest of you are accustomed to it.

    • 11 votes
    #1.22 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:02 PM EDT

    Sooo What (couldn't resist). . . .Just what is it you're doing in public that you don't want those pesky cameras recording?

    • 4 votes
    #1.23 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:17 PM EDT

    I assume we can expect more of these in American airspace in the coming years?

    American based militias like the Hutaree are screwed. You can't use marital arts, hand held guns, or gurella warefare on a robotic drone that can spot you with infrared cameras and kill you with hellfire missles from 5,000 feet in the air. There is almost nothing on the civilian market that can touch robotic drones. You know what that means? Your "2nd Amendment rights" can't protect you from it. Never mind that such lunatic fringe groups are outgunned, outclassed, and outnumbered by the US military and federal law enforcement anyway.

    The only other means of overkill in terms of policing your own country, or the globe, would be satellite weapons. What are you going to do then? Your "2nd Amendment rights" can't fight orbital bombardment.

    I better stop before I get into tin foil hat territory. I'm already walking the line here.

    • 8 votes
    #1.24 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:20 PM EDT

    Just what we need ..... more drones in Washington. As if there weren't enough in Congress already.

    • 13 votes
    #1.25 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:21 PM EDT

    A day without the incessant chatter about how bad the media, the government and Msnbc is not going to happen. When the right brainwashes people it is permanent. Same people with their false patriotism swear the live in the greatest contry on earth. How can this be the greatest contry on earth if these things are as bad as they say.

    On the matter of the drones flying .....Why is this any different than the helicopters they are replacing? That has been going on since the 70's. At leat this is quieter and may actually deter some crime.

    • 2 votes
    #1.26 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:53 PM EDT

    They need to put colored lights on it and fly it slowly over Berkeley.

    • 3 votes
    #1.27 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:01 PM EDT

    "You have 3 earth days to return my ship. Do not be stupid. This will be your only warning."

    Ok.

    "Scotty! I need warp speed in 3 minutes or we're all DEAD."

    • 4 votes
    #1.28 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:13 PM EDT

    2 deleted, let's laugh and say !!!! derailing about people they don't like, asking if aliens would:

    want to be friendly with polygamist , tea partiers and supremist bigots

    Banned, terrible history, a day after comment spamming.

    Dave K in MI responded in kind with a rant:

    Laugh all the way to your bigotted, baby killing and child molestation convention, the Democratic National Convention.

    Banned, flameout.

    • 7 votes
    #1.29 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:38 PM EDT

    Tyler, I was actually expecting U on another thread.

    ♪♫It's peanut butter jelly time. Peanut butter jelly time. Peanut butter jelly time. Peanut butter jelly time.

    Wee-o. Wee-o. Wee-o. Wee-o.

    Now there U go. There U go. There U go. There U go.♪♫

    ;-)

    • 1 vote
    #1.30 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:49 PM EDT

    So funny. To people who thought it was a real UFO: what kind of a sophisticated military entity would capture a "real" alien UFO and slap it on a flatbed trailer and stroll through the middle of a city, uncovered, for everyone and their inlaws and cousins to take video and photos of at will? So desparate to see something from "out there", next they will say that it was real and that was the best way for the military to hide it.

    • 4 votes
    #1.31 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:53 PM EDT

    "So funny."

    IKR?

    D & A, did U get tired of arguing with those peeps?

      #1.32 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:59 PM EDT

      Hmmm... The people who are in serious need of counseling and medications are the last to know it. In other words, Forrest Gump said it best, "Stupid is as stupid does."

      • 1 vote
      #1.33 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:06 PM EDT

      The people who are in serious need of counseling and medications are the last to know it.

      Begs the following question: So, WhistleBerries.......do you think you need medication and counseling, or not?

      • 1 vote
      #1.34 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:16 PM EDT

      Mr. Accountability - You can't ROFL at your own jokes.

      • 3 votes
      #1.35 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:27 PM EDT

      what_the_81

      Our country's obsession with surveillance disturbs me. Hopefully, I'm not the only one, unless the rest of you are accustomed to it.

      Also our obsession thinking everything we see in the sky is some outer space ship with little green men. I still firmly believe anything we have seen in the sky, it is unidentified which makes it a UFO, but that it can still be a place or spying device we dont know about, balloons, trick photography, illusions, peoples perspective, pranks, anything can make people think there are UFO from outerspace. I still have not seen any hard evidence, and its still all speculation and wild imaginations.

      • 2 votes
      #1.36 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:45 PM EDT

      Hard to believe that people are dumb enough to think they would be moving a real out in the open uncovered.

        #1.37 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:51 PM EDT

        It's actually being towed to the White House so Michelle can start packing for their departure on 1/21/13.

        • 3 votes
        #1.38 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:04 PM EDT

        Am I the only one who sees the irony? Why waste people's time and cause such an uproar. Just fly the dang thing home.

        • 1 vote
        #1.39 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:14 PM EDT

        O M G. No, really. I thought there was intelligent life here, but as of these posts, I still lack any evidence to be able to prove it. This story began quite a while ago when that US Drone set out on it's journey. Who, by now, could still really think it was some alien craft? Hey, if y'all will send me a dollar, I'll bless it and two dollars will return to you.......

        • 4 votes
        #1.40 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:43 PM EDT

        I don't believe the explanations of the government specially about things they consider classified or confidential. Specially in the subject about extraterrestials or Roswell, NM.

        • 2 votes
        #1.41 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:46 PM EDT

        Awwww shucks, I was hoping that we would see a report that Mrs. Pelosi was on the "tarmac" to greet the aliens since she drifts in an out of outer space.

          #1.42 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

          Oh, is that what it was?

            #1.43 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:48 PM EDT

            I've been following the X-47A and B for some time. It's an amazing machine and a bargain compared to the massively flawed F-35. The X-47B program including development, construction of 2 airframes, and testing has cost $818 Million so far and is expected to be just over a billion when testing is complete. The F-35 program is projected to cost $1.51 Trillion. The F-35 is ok if it doesn't rain and the pilot doesn't breath too much.

            • 3 votes
            #1.44 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:09 PM EDT

            Hello folks, an aircraft designed just like most of the ones seen by all those tens of thousands of tin foil hat witnesses reported around the world since the 1930's. The military must be designing their new craft to make those people feel sane! After all, even though we are one planet in a billion in the Milky Way Galaxy and our Galaxy is one of hundreds of billion in the known universe how can any other planet improve on the perfection that is us. A peaceful, non-warring, sharing and loving society that only asks that we be judged by how well we treat the neediest and most vulnerable on our planet.

              #1.45 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:24 AM EDT

              Trust . . did you see the story on bartering in Greece?? I guess it is coming!! I know there have been pockets of this in the U.S. for years. Time to trade socks for onions, etc.?!!

              • 2 votes
              #1.46 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:49 AM EDT

              Also, does it really seem believable that this military base near Chesapeake Bay is the only base where they can test this drone landing on an aircraft carrier? So close to Wash, D.C.? Perhaps b.c. it is a a separate district from the U.S. the military has ability to do whatever it wants within it's boundaries??

              I cannot believe it is the only option . . lead engineer says we "can expect to see it flying around" . . . anything else we should expect??

              • 2 votes
              #1.47 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:59 AM EDT

              Hello Truth&Logic, when it comes to the Euro experiment, the ruse is up, it is just a matter of time that the uninformed will have no choice but to deal with the Euro collapse. In terms of the craft being paraded around, the government doesn't do anything by accident. They have a reason for doing this. Exactly what it is. isn't clear to me.

              • 2 votes
              #1.48 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:17 AM EDT

              If you want the truth, it's simple. Yes there are extra-terrestrials, yes, they have visited and or lived here at different times for a long time. Yes the governments have covered up the extent to which they interact with them. Yes we are designing our own craft along the same lines because the technology works. This was one of them.

              Take your head out of the sand and stop being such fn scaredy-cats. If Aliens wanted to eat you, they would have done so by now......try thinking of them as neighbors and you might see the cover-ups fade away at last.

              • 3 votes
              #1.49 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:14 AM EDT

              Even though im opposed to aliens and space ships, that doesnt mean I never think about the " What If "

              Just say we live in a universe that does have other life forms out there. Then you would have to ask, who is the most advanced ? WHo had the most time to get advanced ? Even then, time doesnt really matter because if there are other planets with other societies, you would have to take into consideration unlimited variables.. Did the planet of beings come together to work their best to advance its technologies, or did they war all the time and destroy each other. Did their planet have the resources to even advance at all ? Did disease wipe them out ? Did something catastrophic wipe them out and they started all over again. Could other planets have humans like us, if so what if we are the first planet to be the farthest along in technology. I mean someone has to be first.. Even if there were billions of civilizations out there, someone will be first to be universe explorers .. That could be us.. But there is no way to know that ..

              See i do a lot of thinking about things I dont believe in, so I always like to keep an open mind.

                #1.50 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:15 AM EDT

                Marmaduke - Not sure what you mean by being opposed to aliens and spaceships, if they are real, do you oppose their existence? If they are not, do you oppose discussing them? Also, the fact that you know of no way to know the truth about other StarNations, does not mean there is no way to know it. You simply haven't found it yet. Having met non-Earth people, I can speak of the truth of their existence. I don't really care to convince anyone else tho', too busy working on the future.....

                • 1 vote
                #1.51 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:36 PM EDT

                I am saying I dont believe in them at all. Until there is evidence as, in one lands and people get out to greet us or destroy us, then there is no need to believe in them.

                  #1.52 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:35 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  What about ET driving the Tractor pulled over for speeding? They always sweep the truth under the rug.......

                  • 9 votes
                  Reply#3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:06 AM EDT

                  ET phone home

                  "Mom... I need you to warp me some money, I got a ticket...."

                  • 6 votes
                  #3.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:00 AM EDT

                  Relax, it's only Paul driving the rig; he was holding his breath which made him invisible so that's why he didn't show up on the pics...

                  :-)

                  • 8 votes
                  #3.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:25 AM EDT

                  I love that movie!

                  • 4 votes
                  #3.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:52 AM EDT

                  Guys u must b idiots!!!! its a real ufo if its not then where are the wings? look at the wing span of the aircraft there trying to say it is... no aircraft have snapp on wings.

                    #3.4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:51 PM EDT

                    Uh, yes, THEY do. Even a B-52's wings can be disassembled and have all the parts reassembled following a technical order on how to do so. Afterwards, they would do a function test, followed by a functional flight test.

                    In order to allow a rig to be able to transport it, it HAD to have its wings disassembled and I wouldn't doubt it is still an oversized load requiring escort to lead and follow it so other motorists stay out of its way.

                    Since this ACAV is slated to conduct carrier operations, I would bet to save space, this ACAV also retains the ability to fold its wings much like the F/A-18 and EA-6B does...

                    NO, I did not say that a B-52's wings can be folded...
                    Well actually, yes it can...ONE TIME.

                    >:-)

                    • 5 votes
                    #3.5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:37 PM EDT

                    Actually Zodiac, a lot of aircraft have what some might call "snap on/off wings." A large group of small, experimental aircraft are designed so the wings either fold, or are removed, so they can be towed in a small trailer, or towed on an open trailer. The cost of a hangar to store a plane, even at some of the smaller airports, is getting so expensive, people prefer to take their small, single or two seat planes home and put them in their garages. The designers of these little birds have come up with a sensible, airworthy, alternate to the storage problem. And the military designers have followed suit, because of storage issues, plus logistics problems. (Easier to move, if needed in different areas.)

                    If you check on the internet for "self operated/remotely operated drone aircraft," you might be surprised at what they are coming out with today.

                    The problem with this story, my wife saw it and told me "I told you ooffoes were real." LOL

                    • 3 votes
                    #3.6 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:17 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    For the sake of argument, let's say it really was some kind of UFO that the military recovered or reverse engineered. Why would they transport something like that on an open flat bed trailer versus breaking it down into smaller pieces that could be concealed or using another method of transport that didn't involve public roads?

                    Sorry, but some of this stuff is pretty ridiculous and absurd even for outlandish conspiracy theories.

                    • 9 votes
                    Reply#4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:07 AM EDT

                    Because what better way of telling the public that it is not real, letting them see it as proof that they have nothing to hide, say it is something totally off the wall and then in the end when all is said and done, the damn thing is real and is from outer space. The Government won.

                    • 5 votes
                    #4.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:02 AM EDT

                    It's called hiding in plan sight. They are not lying when they say it's not a Extraterrestrial vehicle because it was made here. Now if it's a copy of a UFO, or made with UFO technology that's another story.

                    • 1 vote
                    #4.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:13 AM EDT

                    Fair enough.

                    I guess i'm approaching this from the standpoint that it clearly looks just like the rest of the next gen UAV's that are being produced by Northrop Grumman and a few of the other aerospace contractors. They're already testing these for carrier landings and it's not exactly a big secret. However, the one thing that really stands out about this vehicle, in relation to what i'd assume most people would consider a 'UAV', is that the dimensions are very large compared to a lot of the current ones like the various predator models.

                    • 2 votes
                    #4.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:18 AM EDT

                    finally the answer of our tribulations,

                    romney is from one asteroid planet and obama is from the other. they got out of their lockers from the secret base in arizona.

                    one is a decendent from suvivors at roswell and the other from a yet unknow incident the govt has covered up.

                    now think about it - they say romneys family came from mexiico and obama from where exactly. they jumped back and forth across the border to create the grey confusion.

                    so now we are giving back their spaceships so they can get out. maybe they can take a couple of the other misfits from washington with them.

                    • 1 vote
                    #4.4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:54 PM EDT

                    Funny - X-47b (Roswell was 1947) probably the X47a - that crashed. e.g:The Project has been in development by the Government for 65 Years (come this July) and are on Model B, and are still towing it from Place to Place...lol GO USA.

                      #4.5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:04 PM EDT

                      Dumb. It's hull design was based on one of the recovered craft from the 47 crashes. But we still haven't figured out the propulsion system used in those, so this has a modified jet engine technology. Ignorant humans.

                        #4.6 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:40 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        I don't know why anyone would be surprised about UFO's in DC. Most of everything that comes out of there is alien to real people.

                        • 26 votes
                        Reply#5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:14 AM EDT

                        good one bill.......you may have a cookie..........:)

                        • 5 votes
                        #5.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:18 AM EDT
                        Reply

                        E.T has AAA??

                        • 15 votes
                        Reply#6 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:15 AM EDT

                        hahahahahaha ........good one........:)

                        • 2 votes
                        #6.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:16 AM EDT
                        Reply
                        Comment author avatarIA.ScooterTrampExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

                        The drone had come all the way from California -- and yes, it "always attracts attention," a military spokesperson told NBC4's Melissa Mollet

                        aren't they talking about the wicked witch of the west, pelosi here? i kinda figured it was her or her twin sister Hillary, the wicked witch of the east...................:)

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#7 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:15 AM EDT

                        how much are you paid to make political remarks on everything that shows up in news?

                        • 16 votes
                        #7.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:51 AM EDT

                        California.... Isn't that also where that famous Republican CONservative actor-turned politician became Governor -- and then teflon-coated President?

                        Say, what ever happened to all that "trickle-down" wealth that was supposed to make everyone in the U.S.A. super-rich?

                        • 2 votes
                        #7.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:20 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        Nope sorry, no alien conspiracy here, just the usual kind of conspiracy to place more unmanned drones in US airspace to spy on the population. Yup, nothing to see here people move along.

                        • 6 votes
                        Reply#8 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:28 AM EDT

                        Well, at least I know where my speeding tickets will be coming from!

                          #8.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:30 AM EDT

                          At least we now know exactly where all of our TAX MONEY has been going, too.

                          Bailouts for the "too big to fail" mega-corporations while the rest of us go bankrupt is just the tip of the United Police States of Amerika iceberg.

                          • 2 votes
                          #8.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:25 PM EDT

                          "Speed Enforced By Aircraft"

                          Gives a whole new meaning to that sign on the side of the freeway.

                            #8.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:36 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            The article never explains WHY this thing landed on an Interstate Hyway. Something fishy is going on here

                            • 3 votes
                            Reply#9 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:29 AM EDT

                            Where does it say it "landed on an Interstate Highway"?

                            • 6 votes
                            #9.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:46 AM EDT

                            Kevin...it was being towed on a flatbed truck from one location to another...it never landed anywhere...LOOK AT THE PICTURE!!!

                            • 4 votes
                            #9.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:49 AM EDT

                            OMG, Kev! LMAO....W--T--F was that DUDE!

                            • 1 vote
                            #9.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:59 AM EDT

                            It accidentally landed in the back of the flatbed truck while it was driving. lol.

                            The driver was like

                            "dog gone aliens, I knewd they come back fur me afta all them experiments they did on me!"

                            • 3 votes
                            #9.4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:05 AM EDT

                            Kevin ......get your story straight.., Big Foot was seen driving the truck with the contraption on it..

                            • 2 votes
                            #9.5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:29 AM EDT
                            Reply

                            The Day the Earth Stood Still

                            • 2 votes
                            Reply#10 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:30 AM EDT

                            The was the day after the credit default swap

                            fiasco hit-

                            No jail time for those boys yet, BTW......

                            • 1 vote
                            #10.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:33 AM EDT

                            No value

                              #10.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:51 AM EDT
                              Reply

                              Another COVER UP. Another bold face lie. Its a real UFO. Eventually this had to happen. It will happen more and more in the future. You can't fool the people all the time. Its NOT a DRONE.

                              • 5 votes
                              #11 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:31 AM EDT

                              Ray, I think the UFO thing is nuts but so is the explanation by the military. This drone is HUGE and why would they land it on an interstate? Something is big time fishy about this.

                              • 2 votes
                              #11.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:39 AM EDT

                              It's 'bald-faced lie.' An earthling would know that. I suspect you're an alien

                              • 1 vote
                              #11.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:44 AM EDT

                              I suspect you're an alien

                              Wait... what if we're all aliens and Ray is the only human?

                              *Keanu Reaves confused face*

                              • 4 votes
                              #11.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:46 AM EDT

                              Ray - The boogie-man was last scene under your bed too right?

                              Kevin - It's being towed on a flatbed truck you moron....LOOK AT THE GODDAMN PICTURE!!! Jesus.

                              • 6 votes
                              #11.4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:52 AM EDT

                              Year right, 82 ft long Drones. That would be a target your worse enemy couldn't miss. To state that's a drone is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard.

                              • 3 votes
                              #11.5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:52 AM EDT

                              I will admit, it looks nothing like an X-47b. Google it, it looks like a stealth fighter, not a saucer like the pic in the article.

                              • 2 votes
                              #11.6 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:55 AM EDT

                              And its made from people!!!!!!

                              • 1 vote
                              #11.7 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:56 AM EDT

                              moheeheeko-I did, it does not look like an x-47b at all, but then again why would they be towing a UFO uncovered?

                                #11.8 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:06 AM EDT

                                To Serve Man

                                IT'S A COOK BOOK!

                                • 4 votes
                                #11.9 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:08 AM EDT

                                Use common sense. The US government or any other government wouldn't ever build a Drone that's 82ft long. If you believe its a drone ignorance and stupendous must dominate your life.

                                  #11.10 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:09 AM EDT

                                  Retards. It is a military drone. If drones are round they are easier to cloak. I mean less space and the fact that you just have to make a circle of the stuff they make cloaking from. Less space= less money. And they probably get a kick out of scaring and giving "alien" people hope, and they crushing their dreams. Not saying military is cruel but it is kinda funny when they do that. Lol. Also Kevin, what ever drugs you are on.............. (fill in the blank)

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #11.11 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:21 AM EDT

                                  If you think 82' it odd for a drone you are ignorant about aircraft. Completely. Do you know how big regular airplanes are? Do you know how fast and high they fly? Do you know how high of quality camera's they use?

                                  • 4 votes
                                  #11.12 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:22 AM EDT

                                  pinkfloyd111- My guess? Hiding in plain sight, "Yes citizen, why WOULD we tow an alien craft down the highway uncovered, it must be one of our own craft, Good Day!" That or they didnt think anyone would check up on the info they gave. A real X-47b is also much smaller than the length given, the longest point on an X-47b is the wingspan, and thats only 62 ft.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #11.13 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:29 AM EDT

                                  This puppy could carry a bigger...PAY load...Oh yeah.....

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #11.14 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:31 AM EDT

                                  It's and IAV. Interatmospheric vehicle. Google x37b manmade earthquakes.

                                    #11.15 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:01 PM EDT

                                    assuming there is inteeligent life - OUT there somewhere - do you reeeaaaaly think they could be bothered. if they can get here they can watch us. i mean really - if thay watched us - what would you do?

                                      #11.16 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:58 PM EDT

                                      I am sure they are not watching us. On their way here I am sure they have seen enough "realty tv" to know there is no intelligent life on this planet.

                                      • 1 vote
                                      #11.17 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:17 PM EDT

                                      test

                                        #11.18 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:44 PM EDT

                                        Or how about it's not 82 feet long. Seriously look at the picture, does that look like something that is 82 feet long? What probably happened is that the person writing this article didn't bother to look up the specifications of the X-47B before talking about it. I mean seriously the dude writing this article used "an" infront of a X....chances are if he/she is making small gramatical errors like that then they probably didn't look up the specs on the craft.

                                          #11.19 - Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:15 AM EDT

                                          82 foot wingspan! NOT LENGTH! and the wings are removed or folded for shipping (a carrier-based craft would likely have folding wings)

                                          obviously some people are seriously deficient in reading comprehension

                                            #11.20 - Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:17 AM EDT
                                            Reply

                                            No one seems to be too concerned about drones patrolling over the US. Idiots. Who wants to be the first collateral damage?

                                            • 3 votes
                                            Reply#12 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:35 AM EDT

                                            I dont have a problem with them flying in the U.S. As long as it's next to the Mexican boarder!

                                            • 1 vote
                                            #12.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:14 AM EDT

                                            I dont have a problem with them flying in the U.S. As long as it's next to the Mexican boarder!

                                            Why? Did this Mexican boarder not pay his rent on time? Or did you mean border?

                                            • 8 votes
                                            #12.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:30 AM EDT

                                            thats where it begins and ends over your back yard

                                              #12.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:31 AM EDT
                                              Reply

                                              UFO = Unable to Fly Object LOL

                                              • 4 votes
                                              Reply#13 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:36 AM EDT

                                              Yeah, at the tax payers expense.

                                              • 3 votes
                                              #13.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:01 AM EDT

                                              Since you know nothing about this stuff it wouldn't be fair to tell you how well the thing flies and how cool the concept is for a UCAV. It saves the taxpayer oodles of money when implemented.

                                              • 1 vote
                                              #13.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:57 AM EDT

                                              Don that was worth a chuckle

                                                #13.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:50 PM EDT
                                                Reply

                                                They've brought in the new Air Force 1 in case Romney does get elected.

                                                • 1 vote
                                                Reply#14 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:40 AM EDT

                                                It looks like a giant crab.

                                                • 2 votes
                                                Reply#15 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:49 AM EDT

                                                I don't see wings on that thing.

                                                • 3 votes
                                                Reply#16 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:50 AM EDT

                                                That's because it's an extraterestrial UFO that landed on a highway in DC.

                                                  #16.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:55 AM EDT

                                                  o my god! it didn't land retard! read the article and look at the pictures! god i hate it when you people do this! making your self look dumb for no reason!

                                                    #16.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:23 AM EDT

                                                    HEY ! EL"Amar

                                                    " making your self look dumb for no reason! " You resemble that remark. LMAO

                                                      #16.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:04 PM EDT

                                                      But there is a reason, El...They're dumb.

                                                        #16.4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:10 PM EDT

                                                        Usually the wings are removed from most aircraft during transportation. This is because of light-poles, bridges, trees, cars, and other obstacles that may damage the wings.

                                                        • 3 votes
                                                        #16.5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:26 PM EDT

                                                        It runs on an Infinite Improbability Drive.

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        #16.6 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:34 PM EDT

                                                        Google X-47B and go to images...tons of photos of this thing and shows how the wings fold up for transport. Pretty cool looking, actually.

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        #16.7 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:36 PM EDT

                                                        It was made in China, broke down and now it has to be towed.

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        #16.8 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:51 PM EDT
                                                        Reply

                                                        Whatever it is, it looks badass.

                                                        • 3 votes
                                                        Reply#17 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:51 AM EDT

                                                        This seems suspicious. There's so many unexplained UFOs all over the world that they must create one to convince people that there's nothing out there. Instead of hauling it along highways to show people that UFOs are just drones, why didn't it fly itself or transport it on a huge cargo plane? Back in July 1952, UFOs hovered over the Capitol so anyone can just "google" this. It's like all UFOs are being explained away as flares, balloons, Venus and Chinese lanterns. Anyway, this doesn't look like a typical drone either.

                                                        • 4 votes
                                                        Reply#18 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

                                                        Read Aviation Week. The X-47 has been talked about for years. It's not a typical drone, it's a major UCAV.

                                                        • 1 vote
                                                        #18.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:59 AM EDT

                                                        Ferro...Aviation Week is a bit too high brow for some of these paranoid clowns. Maybe if they put it in comic book...ummm...I mean "Graphic Novel" form they would be able to handle it. Maybe.....

                                                        • 2 votes
                                                        #18.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:12 PM EDT
                                                        Reply

                                                        Kevin, it did not land on the interstate. It is likely being transported from one developmental facility to another. The US actually has pretty strict rules about what can and can't fly in our airspace. Simply put it unmanned drones like this are not allowed to fly over populated areas (YET), so it has to be broken down (wings tips are removed) and transported on the ground via flatbed truck.

                                                        • 5 votes
                                                        Reply#19 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

                                                        Carpe, thats nuts. People were reporting an unidentified FLYING object (UFO). Not an unidentified being towed object (UBTO).

                                                          #19.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:21 PM EDT
                                                          Reply

                                                          What a load of snit that is. The Government tells us something and we're supposed to believe them on that. Come clean with whta happened in Roswell you bunch of aholes. We the people are not as stupid as you think. The government stands only for corruption and dirty dealings.

                                                          • 3 votes
                                                          Reply#20 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

                                                          You need more tinfoil. Better run to the local supermarket before more UFOs and aliens arrive!

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          #20.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:30 PM EDT
                                                          Reply

                                                          Very interesting, X47B? As in Roswell NM, 1947. The military is not very creative!

                                                          • 2 votes
                                                          Reply#21 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

                                                          Even if it were an alien spacecraft hiding in plain sight... they would never tell us anyway.

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          Reply#22 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

                                                          Did anyone else see the UFO in the photos on the top of the story?

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          Reply#23 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:54 AM EDT

                                                          Alan, I thought they were lights. The one bright spot certainly is a light, because you can faintly see the length of the pole it is on.

                                                            #23.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:04 AM EDT
                                                            Reply

                                                            I'm thinking that all of the REAL drones are the ones posting here .

                                                            • 1 vote
                                                            Reply#24 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:55 AM EDT

                                                            So you're a drone along with all of us or maybe you're a UFO?

                                                              #24.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:56 AM EDT
                                                              Reply

                                                              Come on people-don't let the NSA and military make fools of us like they have been doing for decades now. This is a saucer shaped vehicle without wings or a visible propulsion system!!!!!! It is clearly an advanced multi-generational ahead technology employing anti-gravitics or similar technology. It would clearly be based at least partially upon technology from "elsewhere" that has been recovered and back engineered. Undoubtedly, it had a malfunction so it could not fly and they had no choice but to try to get it out of sight with the usual, stupid cover story which always seems to work for the gullible.

                                                              • 7 votes
                                                              Reply#25 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:55 AM EDT

                                                              Gulp.

                                                              Dammmm Retired why didn't you tell us before. Thanks for the feed back. I was scared at first. I thought it was Obamas new Air Force One. I thought he was a Space Alien. Well that's what my sources are sayin.

                                                                #25.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:28 AM EDT

                                                                The photos show the drone in a horizontal profile view, so the wings would be seen edge-on, and hardly show. Like any stealth type aircraft, the wings blend into the fuselage without any sharp edges to define them.

                                                                  #25.2 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:09 PM EDT

                                                                  So...the Covenant are really here and they're going to glass Earth now? Whelp

                                                                    #25.3 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:49 PM EDT

                                                                    Yep, I agree. If you take note, most things we humans design have their inspiration from things in nature. Then we elaborate and come up with a mechanical version of that. So, like you, I believe that this odd shape was inspired by an alien craft and re-engineered the best we can for now. We have not figured out the technology and physics that got it here. That will take some time as our scientists have not cracked the code.

                                                                    • 1 vote
                                                                    #25.4 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:56 PM EDT

                                                                    With all the new computer technology, and ability to understand aerodynamics, that may have been the case in the past, but even simple things like a Fresbe doen't have wings and flys. The Germans worked on flying wing concepts during WWII (some were successful) and Northrup did in the late 50's, Now we have the B2. There is no reason that the pictured craft would not fly.

                                                                    • 1 vote
                                                                    #25.5 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:25 PM EDT

                                                                    Inervway,that could not be farther from the truth. Function dictates form in most cases.

                                                                    All of this comes not from ETs but from papers a Russian scientist called Petr Ufimptsev wrote back in the 60s on edge effects of electromagnetic waves reflecting from surfaces. The Soviets clearly didnt grasp the magnitude of his work and in the 1960s fly by wire systems that could stabilize such an aircraft,which was inherantly unstable did not exist. By the 1970s however,Lockheed had developed such technolgy and when they found Ufimptsevs paper,they had all the peices. They were already working on stealth and realized what his work meant. Early stealth aircraft resembled the F117. The reason why that was,is becuase they had to use flat surfaces. They used flat surfaces becuase they didnt have the computing power in the 1970s required to simulate reflections from curved surfaces (the F117 was designed in the 70s! . With the B2,computers had advanced to such a point that curved surfaces could be used.

                                                                    The reason the B2 and the F117 (and all the other stealth designs) look strange is becuase that shape is dictated by the stealth charachteristics. Designs with no tails are prefered for instance becuase broad flat verticle surfaces are good radar reflectors. In fact,the germans noticed this on their flying wing desighns in WWII. Similarly,the jagged edges are used becuase they tend to scatter radar in other directions than back at the radar source. Other features you will notice are gold tinted glass and jagged edges around hatches,doors and panels. The gold glass is reflective to radar,the idea being that the big hole of a cockpit scatters radar in many directions including back at the radar source,while the gold tinted glass reflects the radar off its surface and if shaped right,reflects the radar in directions other than back to the radar source.

                                                                    With a steath aircraft,there must be a balance of having it shaped property to actually fly and having it shaped in such a way as to have a small radar cross section. In fact,when the Lockheed engineers saw the radar cross section figures for the F117,they realized what an amazing technolgy it was and their response to the worries about it being very unstable and not flying well was,make it as stealthy as possible,and they would figure out a way to keep it in the air.

                                                                    Aircraft are shaped as they are becuase that is the best shape to make them fly well. It has little to do with emulating natural forms,except that natural forms are often very good shapes becuase they evolved to that purpose over millions of years,and that natural forms can sometimes point you in the right direction if your stuck. On the other hand,stealth aircraft look radically different becuase their flight charachteristics are often secondary. They dont have to necessarily be the best shape for flight,but instead must be the best shape for stealth. Of course,it turns out there is a lucky accident of fate. Stealth shapes are often unstable. In other words,its like being balanced on the head of a pin,and it takes a computer too keep it steady,but its tendancy is to go flying off that equilibrium in any direction. It turns out,modern jet fighters are designed with that same charachteristic,so stealth aircraft make damn good fighters,with the exception that all weapons MUST be internal.

                                                                      #25.6 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:23 PM EDT
                                                                      Reply

                                                                      I crashed while looking at daisies navigator. For those who don't know what i'm talking about it is a movie. Flight of the Navigator.

                                                                      • 3 votes
                                                                      Reply#26 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:56 AM EDT

                                                                      Compliance!

                                                                      • 1 vote
                                                                      #26.1 - Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:42 PM EDT
                                                                      Reply
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