*     *     *     *     *

     So what was I hauling, dear reader, between Nellis and Silverbow?

     In reality I was flying support for three USAF classified black projects – transporting pilots, technicians and engineers.

     The first project, which I’ve already mentioned, was code named “Constant Peg.”  The program was run by the USAF’s 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron – their pilots being code named the “Red Eagles.”  These were the gentlemen who flew the MiG-21s and MiG-23s for the “Red Flag” combat training exercise.

     So how many Russian fighters, dear reader, did the USAF have at their disposal for “Constant Peg?”

     One afternoon in January of 1987, upon flying back to Nellis, a USAF Colonel happened to ride in the jump seat of our 737’s cockpit.  My captain that day was also in the Air Force Reserve, as a co-pilot on the C-5A, and was a good buddy of the colonel’s.  He also happened to ask the colonel that very same question: “How many Russian fighters is the U.S. Air Force operating?”

     I watched the colonel lean back in the jump seat, look up at the cockpit’s ceiling, and do some mental calculations.  Finally he looked at my captain and flatly stated, “Oh...I’d guesstimate about 250.”

    The captain and I exchanged incredulous looks.  Consequently my captain asked, “Jesus...where in hell did the Air Force find so many?”

     The colonel gave it a bit more thought, and then replied, “Well...the bulk of them came from the Indonesian and Egyptian Air forces.  As they got out of bed with the Russians...and into bed with us...they swapped out their Soviet fighters for Uncle Sam’s warplanes.  As for the rest...they were acquired through illegal black market arms dealers from the Eastern Bloc countries and Red China.”

     After that exchange, we rode in silence back to Nellis.

     Oh crap, dear reader!  I really didn’t want to hear this. Now I’ve got another fucking secret to keep.

     And speaking of secrets, here’s the second classified black project I was flying support for: The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk Program - the world’s first operational aircraft to be designed around stealth technology. 

    Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk

     When the F-117 was being towed on the ground, note the tight, armed security escort. This was a big secret.    

     This puppy defied radar detection.  Although the press erroneously referred to it as a “Stealth Fighter” during the Gulf War of 1991, it was strictly designed as a ground support aircraft.  It wasn’t a dogfighter – as it didn’t carry guns or missiles – instead it exclusively hauled and dropped bombs. 

     Despite its two G.E. turbofan engines, for an attack aircraft, it was slow – barely achieving a maximum speed of Mach 0.92 (617 mph) and a service ceiling of merely 45,000 feet.  I didn’t envy the single pilot it carried when it left Langley AFB for the Middle East - requiring 15 hours in the air - plus refueling air-to-air seven times.  That had to be tough, treacherous, exhausting duty.

     After initial testing at Groom Lake (Area 51), it was moved to “Silverbow” (Area 52) on 17^th May 1982. 

    F-117 at Silverbow.    

     When I came along in November of 1986, the F-117As were securely locked up in the hangars during daylight hours.  Even though I was hauling the personnel working on this classified project, I never once saw an F-117A.  Simply because they restricted this aircraft to night operations – launching it long after I had returned to Nellis each day.

     And this brings us to the third, and most worrisome, classified black project, dear reader, that I flew support for.

     “Silverbow” was also used for nuclear weapons stockpile reliability testing, research and development of fusing and firing systems, and testing nuclear weapon delivery systems.

     It was never indicated to me as to where these nukes were physically stockpiled, dear reader, or how close my delicate, white body ever came to this nuclear facility - which made me jumpy as a cat. 

     So where the hell were these Nukes stored at Silverbow?

     However the flight attendants did have a solution to my concerns regarding radiation exposure.  Only thing is...to this day I’m not certain if they were serious...or were just having fun with the “new pilot.”

    *     *     *     *     *