What is that thing?

Much discussion on aviation matters in the last week has focused on recently recorded but newly released video footage allegedly recorded in the vicinity of Area 51, depicting some type of stealth aircraft.

Screen shot from Project Fear’s video captured in the Nevada desert near Area 51.

Most analysis of this footage has come to the conclusion that it is authentic, and a further subset weights in that the vehicle in question is possibly a test bed for the six-generation stealth fighter F-47.

USAF Artist Rendering sixth-generation F-47

I am always fascinated not only by whatever video or photographs are captured in the remote stretches of Nevada wilderness, but by the personal accounts of the people who have done so.

Yep – remote! Rachel, Nevada is just to the northwest of Tikaboo Peak. Image: Google Maps

In 1998, for a video project I personally made several visits to the vicinity of Area 51, and scaled Tikaboo Peak – the now-restricted mountain that provided a distant-but-unobstructed view into Area 51.

The late Glenn Campbell, “on duty” near Area 51. His first words to me were, “Whatever you’re looking for, it’s here.”

A fascinating character named Glenn Campbell was operating the Area 51 Research Center in the tiny town of Rachel, Nevada. Glen had created a guidebook that was both a detailed history of the area around Area 51 and an essential guide to how not to get killed in the desert and on the mountain. It also very specifically laid out details on where you could and could not go on the border of Area 51 to avoid apprehension by “the camo dudes” security forces, who employed certain aspects designed to trick the unwary into being detained.

One consideration regarding this most recent aircraft capture near Area 51 that I find quite plausible is that this was more or less a project-status-leak actually intended to be seen by military rivals, indicating that we have made great progress in the next generation aircraft project. I have no doubt, based on operational aspects that I saw nearly three decades ago, that those within the confines of Area 51 were well aware that visitors were lurking out in the desert night. The entire area is subject to intense monitoring.

F-35B generates some rainbow vapor over the ocean, Atlantic City’s Soar & Shore Airshow, May 30, 2026. Photo: Frank Moriarty

As for me, my lugging gear around in the Nevada desert hoping to catch something stealthy will, for now at least, remain a pursuit in the past. Capturing earlier generation fighters like the F-35B above seen last weekend at Atlantic City’s Soar & Shore Airshow? Well, for one thing, the light’s a lot better!

See you at the OC Air Show in Maryland this weekend…