#origami chick

[origamidotme]

Hen box & Chick by pierreyvesgallard https://flic.kr/p/2ouXqyh

#origami #hen #chick #box #bird #paper #papercraft #art #geometric #design #paper folding #p

[tanuki-kimono]

Whimisical origami-themed modern obi. You can find swallow, cat, peacock, penguin, donkey, sheep, duck, hen & chicks, frog, crane, swan, parrot, turtle, lion etc.

#japan #fashion #kimono #obi #modern kimono #origami #folded paper #着物 #帯

[prawnlegs]

Last year I decided that instead of new business cards (wasteful, forgettable, for able-bodied people with job prospects) I would make a free zine (memorable, punk, cheap, depraved) that I could tuck into my shop orders like evil gay Chick tracts.

The physical zines are black and white photocopied foldies but I spent this afternoon gussying up a color version for the World Wide Web. If you want a real one to have and to hold and to turn into a paper airplane or origami cicada, all you have to do is buy something from me. Or know the secret password. The comic has been running very slowly since my arm decided to have some kind of repetitive strain explosion in 2021, but by God I am still working on it, and if random updates dictated by the caprice of life isn’t in the spirit of Webcomics, I don’t even know what is.

>>JOB SATISFACTION COMIC<<

#webcomics #demons #job satisfaction comic #comics

[manicplank]

What do they do all day? (More headcanons) I am very bored.

Peppino: Delivers pizzas, but business is shit sooo... He and Gustavo probably play cards while waiting for orders. At home, he watches T.V. or learns new dances. Unbelievably flexible for his age and weight. Goes to Noisette's movie nights every now and again.

Gustavo: Outside of the restaurant, he still loves to cook. He takes his time cooking himself a good dinner (and sometimes will invite Peppino over for a meal. He worries about him.) He likes to teach Brick new tricks or simply pets him. They like to watch shows together. Goes to Noisette's every Monday for movie night.

BONUS Brick: Naps! Big on naps! Likes to snuggle up to Gustavo or lays his head on Gustavo's lap. Has some toys around that he likes to play with. His favorite toy is Gus's shoes.

Mr. Stick: Works in finances, probably works full time. Outside of work, he gambles or stays home and watches whatever show is trending. He either loves it or hates it. Very critical. Enjoys a good nap quite often. Might have a drink or two after 5. Sometimes goes to movie night at Noisette's.

Pepperman: PAINTS, DUH. Outside of painting, he probably does models, like cars or rockets or whatever. He's always trying some new form of art. Tried origami, but his fingers were too big. Definitely cried over it. Not invited to Movie Night Mondays.

The Vigilante: Works on the farm. Feeding the cows, cleaning the pastures, bailing hay, etc. He cries happily every time a calf is born. Loves the farm life, it brings him peace and joy. He prefers it over being the sheriff. However, he usually only works when there's a bounty involved since the western district is pretty quiet crime wise. Goes to Noisette's every other Monday for movie night.

The Noise: Works A LOT. Whether it be on set or in office, he works anywhere from 8-12 hours depending on the day. Typically takes a nap when he gets home unless it's close to dinnertime. After that, he might watch an episode or two of something (and criticizes it, much like Mr. Stick. He thinks his shows are almost always better.) Sometimes he might play a bit of video games. On his days off, he practices skate tricks, naps, or gets into trouble. Might "accidentally" get a little too drunk in The Pig City and have to call Noisette for a ride home. Doesn't usually participate in Movie Night Mondays, because he doesn't like the people. Calls his mom every Tuesday.

Noisette: The cafe is only open 3-4 days a week from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m., with her getting home around 1 or 1:30. She has a group of friends, her girls, who she goes to brunch with occasionally. They definitely gossip. I imagine them like a younger, less boring version of Sex and The City. While Noise is gone, she watches his shows. For some reason, he gets all bashful when she watches them while he's around. She's his #1 fan, after all. She also watches a lot of cheesy shows and movies. Loves romcoms and chick flicks. Hosts Movie Night Mondays with just about everyone she knows. Except Pepperman. She despairs him.

Fake Peppino: Depending on the day, he will sit and stare at the wall ALL DAY. He doesn't always need entertainment. He might help out Gerome and clean up whatever Gerome simply can't stomach (guts, bones, etc.) Some days, he's silly. He'll zoom around the slum. He might want to play. (Stated in a previous post) He likes to play fetch and tug if war, typically using something important... Like a gun or a knife. Something he isn't supposed to have, he will pick up and run away from whoever is trying to take it from him. Only allowed to explore the rest of the tower when SUPERVISED, typically being kept on some sort of leash. Pizzahead refers to this activity as "walking the frog." Goes to Noisette's every Monday for movie night.

Pizzaface: Surprisingly, he's typically on autopilot unless it's SHOWTIME. He floats around the tower keeping everything and everyone in check. Basically a security guard. Plays cards in the saloon with Noisette every now and then. Might knock over one of Pepperman's statues for a laugh. Might go to Vigi's and pet a cow. Might argue with The Noise just for the sake of pissing Noise off. Sometimes has long talks with John or Gerome, feels bad that they got caught up in the tower mess.

Pizzahead: Works in the lab a lot. Always trying to create the perfect clone. Sometimes will tinker with Pizzaface's mechanics. Goes to the cafe every now n then to grab a coffee and chat with Noisette. Dresses up like a cowboy and has a drink at the saloon. Stalks Peppino. Might take the frog for a walk. Not allowed at The Fun Farm after he tried to steal a baby cow. "It was just so cute!" Will talk to John on the fifth floor, much to John's dismay. He also chats with the toppin monsters and tinkers with their gears. Always goes to Movie Night Mondays, he and Noisette are besties despite her not realizing that he's the "Pizzaboy Guy."

Pillar John: Stares at the wall. He can't do much else since he's stuck in the fifth floor bound by cheese. Might chat with Pizzahead out of boredom, even if he doesn't like him. Talks with Gerome at any chance they get. Made good friends with Gustavo while Peppino was running through the levels. Wishes he could go to Movie Night Mondays. Also wishes he could go to the cafe and order some food (crazy, I know, but based off the treasures used to resurrect him in the end, I think it's safe to assume he'd eat LITERALLY anything.)

Gerome: He doesn't get to do much of anything but his job. Might sneak away for lunch, a nap, or to chat with John. Goes to the cafe for a coffee. Might have a chat with Peppino or Gustavo. Mostly avoids everyone else. Wishes he could go to Movie Night Mondays, Noisette still invites him every single week.

#pizza tower #the noise #noise #headcanon #pizzahead #noisette #peppino #peppino spaghetti #pillar john #pizza tower gerome #gerome #pizza tower gustavo #brick the rat #fake peppino #pepperman #the vigilante #mr. stick

[writing-fanics]

𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓 𝖆𝖓𝖞 𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖑𝖑 [ 𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖕𝖍𝖊𝖚𝖘 𝖝 𝖋!𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗 ]

[ Chapter Six: Slannen of Pim ]

pretty long chapter here

previous chapter > next chapter

[Y/n] looked down at the magic mirror map in her hands, "Still can't believe I'm listening to the directions of a cat." She says and starts talking to herself as she walked through the forest of pim.

"I wonder what this King of Dreams looks like?" She wonders then looks up seeing a raven flying above her. "Never seen a raven in these parts." She says, looking up as the bird flies above her.

Then she hears rustling causing her to jump, "What was that?" She says looking toward the source of the sound. "Somebody help me!" a voice shouted followed by the voice of someone else laughing. (man laughs)

"Wait a minute." [y/n] says finding the source of the screams, "Sing soprano, little man!" a man shouts [y/n] and runs faster towards the cries for help.

a man holding a slingshot with a knife throws it at the elf on the spinning device, "Missed!" he says in announcement. [Y/n] walks up to them in shock, "What do you think you're doing to that poor elf?" she looks at them and they turned to look at her, "Oh. Who's this who thinks she's so tough?" the man says looking at her.

"Look, l think it's only fair to warn you that l'm practiced in the ancient art... of origami." She says, and the other guy looks at her, "Paper folding?" He says confused.

"l was hoping you wouldn't know what that was." [y/n] mumbles under her breath, "Don't let him scare you, sweetheart! Kick his butt!" the elf shouted, causing her to kick the man in the butt.

"Don't let her do that." the other one shouted.

"Now rabbit punch." the elf shouted, causing her to punch the man in the face. "Combo. Kneel. Front-step kick. Dragon-roundhouse kick." the elf shouts causing her to fight the bandits.

"This chick is nuts!" they shout. "Let's get outta here." they run off/ [y/n] runs over to the elf on the wheel, "l think l'm gonna puke." the elf groans, "Let me help you with that." She says, using the knife to cut him down.

"l am gonna need so much therapy after this." He says, looking at her as she cuts him down. He falls face forward on his face, "Are you OK?" She asks looking down at him, "No, l am not OK!" He asks sitting up, "l think l broke something, or dislocated it, or..." he says as he places his hand on his nose followed by a loud crunch.

"No, just a crick. Slannen of Pim." He says standing up and holding out his hand, "Y/n of Frell. Nice to meet you." She says looking at him, "Well, if you're OK, then l have to be going, but good luck." She says walking off and he follows after her, "You're going? You can't walk in this wood on your own. How about a bite to eat?" He asks looking at her, "That's very sweet, but l'm on a tight schedule." She says to him smiling.

"Fine. Message received, Miss ''l Think l'm All That'' He says to her and she sighs, "That's not what l meant at all." [Y/n] says, looking at him, and the two start bickering.

"l extend the hand of friendship..." He says. the two started to talk over each other, "I am on a tight schedule." She says to him, "Were l not..." He says, "Everybody's busy..." He shouts.

"l would love to have dinner with you." She says finally, "Great! l've got a coupon." He says, and they make their way toward the elves.

They hide behind some foliage to avoid the sight of the eleves, "Slannen." She whispers looking at him, "lf this is where you live, why are we sneaking around?" She asks.

"lf they spot you, you'll be sorry. You know how all elves are forced to sing and dance?" He says to her, "Yeah. So?" She asks, then an elf notices them from the rafters, "Visitors!" The elf shouts.

'Places, everyone.'

'One, two, three, four!'

"Run for it!" Slannen shouts, and [y/n] follows suit as the elves begin singing.

'Let us entertain you, let us make you smile'

'Let us give you a few tricks, some old and then some new tricks'

The two start running around trying to get to the restaurant.

'We're very versatile'

'And if you're real good we'll make you feel good'

'We want your spirits high'

"Where are we going?" She asks, as they run around. "l said get lost!" He shouted, at the other elves. As the ran towards the restaurant.

'We'll have a real good time'

"Leave us alone!" He shouted. Slannes and [Y/n] sat down at a table, "Peace and quiet at last." He says and [y/n] smiles. Until elves walk over towards the table and start singing.

'Jeremiah was a bullfrog'

'He was a good friend of mine'

"Hit the road." Slanned shouted at them and they took that as an introduction to start singing again,

'Hit the road, Jack, and don't you...'

"Get outta here!" Slannen shouted at them. "Yes. Why don't you like music?" She asks looking at Slannen, "That's right. Because elves are supposed to be so happy and joyful all the time." He says looking at her, "Singing and dancing for the man." He says looking at her.

"l don't wanna be an entertainer." He says to her, "l wanna be a..." He stops deciding not wanting to say anything, "What?" She asks curiously, "Nothing." He says looking away. "What were you gonna say?" She asks once again.

" lt's silly." He says.

"Please tell me." She asks looking at him and Slannen sighs, "l wanna be a lawyer." He says and she looks at him. "Why can't you be a lawyer?" She asks looking at him, "Hello?" He says pointing at his ears, "Elf." He says.

"l forgot. The elfin restrictions Sir Edgar passed." She says.

"No elf shall be engaged in any occupation other than singing, juggling, and or tomfoolery."

"They're never gonna let me go to law school." He says sadly and she looks at him, "l'm never gonna get my day in court, never gonna stand in front of the judge and say" He says to her,

''You're out of order! Permission to approach the bench?'' He says. ''l object!'' No, l object." He shouts enthusiastically. "The thought of it is making me go crazy."

'Crazy'

'l'm crazy for feeling so lonely'

Hattie and Olive were going through [Y/n]'s things. Mandy walks into the room holding a letter, "What are you doing with Y/n's things?" Mandy asks looking at them, "Just a little tidying up." Dame Olga says then notices the letter.

"What's that?" Dame Olga asks, holding out her hand. "What? Nothing. lt's personal." Mandy says hiding it behind her back. Dame Olga then reaches behind her back and takes it.

"A letter for Y/n?" Dame Olga says, looking at it curiously. "The prince's coronation ball. He's invited that insolent little snip?" She says in disgust. She then turns towards her daughters, "Girls, go and dust off your ball gowns and pack your bags." She says, looking at them.

"l think l may have found you another chance at your future husband." She says showing them the invitation letter, Hattie looks at it in awe. Mandy knowingly covers her ears and walks out of the room. As Hattie starts hyperventilating, "Yes!" Hattie screams in excitement then faints.

"So this can really show me anything anywhere in the kingdom?" Slannen asks looking down at the magic mirror map, "Somewhat, it only seems to be showing me though where I need to go." She says, looking at him.

Slannen then looks up and notices that soldiers were, "Come on." He says, "What?" She exclaims as they hide behind a barrel. She notices the soldiers gather up the elves, "What's going on?" She asks.

"Edgar's soldiers rounding up elfin singers to perform at the coronation." He says and [y/n] watches sadly, "Get in. And you." The soldiers say to the elves.

"Slannen, you've gotta go to Lamia and petition the prince." She says looking at him, "For what?" He asks, looking at her, "To go to law school. You gotta stop this." She says, as the carriage is pulled away.

'The sun will shine'

"You want me to go to Lamia on my own?" He asks looking at her, "Well, where I'm going it seems to be on the way." She says looking at him. "The prince will never grant an audience with an elf. They think we're a joke." He says to her.

"l have met Prince Charmont, and l think he might be different than his uncle." She says, to him and he looks at her raising an eyebrow, "Why? Cos he's a hunk?" He says and [y/n] scoffs, "No." She says seriously.

"What is he, about six foot?" He asks, "About." She says agreeingly, "Yeah, l hate the guy already. l'm not wasting my time." He says as he leaves the hiding spot.

Taking a moment, "Count me in." He says, looking at her and handing her the magic mirror map. A smile grew across her lips.

taglist open

@sugar-cube-person @intothesoul

#morpheus x reader #romance #morpheus x you #morpheus x y/n #ella enchanted #the sandman x reader #x reader #fluff #angst #the sandman x you #the sandman x y/n #dream of the endless x reader #dream of the endless x you #dream of the endless x y/n

[usafphantom2]

The Top-Secret Warplanes of Area 51

Bill SweetmanPublished Oct 1, 2006 10:00 AM EDT

Aviation photo

On a trip to las vegas in 2004, observing from my east-facing hotel room in the pyramidal Luxor Hotel at daybreak, I watched a fleet of six unmarked 737s make commuter flights to nowhere. These aircraft depart every weekday morning from a tidy, anonymous terminal on the western side of McCarran International Airport. A long line of cars pours into a 1,600-spot parking lot as the jets pull away from the terminal, taxi to the runways, and head out into the desert sky. At the end of the day, the shuttle flights return and the lot empties. The passengers go home and tell their families nothing about what happened at work that day.

Cut to April 4 this year. San Diego is hit by a rumbling shock that isn’t an earthquake. It is ruled out by the media as a sonic boom after military operators claim it is not one of their aircraft. San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Alex Roth does some digging and comes up with six puzzlingly similar incidents around the country since 2003.

Fast-forward to July, at the Farnborough International Airshow in southeastern England. Frank Cappuccio, the avuncular vice president of Lockheed Martin’s secretive Skunk Works division, opens a press conference by introducing what he calls a promotional video, “something to show the kids and families about what we do.” Two minutes into the show, a gray, cockpit-less airplane that nobody has seen before-it looks like a B-2 bomber’s chick-soars over a backdrop of stony, barren hills and mountains.

All these events are linked. They are the visible signs of an invisible, parallel world within the universe of aerospace and defense: the classified, or “black,” world of secret military programs. Those unmarked 737s were ferrying employees to the flight-test center near Groom Lake, Nevada, known to the public as Area 51. The gray airplane is Polecat, a next-generation stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-Cappuccio’s video was his sly way of unveiling the program. Those earthquakes? Quite possibly sonic booms from a long-suspected hypersonic attack vehicle, a sleek aircraft that has consumed the imaginations of black-project enthusiasts and military analysts, including me, for two decades. Though seemingly dormant in recent years, the program appears to be on the move again, and with a renewed vigor that has me feeling, somewhat unsettlingly, a bit like the aerospace industry’s own Ahab.

Invisible Fighter

The Vehicle: Stealthy, unmanned combat aerial vehicle The Technology: Visual stealth, including active fuselage lighting that blends into background The Evidence: Patent filing, development of key technology, obvious gap in current arsenal

The black airplane world has, without question, produced the most significant advances in aviation technology. In the 1950s, it spawned the U-2 spyplane, which flew higher and farther than anyone had thought possible. It gave birth a decade later to the SR-71 Blackbird, the exotic, revered speed king. It also produced the slow but stealthy, origami-like F-117 fighter.

But for aerospace sleuths, there’s been little activity recently in the form of declassified vehicles that might hint at current efforts. (Classified programs can be unveiled to aid in broad combat deployment or when the technology appears in other programs.) The F-117 came out of the black world during the first Iraq war 15 years ago, and only three aircraft have been introduced since. One was Polecat. Another was Northrop Grumman’s ungainly reconnaissance aircraft Tacit Blue, nicknamed “the Whale.” The third was Boeing’s Bird of Prey, which tested visual stealth strategies, including shaping that minimizes shadows and contrast and, rumor has it, body illumination that allows it to blend into its background.

This dearth of unveiled prototypes does not mean, however, that the black-aircraft community is dormant. In fact, all signs point to steadily increasing activity. Google Earth reveals a newly constructed additional runway and multiple new hangars and buildings at the base. The usual vague, untraceable allocations in congressional budgets that often signal classified programs are on the rise, and modern technological innovations are now enabling aircraft designs that might have floundered in the black world for years. Further, there are significant gaps in the military’s known aviation arsenal-gaps that the Pentagon can reasonably be assumed to be actively, if quietly, trying to fill.

The need for such secrecy is simple: It is essential to preserving technological surprise. The Pentagon wishes to prevent enemies from developing strategies to counter the technology. The challenge is to figure out what precisely is happening-without betraying national security-because the bigger the black world gets, the better it conceals its activities. What follows is inescapably an educated guess, arrived at by analysis of the available evidence, at the tantalizing designs being cooked up on the sly at Area 51, including a radical special-forces transport, a stealthy UAV, an agile new bomber, and my own white whale-the mythical, hypersonic dragster and presumed source of those faux earthquakes: Aurora.

Recon Platform

The Vehicle: Unmanned flying-wing capable of long-duration surveillance flights, measured in days and weeks instead of hours The Technology: Autonomous flight controls and ultra-efficient electric motors powered by solar panels or fuel cells The Evidence: Patent filing, clear current need, recent development of key technology

Delivering Special Forces Behind Enemy Lines

One of the best pointers to a secret program is an obvious gap in the “white world” force, and one of these gaps is a stealthy, short-runway transport airplane. The U.S. Air Force’s special

operations community has talked for many years about stealthy transports that could take off and land vertically or on a few hundred feet of level ground (a soccer field is the classic example).

The new V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport is a partial answer to that problem, but the military would really like something faster, so it can fly farther into and out of enemy territory, and the Osprey’s big rotors quickly betray it to radar. So far, there is no sign of unclassified, white-world money developing such a vehicle. In 1992, however, Skunk Works engineers filed a patent application for such an aircraft. (New aircraft can take years to develop. A 14-year-old patent filing could easily represent a current program.)

Tailless, with a blended wing and body, the aircraft is powered by six jet engines driving rotor-like lifting fans ensconced in wide, round bays in the wings. For takeoff and landing, doors and Venetian-blind vanes cascade open, and the fans lift the airplane vertically. While cruising, the engines drive smaller, forward-thrusting fans. Why six engines? The engines and fans are interconnected by an elaborate system of cross-shafts so that any engine can deliver power to either side of the airplane. With six engines, the airplane can complete a mission if one fails.

Is something like that out there today? The job of a vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft still needs doing, perhaps now more than ever before, and, barring antigravity solutions from the friendly aliens at Area 51, an aircraft like this is one of the few ways to get it done. Technologically, it is probably benefiting from the innovations behind the Osprey’s power-sharing engines-in that aircraft, if one engine fails, the second still drives both propellers-and the development of the shaft-driven vertical-lift fan in the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, or JSF.

Special-Ops Infiltrator

** The Vehicle:** Vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft for transporting special-ops forces to hostile areas The Technology: Blended-wing-body design with six jet engines powering lift fans and providing forward thrust The Evidence: Patent filings, obvious gap in current arsenal, recent development of key technology

New UAVs: Unmanned, Invisible, Unlimited

Although manned fighter jets and bombers have long dominated classified programs, unmanned vehicles are rising as quickly in the black as in the white world, particularly because the Air Force lacks any kind of stealth-reconnaissance aircraft. It plans to replace the U-2 spyplane with the Global Hawk UAV, but even though the Global Hawk has the advantage of being robotic-that is, capable of longer flights and expendable, since there’s no human on board-it doesn’t fly as high and can’t carry the same hefty high-performance cameras as the U-2. Nor does it carry a jammer to spoof enemy missiles.

Polecat, just outed from the black world, is part of the answer. Lockheed Martin representatives talk about an operational version with U-2-like altitude and payload, along with technology to avoid visual detection (including features seen on the Bird of Prey) and, perhaps, an automated system that detects a contrail behind the airplane and tells the flight-control system to change altitude.

Other stealthy UAVs have probably been tested-among them, possibly, armed UAVs. It is known, for example, that engine maker Williams International delivered the first dozen or so of its new FJ33 small jet engines to the U.S. government four or five years ago, but no known project uses that engine. A recent report in Jane’s International Defence Review described another, larger vehicle that uses different engines from Polecat, apparently recycled from a 1960s UAV program. The article speculated that the engines are probably General Electric J97s, built for a UAV called Compass Arrow.

Why reuse old jet engines? There is only one good reason. The J97 was unusual in that it was designed to operate at up to 80,000 feet, an altitude at which most jet engines cough, stall, and quit. The Air Force does not send the stealthy B-2 and F-117 over hostile territory in daylight, because those planes could be easily spotted. But at 80,000 feet, six miles above a fighter’s cruising altitude, the sky is almost as black as night, and a UAV could survive at high noon. I suspect that both Polecat and the second, larger stealth UAV are currently undergoing high-altitude flight-testing at Area 51.

Some UAV projects may be much slower than even the stealth birds. A Boeing patent filed in 2004 describes a vehicle that is a cross between an airship and an airplane-employing both buoyant lift from helium gas and wing lift generated by forward speed, and capitalizing on recent developments in on-board solar power generation and autonomous flight control.

What would be the advantage of such a vehicle? For one thing, it would have long flight endurance, measured in days or weeks rather than hours. For another, airships can easily be made to accommodate very large and sensitive antennas. If you want to locate weak or sporadic radio transmissions-such as cellphones or scattered satellite phones used by insurgent groups-the airship is an ideal platform.

On-Time Delivery

The Vehicle: Aurora Mach 6-plus attack aircraft The Technology: Ramjet-powered delta wing The Evidence: Telltale sonic booms; unconfirmed sightings; unresolved history of long-rumored program; recent development of key technology; large, unexplained current budget allocation Is speculating on top-secret military technology a national security risk? Tell us what you think on the PopSci Blog).

Revived Avenger Offers Stealthy Ground Attacks

Another surprising gap in U.S. capabilities is the lack of an all-weather, stealthy ground-attack aircraft. The Joint Strike Fighter is supposed to do that, but not until 2014. The new F-22 Raptor, mostly an air-to-air fighter, will be able to do some of it eventually, but that jet carries a relatively modest 2,000-pound bomb load. The F-117 Stealth fighter can be flown only in clear nighttime weather-it has no radar to bomb accurately through clouds, and its black coating easily betrays it to ground spotters.

Fellow black-project sleuth Jeffrey Richelson, author of the 2001 book The Wizards of Langley and one of the leading historians of U.S. intelligence efforts, guessed in a recent conversation that a behind-the-scenes tour of Groom Lake might reveal a revived program to plug that gap sooner than 2014, when the JSF flies.

A hint about possible all-weather attack vehicles now in testing-ones available sooner than 2014 and capable of carrying significant bomb loads-could reside, aerospace historian Peter Merlin pointed out, in a test pilot’s unclassified biography. Daniel Vanderhorst, who flew Northrop’s Whale and six other secret aircraft in a 20-year career, evidently “tested modified landing gear and conducted initial tests of internal weapons bays and weapon separation tests.” What’s unusual about this is that most prototypes are simple aircraft without weapon bays, which suggests that this airplane was closer to an operational type. Specifically, I’m guessing, it could be an extension of the heavy-payload, all-weather attack jet A-12 Avenger II, which then”Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney canceled in 1991 because it was overbudget and not meeting its technological goals.

The flying-wing, carrier-based stealth-strike airplane was being developed under a tightly classified but not-quite-black program. The jet was only 11 months from first flight, and nobody has ever disclosed what happened to the partly built prototypes. If one of them had been completed and tested in a revived black program, most likely in the early 1990s, it could have pointed the way toward the F-117 replacement that Richelson suspects is flying now. Unlike the other stealth aircraft, an operational A-12 descendant would combine stealth ground-attack capability with the ability to shoot back at enemy fighters, packing a pair of anti-radar missiles and two AIM-120 air-to-air missiles.

Providing On-Demand Worldwide Attack

Lastly, there’s Aurora. The name itself is mysterious, evoking something you may or may not have seen. This code name leaked out of an unclassified budget document back in 1985. Such a vehicle-a ramjet-powered reconaissance and strike aircraft capable of flying at least five times the speed of sound and deploying anywhere in the world in a matter of hours-has been high on the government’s wish list. Aurora is certainly possible. The basic propulsion unit, the ramjet, is no more than a tapered tube with a fuel injector and burner in the middle and a thrust nozzle at the end. Basic ramjet-powered missiles have topped Mach 6. A wealth of aerodynamic data and test flights suggest that a wedge-shaped aircraft would work at these speeds.

I first heard about this kind of program in the mid-1980s, and the first public hint of the project popped up in 1988, when the New York Times reported that the Air Force was developing a spyplane capable of better than Mach 5-nearly twice as fast as the SR-71, then the world’s fastest airplane.

Two years later, the Blackbird was retired. In June 1991, the first in a series of unexplained shock waves rolled across the Los Angeles basin, rattling doors and windows and making people think of earthquakes. But they were not earthquakes, and the military adamantly denied that any of its vehicles caused the booms. In May of this year, I consulted with Dom Maglieri, an ex-NASA sonic-boom expert who has played a key role in the development of low-sonic-boom aircraft. We studied 15-year-old seismograph data from the California Institute of Technology, whose uniquely sensitive sensors could actually track the booms. “The data showed something at 90,000 feet, Mach 4 to Mach 5,” Maglieri says now. The booms did not look like refracted, “over the top” booms, as other reports had indicated-booms from aircraft miles away that had traveled up through the atmosphere and bent down toward Los Angeles. The booms looked like direct overflights by a supersonic airplane that no one admitted to owning. “The signatures are awfully different,” Maglieri says.

Shortly after the first set of waves appeared, Chris Gibson, an oil engineer and well-known aircraft-recognition expert, contacted me. In August 1989, Gibson said, he had been working on a North Sea rig when a colleague called him outside to see a formation of airplanes overhead. Clearly silhouetted against the sky were two F-111 bombers, a KC-135 tanker and-in refueling position behind the tanker-an unidentifiable delta-shaped airplane, about 90 feet long, a near-perfect match for unclassified studies of high-supersonic cruise airplanes.

This evidence helps establish the program’s initial existence. My investigations continue to turn up evidence that suggests current activity. For example, having spent years sifting through military budgets, tracking untraceable dollars and code names, I learned how to sort out where money was going. This year, when I looked at the Air Force operations budget in detail, I found a $9-billion black hole that seems a perfect fit for a project like Aurora.

Over the years, I’ve learned that few people investigate budget holes seriously. Analysts such as Steven Kosiak of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a Washington, D.C.”based think tank that pushes innovation in defense, doubt that Congress even knows what’s going on. “A fair amount of classified spending goes through in supplemental requests,” he told me. “It’s seen as must-pass legislation, and people don’t look at it closely.” This $9-billion gap and the most recent booms felt in San Diego and elsewhere are the most compelling evidence for the program’s resurgence. (We can’t analyze the new booms because seismic sensors of the same type were not present.)

But if Aurora has been active for years, why would it be surging forward now? The main hold-up has probably been fuel. The way to make a hypersonic cruiser work is to use circulating fuel to soak up the engine’s heat, but conventional jet fuel can’t absorb enough heat to do the job. In the 1980s, Aurora would have been designed to use fuels such as hydrogen or methane, which are gaseous at normal temperatures and had to be supercooled and densified to fuel the aircraft. Although that strategy is possible, it’s not operationally easy, and complicated refueling would be counterproductive for a jet intended to provide prompt overflight when the military needed it. Better fuels and engine technologies exist now.

The question, finally, is does Aurora exist? Years of pursuit have led me to believe that, yes, Aurora is most likely in active development, spurred on by recent advances that have allowed technology to catch up with the ambition that launched the program a generation ago.

Bill Sweetman is a PopSci_ contributing editor and author of more than 30 books on aerospace technology._

[doctorbeverlycrusher]

I got tagged by both @waddinghamhannah and @revolutionsoftheheart to do this 💜

Bold the ones that are true and tag 15 people to do it

APPEARANCE

blonde hair // i prefer loose clothing to tight clothing // i have one or more piercings // i have at least one tattoo // i have blue eyes // i have dyed or highlighted my hair // i have gotten plastic surgery // i have or had braces // i sunburn easily // i have freckles // i paint my nails // i typically wear make-up // i don’t often smile // i am pleased with how i look // i prefer nike to adidas // i wear baseball hats backwards

HOBBIES AND TALENTS

i play a sport // i can play an instrument // i am artistic // i know more than one language // i have won a trophy in some sort of competition // i can cook or bake without a recipe // i know how to swim // i enjoy writing // i can do origami // i prefer movies to tv shows // i can execute a perfect somersault // i enjoy singing // i could survive in the wild on my own // i have read a new book series this year // i enjoy spending time with friends // i travel during school or work breaks // i can do a handstand

RELATIONSHIP

i am in a relationship // i have been single for over a year // i have a crush // i have a best friend i have known for ten years // my parents are together // i have dated my best friend // i am adopted // my crush has confessed to me // i have a long distance relationship // i am an only child // i give advice to my friends // i have made an online friend // i met up with someone i have met online

AESTHETICS

i have heard the ocean in a conch shell // i have watched the sun rise // i enjoy rainy days // i have slept under the stars // i meditate outside // the sound of chirping calms me // i enjoy the smell of the beach // i know what snow tastes like // i listen to music to fall asleep // i enjoy thunderstorms // i enjoy cloud watching // i have attended a bonfire // i pay close attention to colours // i find mystery in the ocean // i enjoy hiking on nature paths // autumn is my favourite season

MISCELLANEOUS

i can fall asleep in a moving vehicle // i am the mom friend // i live by a certain quote // i like the smell of sharpies // i am involved in extracurricular activities // i enjoy mexican food // i can drive a stick-shift // i believe in true love // i make up scenarios to fall asleep // i sing in the shower // i wish i lived in a video game // i have a canopy above my bed // i am multiracial // i am a redhead // i own at least three dogs

I'm tagging @agent-troi @that-one-curly-haired-chick @charitablemafioso @charlesfosterofdensen @dysphoricsatyr @isthilll @mayflower-gal @saritaadam @imaginariumgeographica @tesho-travels @hell0-brooklyn @eighthprincessofheart @auntie-social-acab @bear-wizards and @stlaika if they would like to do this but don't feel like you have to.

#tag games #about me

[missamyshay]

You don't even have to post this but I was the person who maybe 6 (or more) months ago told you about the possibility of ATH: the outtakes. A few years ago, I was into this one movie (a chick flick set in HS) and a wonderful writer created a whole future for these two characters when the movie ended. She sent them to college, broke them up, had them date different people and then reunited them in the most beautiful and amazing way. Like Across the Hall, that story had a lot of followers and, just like you, that writer, really felt for the version of those characters she had created but couldn't see herself ever writing another full 30 chapter story again. But she did these short one-shots. Not connected between each other time-wise, with time lapses. From time to time, without agenda or spectations she would post random one-shots, little stories about these couple. How he proposed, their wedding night, how she told him she was pregnant, the day of the delivery, their first fight and make up. And it was so sweet. It was like visiting good friends, checking in on them, knowing what they'd been up to. So, yeah, if you ever feel inclined, please post the ATH: outtakes. I really wanna know how MJ and Peter celebrated their wedding or if Gwen finally proposed to Harry. Or just random idle Tuesdays stories too. Always loved ATH and I visit that story often. The chapter where he does that origami dahlia for her on Valentines Day has to be the softest chapter ever, I also remember CRYING in that chapter where she tells him he has to promise not to pursue her anymore. A wild ride, heatbreaking sometimes too.

But yeah, that group still lives in my heart. I hope they are all doing alright.

Firstly, hi! I remember you! And I remember that very sweet message, and I want to let you know that it definitely inspired me to create the ‘outtakes’ doc, so thank you!

This is so lovely and heartwarming. Thanks for taking the time to share it with me. I’m so happy that the group still lives in your heart. I have it on good authority that they’re all doing really well—Ned might just have found himself another whirlwind romance, Betty and her gf are still going strong, Harry is unsure whether Gwen asked him to get married (they’re still working it out), MJ is writing her second book, and she and Peter are having the most fun being aunt and uncle to two adorable kids that they can give back whenever they want. 😂

Seriously though, this means a lot. And I can’t wait to share some little tidbits with you here and there ❤️

[necromancer-4-hire]

Quirks for LOK

Hobbies or guilty pleasures the Legacy of Kain characters do when no one is looking.

Raziel: Making Origami. Might not have a room just for his origami creations.

Kain: Sometimes goes to the zoo by himself; likes the flamingos.

Janos: Buys artwork from auctions; posed nude once.

Vorador: Looking through clothing and furniture catalogs. Lifetime subscription for everything and updates his furniture every decade.

Turel: Sleeps naked; that's why no one likes to sleep next to him.

Dumah: Adopts a couple senior dogs from the shelter; after they pass away he gets more.

Rahab: Watches kid movies; watches alone in case there's a sad part.

Zephon: Leaves his Halloween decorations up all year long. Probably the only season he likes anyone.

Melchiah: Takes online serveys; got enough points to get a lava lamp.

Ariel: Writes "A & N" over and over again on the Mind pillar. Kain keeps cleaning it off.

Moebius: Keeps buying stuff off of Wish.

Mortanius: Wears socks and sandals.

Magnus: Likes anime chicks.

Sebastian: Beatboxes; probably the only time he's not a huge jerk. Has yet to find a worthy adversary.

Faustus: Karaoke night regular; wears a sequin red jacket.

Marcus: Worked as a bar-tender. Stopped because couldn't stand listening to other people's problems. Makes some mean drinks though.

Hylden Lord: Likes nachos. (Where did he get them in the first place?)

#legacy of kain #raziel #kain #turel #dumah #rahab #zephon #melchiah #Janos #Vorador #Ariel #Moebius #Sebastian #Magus #Marcus #Faustus #Random quirks #Why Wish Moebius? #Mortanius fashion sense #Hylden Lord #Humor

[extremelyputridfishbreath]

📂

Turning a Doodle Dimensioner into origami is not only considered extremely rude, but negates their magical abilities (such as shapeshifting or color change) until they are unfolded.

The penguin version of Build-a-Bear Workshop is named Pick-a-Puffle Playhouse. It's probably somewhere (that would be off camera given the perspective of rooms) inside of the Puffle Berry Mall.

The Mall (in my headcanon) did not replace the Stage. It's probably here.

Richter does not like cream cheese.

A dragon and a penguin can have hybrid children, and even after several generations it isn't uncommon for dragon genes to resurface in seemingly normal penguins due to the potent magic of dragons.

Doodle Dimensioners court by giving ship art of each other.

Gin temporarily worked at a circus ran by humans...as a clown. This is because they already had enough tigers and lions to do the more exciting stunts. She is still bitter about this to this day...but she can juggle pretty well now!

The reason Gary is missing the soccer ball pin from his collection is because G Billy stole it. G Billy is also Gary's nephew.

The 'G' in G Billy stands for 'Garvy'. He shortens it because he thinks it's a dumb name.

G Billy sounds like Dan from Dan Vs.

Torrent has tried (and failed) to break Richter in order to orchestrate their escape from EPF custody using the grandmother exploit...

...But it fails to actually work, other than Richter ending up making cookies for them that they can't even eat until he snaps out of it.

Dot has many odd jobs around the island outside of being an agent- one such job being a stagehand and costume designer for the Stage.

Jet Pack Guy would cry if he was separated from his older siblings as a young chick, and often followed them everywhere. He will never live this down.

#club penguin #useless headcanons #listen the bab reference is me shoving my 18 year long hyperfixiation with my 10 year hyperfixiations together<3

[origamidotme]

【Origami 】Emperor Penguin chick 2021 by Lonely-Shiba https://flic.kr/p/2kqPavr

#origami #original #bird #paper folding #paper crafts #paperfolding #papercrafts #paper

[something-original-and-clever]

I have sorta given all the Xenoblade 3 cast nicknames when I rant to my comrades so...

mio is "my cat wife"

Noah is "flute boy"

Taion is "origami nerd"

Eunie is "new bird lady"

Lanz is "squishy robot"

Sena is "the chick who deserves to have visible muscles WHY CANT I SEE HER ABS?"

#xenoblade chronicles 3 #XC3

[indouloureux]

I don’t know if u listen to kehlani but everytime i see her giving the fuck me eye directly into her fans and grind them, i am mad as hell wishing that it was me… she is so damn fine i’d fold like an origami swan. she makes me want to ditch joseph and be her fulltime side chick

i don't listen to her songs but dear god i've seen a tiktok of her doing that and i think i came. like, girl i have a boyfriend do not TEMPT me like this 😭 shes so hot dude i cant even

#anon #answered

[decorationinside]

Hop into Modern Spring: Chic Easter Home Decor Ideas

Easter brings the promise of fresh starts and renewed life, and your home decor should reflect that! While bunnies and pastel colors are classic choices, modern design enthusiasts can create a stylish and festive atmosphere without sacrificing their aesthetic. Here are some tips to hop into modern Easter with chic home decor: Embrace a Monochromatic Palette: Move beyond the traditional Easter egg colors and opt for a sophisticated monochromatic palette. Think crisp whites, calming greys, or earthy greens, accented with pops of pastel hues like lavender, mint, or blush. This creates a clean and contemporary canvas for your Easter decorations. Think Natural Elements with a Twist: Nature's beauty takes center stage in modern Easter decor. Instead of plastic bunnies, use woven baskets filled with moss and real branches adorned with paper butterflies or origami eggs. Opt for potted tulips or hyacinths instead of cut flowers, adding a touch of freshness and fragrance. Geometric Accents for a Modern Touch: Incorporate geometric shapes into your Easter decor for a modern twist. Use geometric vases for flowers, hang origami eggs strung together in geometric patterns, or display modern Easter egg art with clean lines and abstract motifs. Minimalist Bunnies and Chicks: Ditch the clutter of stuffed animals and opt for minimalist representations of Easter icons. Look for sleek bunny sculptures, wireframe chick decorations, or simple silhouettes on your walls. Less is truly more in modern design. Egg-cellent DIY Touches: Modern Easter decor encourages personalization. Create your own unique decorations like hand-painted eggs with geometric patterns, upcycled jars transformed into mini terrariums, or DIY napkin rings shaped like bunny ears. Modern Table Settings: Your Easter table can be both festive and modern. Use natural materials like linen napkins and wooden placemats. Opt for simple white dishes accented with metallic cutlery or pastel-colored glassware. For the centerpiece, create a minimalist arrangement with branches, blooms, and geometric egg decorations. Lighting Sets the Mood: Modern Easter lighting goes beyond string lights. Play with soft, warm light using candles in geometric holders, string lights draped across windows, or minimalist lamps casting soft shadows. Avoid overly bright or colorful lighting for a more sophisticated ambiance. Remember, modern Easter decor is all about striking a balance between festive and chic. Focus on clean lines, natural elements, and a touch of personalization to create a space that feels both fresh and stylish. Bonus Tip: Embrace textures! Combine smooth surfaces like glass and metal with rough textures like linen, woven baskets, and natural branches to add depth and visual interest. https://cozypronest.com/blast-off-to-tranquility-a-space-themed-modern-hotel-room-design-odyssey/ With these tips, you can create a modern Easter home interior that's both stylish and festive, celebrating the season with a touch of contemporary flair. So hop to it, unleash your creativity, and transform your home into a chic and welcoming Easter haven! Read the full article

[ssj4goku777]

Tennis ball mason horse radish cetaphil dr teals eucalyptus butterfly missionary golden apple origami gold 305s cigarettes khaldun nesu sisqo sysco thong song chick-fil-a sauce trojan magnum #titusonetwo 🕯

[theboysfromaustin]

The washer breaks and parts are backordered.. Ian drags Gav and Kazuo to the laundromat with him. Gav is extremely overwhelmed by the noise and hides against Ian. Kazuo scares feral children and also impresses people by playing the half-broken pinball machine one-handed. Ian finds all the Chick tracts and other assorted religious pamphlets and does origami and paper airplanes.

#oc #original character