Area 51 black jets An illustrated history of the U.S. militarys development of secret spy aircraft at Groom Lake a.k.a. Area 51 Area 51s most important military aviation developments are profiled in an illustrated format. When most of us think of Area 51 we think of aliens UFOs and controversial government cover ups. Its easy to forget that since the mid 1950s the United States famed extension of Edwards Air Force Base has served as a top secret CIA testing ground for many of the most groundbreaking advancements in American military aviation technology. In Area 51 Black Jets author and military historian Bill Yenne offers the first fully illustrated chronology of Area 51s most famous aircraft projects including Lockheeds U 2 Dragon Lady and SR 71 Blackbird reconnaissance planes drones ranging from the early Lockheed D 21 to the modern day General Atomics MQ 1 Predator and the famous F 117 Nighthawk stealth fighter produced by the Have Blue program during the 1970s. Each project is given its own fascinating chapter illuminating the aircrafts development at this famed location. But beyond the aircraft themselves Area 51 Black Jets also covers a handful of the many classified experimental programs carried out at Area 51 over the years such as Have Doughnut Have Ferry and Have Drill secret undertakings that successfully reverse engineered such enemy aircraft as the Russian MiG during the Cold War. Presented in beautiful hardcover format and illustrated with historic color and black and white photographs diagrams and maps this book reveals Area 51 for what it truly is: a clandestine area for the United States most cutting edge technological innovators in military aviation.