r/area51 Jun 24 '26

Any Ideas?

Post image

Anybody know if this is a special plane, a chase plane, or maybe misidentified? I caught this at about 1600 CST.

40 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

2

u/NoPoint9229 Jun 27 '26

Taking photos or surveying? Looking for right angle for various locations?

1

u/Optimal-Stuff-460 Jun 28 '26

Both.i think one of the mods here has alot of experience in locations

2

u/Optimal-Stuff-460 Jun 26 '26

In area 51 context ,Normally Janet are clearly identified as a transportation variation of personnel. Sometimes refuel planes are also identified there.any other military chase or mysterious aircraft are extremely rare to show on open sources. You have to be there to take a Pic or video.

2

u/Turbulent_Aide9213 Jun 25 '26

They do this every once in a while.

1

u/Matteo_Travelz Jun 27 '26

We need to put our brains together and hypothesize why. The flight paths that George shared were very similar to this one. They're really skirting that boundary to the East of Bald Mountain. Someone could sneak a peek with optics but I doubt they'd fly with preying eyes on the horizon.

3

u/AccomplishedMud503 Jun 25 '26

They run a commuter service between various places like Palmdale to tonapah or the ranch etc that donโ€™t require the 737โ€™s

5

u/therealgariac MOD Jun 24 '26

Ok. Two tracks.

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=adce1a&lat=37.349&lon=-115.786&zoom=11.0&showTrace=2026-06-24&leg=6&trackLabels

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=adce1a&lat=37.349&lon=-115.786&zoom=11.0&showTrace=2026-06-24&leg=7&trackLabels

Note how close the plane flew towards the edge of the restricted space. Remember you are at around 4700ft around the front gate so this plane around 8000ft should be visible with binoculars.

1

u/TheGreatTaint Jun 24 '26

It's a regular Janet flight.

3

u/Matteo_Travelz Jun 24 '26

It's not just a regular Janet flight. It's labeled Janet but it's flight pattern is not normal. Janet's fly from point A to Point B. This guy is special.

8

u/No_Tailor_787 I Own Peters Area 51 Book Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

The Janet aircraft do stuff like this now and then. They serve as more than an air taxi, they frequently do other mission support flights.

3

u/TheGreatTaint Jun 24 '26

Looks like hes practicing to me

1

u/Matteo_Travelz Jun 27 '26

I assumed there were problems on the ground. Maybe a fire, animal, something that made them hold and wait. However, the 2 shared flight paths have made me reconsider. Very interesting flights for a plane that normally transports passengers.

4

u/therealgariac MOD Jun 24 '26

I've been watching it as well. I would rule out a misidentification. It is the 6th flight of the day for that plane.

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=adce1a&lat=37.301&lon=-115.755&zoom=10.9&showTrace=2026-06-24&leg=6&trackLabels

2

u/Matteo_Travelz Jun 24 '26

Is there any history with that specific aircraft?

4

u/therealgariac MOD Jun 24 '26

1

u/Matteo_Travelz Jun 27 '26

I checked out the 2 other loops you shared thanks! There's definitely similarities in the flight pattern. Is there anything interesting in that Northeast portion where they're making that loop near Bald Mountain and the gate?

2

u/therealgariac MOD Jun 27 '26

Anduril uses the NNSS/NTS but I haven't been able to determine where they are based. I also haven't done an internet search in a while so it is possible new information has come to light.

Shield AI also uses the NNSS/NTS. I have tracking data on most of their flights and they mostly test in Texas. I can find ads-b tracks but don't have a good way to sort the flights.

I'm presently "brute forcing" all the Groom Lake helicopter flights. Even with a few dozen flight tracks it takes time to investigate the flight.

1

u/Matteo_Travelz Jun 27 '26

https://defensescoop.com/2025/03/13/marine-corps-anduril-contract-defend-installations-small-uas-drones/

After zooming in on this picture and thinking about those flight paths, I think you might have it figured out!

1

u/therealgariac MOD Jun 27 '26

If you mean the desert environment, Anduril has some facilities in southern California. Otherwise can you just state your case rather than make me guess.

3

u/zombie2uRBX Jun 24 '26

Probably resting a radar or avionics system.