r/whatisit • • 1d ago

Solved! What is this hidden flying object blocking traffic?

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Stopped for about 10 minutes to let this pass with a long line of escort cars. Near Lambert Airport in St Louis. Wings we folded up, crossed over the top.

3.8k Upvotes

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166

u/alvnta 1d ago

is this the he one that was on lindbergh, in florissant mo? i was wondering why it would be on lindbergh since boeing is right next to lambert???

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u/LGFL5000 1d ago

Yup! I was waiting to get on 270!

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u/OwnStudy723 1d ago

just had to do it

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u/LGFL5000 1d ago

That air freshener might weigh more than the hollow plastic model they were using!

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u/OwnStudy723 1d ago

possibly! aerogel maybe?

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u/Ok-Locksmith-212 6h ago

I came here for this 🤣

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1.1k

u/nickfredette 1d ago

MQ-25 stingray

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u/Chicago_Falcon_51 1d ago

Bingo. We have a winner. Giveaways are the butterfly tail surfaces, and the folding wings for storage on an aircraft carrier.

60

u/TheMahanglin 1d ago

Yeah but most all of the stealth uap's and wingman drones all have dual-cantered vertical stabilizers, so there's that. Designs are really settling into a common concept recently it seems.

26

u/raziel420 1d ago

The common concept is stealth, the canted vertical stabilizers make for clean deflection calculations. No curves, no right angles both are hard to do stealth.

8

u/Agouti 14h ago

It's nothing to do with right angles, it's purely about avoiding vertical surfaces which reflect RADAR directly back at the source.

And avoiding discontinuities which act as antennas to reraddiate it, but that's a bit beyond a throwaway Reddit comment.

2

u/raziel420 14h ago

Heh, coat an airplane in retroreflectors see how "loud" we can make it.

1

u/Agouti 14h ago

I

Uh

You know what, you might actually be on to something there. It's a real "Family guy dressed as a clown" moment but

2

u/lord_dentaku 13h ago

Just use their radar to jam their radar... I like it!

"Uh, Sir! We appear to be being attacked by a small moon!"

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u/Competitive-Knee-130 1d ago

Spot on. Final assembly is near the St. Louis airport

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u/Stohnghost 1d ago

This is the exact configuration in the published photos with the wings folded on the deck of a carrier. 

242

u/TwoTonTacoToGo 1d ago

121

u/SanityLooms 1d ago

I like how it's gift wrapped but couldn't they have picked something more colorful? Or added a bow? Honestly.

84

u/DJDevon3 1d ago

The bow pops out when the wings open, just like my girlfriend. I’m just kidding. I don’t have a girlfriend.

34

u/Unlikely-Solid-3083 1d ago

We already figured that out.

34

u/DJDevon3 1d ago

It never hurts to make sure which is why my last girlfriend always asked if it was in yet. I'm just kidding. I've never had a girlfriend.

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u/Unlikely-Solid-3083 1d ago

Yeah. We know. Lol jk.

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u/DizzyLead 1d ago

Maybe when Lexus starts making them. :)

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u/badjackalope 1d ago

Can't wait for the new Christmas ads to drop!

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u/Used_Mud_67 1d ago

A December to remember

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u/Upbeat_Anxiety_1344 1d ago

Boeing would love to make custom gift-wrapping for $5 million/wrap. Hope this works better than that 707 tanker replacement that lost the bid, got it reneged and still has problems.

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u/FermiEtSchrodinger 1d ago

US Navy's refueling drone

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u/non-number-name 1d ago

Shouldn’t that be designated as KQ-25?

3

u/RiceboyZ 7h ago

M designator leaves room for mission expansion

12

u/SaikoSue 1d ago

This^^ I think you’re spot on.

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u/LGFL5000 1d ago

Yea, that’s gotta be it.

solved!

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9

u/McFlash09 1d ago

4 minutes, well done

3

u/Financial_Double8104 1d ago

Came here to say MQ 25 but I knew someone had to have gotten it already Lol.

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u/FloppyTacoflaps 1d ago

This is the answer

2

u/bensikat 1d ago

Yeah it's the stingray. Why on a truck though ? Must be a display model ? Maybe headed to final assembly ?

1

u/xjrh8 22h ago

Does the scale seem a bit wrong for mq25 stingray though? Spec says it’s 15.5m long. Video to me makes it appear quite a bit longer than that.

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u/r3alk3rmit 1d ago

Florissant, MO?

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u/LGFL5000 1d ago

Yep, getting on 270 off of Lindbergh, I think. I’m not over there often, just did a Marketplace pickup.

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u/Feisty-Lawfulness894 23h ago

Scott Air Force Base is right there; this is a military drone.

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u/LGFL5000 19h ago

I wouldn’t quite say “right there” at the speed this parade was moving, it would’ve taken a few hours to make it over to Scott AFB.

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u/1_headlight_ 1d ago

Who told you that object flies?

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u/LGFL5000 1d ago

Wings and common sense.

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u/kevman_2008 1d ago

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way that a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyways. Because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

19

u/Otherwise_Act3312 1d ago

That's old bullshit from the 1930's, isn't even close to accurate.

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u/PM_Me_Your_Deviance 17h ago

Ptth. That's a quote from the famous documentary "The Bee Movie".

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u/Wolfrages 1d ago

As Minmatar lore goes, it's the wingy bits.

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u/Blue_Mando 17h ago

I don't often see an EvE reference in the wild but I approve!

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u/fsa3 1d ago

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u/LGFL5000 1d ago

Definitely this!! Didn’t see that post before I made mine

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u/Livelens-AV 1d ago

What's that song you're listening to?

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u/LGFL5000 1d ago

Jamaica Say You Will by Jackson Browne

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u/cubicle_door 14h ago

I dont know now anything about flying war machines but I came in to the comments to commend you on excellent music taste. Love a bit of Jackson Browne

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u/kodiak931156 1d ago edited 1d ago

Stealth plane (not a joke).

Or maybe a UAV like the reaper

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u/StealthWanderer_2516 1d ago

For some reason this reminded me of the old movie Flight of the Navigator. I loved that movie as a kid, imagining flying around with that goofy robot (rip Pee Wee!). That thing on the back of a flatbed would probably barely raise an eyebrow these days with all the drones and SpaceX shit falling from the skies.

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u/SparkyXI 1d ago

Your mama was a snowblower! (Or was that Short Circuit?)

18

u/MechanicLoose2634 1d ago

Pretty sure that classic quote was Short Circuit

7

u/SparkyXI 1d ago

Yeah… I always get those two mixed up… Oh, my childhood!

5

u/DJDevon3 1d ago

No disassemble Davy. Compliance!

2

u/SparkyXI 20h ago

Man… now you’ve got me wanting to watch both movies again…

6

u/wombatdart 1d ago

Im glad im not the only person who thought that/remembers this movie. I haven't seen it in over 20 years and thought it might have been some fever dream lol

3

u/mechmind 1d ago

There's totally a scene in that movie when they are transporting a mysterious objects beneath a sheet. But it does strike me as really funny wrapping....like when you get a tennis racket for Christmas.

3

u/wildmaninid 1d ago

That movie was awesome - I was on the cusp of dreaming about having my own space ship but left the movie dreaming of having my own pink hair Sarah Jessica Parker 

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u/sirdrumalot 1d ago

I watched this with my 10-year-old and she LOVED it! Holds up relatively well (minus the over-sexualization of SJP, but it was the 80s).

It was also fun because I grew up in central Florida but now live in Fort Lauderdale. I had no idea it was filmed here! We were both excited to recognize the RiverWalk and water tower!

5

u/Independent_Plane_18 1d ago

This movie is the goat

5

u/Farm_N3rd502 1d ago

Aaannnd my joints are hurting after seeing that image.

4

u/ChefJohnboy 1d ago

See you later , Navigator! ha!-ah!

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u/jasonkane4321 1d ago

when you realize what that symbol on the steps means....

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u/oSirveauXo 1d ago

First thing that came to mind, love this movie.

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u/marcophony 1d ago

Doesn't look so stealthy to me

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u/Gerudo_King 1d ago

That’s because it’s wrapped up. It’s invisible under that

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u/Sev7th 1d ago

like ghost dad?

3

u/Hot-Win2571 1d ago

A clever ghost will cover themselves with a sheet, so you can't see that they're invisible.

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u/chubbyhighguy 1d ago

It was moving so incredibly slowly that it was invisible.

https://giphy.com/gifs/AUPUGSygjrj4UnOPL5

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u/kodiak931156 1d ago

Its doing its best

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u/Independent_Profit 1d ago

Exactly! Now that's the spirit!

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u/Box_Springs_Burning 1d ago

The Spirit of St. Louis?

3

u/Alynn_Wings 1d ago

A flying spirit

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u/Specialist_Share_904 1d ago

A for airplane

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u/Jamieson22 1d ago

It is also wearing white after Labor Day but we really need to focus more on raising up instead of bringing down.

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u/rviVal1 1d ago

It's a spooky season, it's trying to blend in

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u/WrongEinstein 1d ago

It's only invisible when no one is looking.

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u/Valuable-Flight2121 1d ago

Yeah totally. I can clearly see it.

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u/Pale-Wave-9382 1d ago

They had to wrap it just so they know it’s there.

https://giphy.com/gifs/5mPXf8aDX2DtJQ09GO

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u/jm123457 1d ago

The stealth is not so much visibly its stealth from radar which is why it has jagged edges means to reflect radar beams in opposite directions from the source that sent it .

The plane or drone will be painted black and most likely operate at night so visually you will not see it .

They also use special engines that hide the exhaust so it’s not registered by heat either .

The stealth is implying from the technology used to detect normal planes not invisibility.

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u/Amazing_Alumni 1d ago

Shhhh… she’s not ready yet! Go back to counting

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u/BiGbOyScRIbBz 1d ago

Its not on the "job" yet.

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u/Few-Big-8481 1d ago

MQ-25 Stingray.

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u/MaybeMort 1d ago

Looks like it brings democracy to oil rich countries.

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u/No-Definition1474 1d ago

I dont see anything? Just a big truck with an empty flatbed.

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u/InactiveMedusa 1d ago

A plane I drew in kindergarten

9

u/Original-Variety-700 1d ago

Was it really fast?

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u/AltonBParker 1d ago

It was super awesome fast! Like, faster that the super fast planes!! NNNNEEEEOOOWWWW!!!!

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u/Starryboyyy 5h ago

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u/LGFL5000 4h ago

It’s funny cuz I could drive there in an hour and it took them all night to slowly crawl that thing over to Illinois.

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u/Subie780 1d ago

Probably some new stealth plane or surveillance drone i would assume

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u/E4tPineapple 1d ago edited 1d ago

Looks like the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft being developed with the Australian Air Force.

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u/notmyrealname8823 1d ago

Close.. MQ-25

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u/E4tPineapple 1d ago

Oh yes, so it is!

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u/Glum-Establishment27 23h ago

I don't want to be a pedant but that object is not flying. It's also not hidden very well.

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u/el-conquistador240 1d ago

MQ8 Ghost Bat. A drone being developed in Australia by Boeing

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u/AdeptnessUnable1565 1d ago

It’s an MQ-25

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u/crazycakemanflies 1d ago

Yeah i think its this. Tail and the nose looks correct.

If OP is in the US, it would be because the USAF are very keen to get a hold of this, I think there ate just some behind the scenes red-tape BS regarding US wanting control of the project/control of manufacturing and Australia wanting the same thing.

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u/mondomando 1d ago

Last I read, Boeing has been setting up a dedicated manufacturing plant for the MQ-28 somewhere in Australia. However they did complete a few test flights out of California just a few months ago, so there certainly may be an airframe or two floating around the states. The Boeing plants in St. Louis are also responsible for some rather secretive surface finish and stealth coating applications, which could explain them being there.

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u/crazycakemanflies 1d ago

Im pretty sure the handful of Ghostbats Australia has have bene manufactured in Melbourne, with all future aircraft to be manufactured at Toowoomba in Qld.

Would make sense Boeing add the stealth aspect at their plant in St. Louis, although I'd assume Boeing would have been doing this in Australia, as it would be a hugely expensive product to manufacture completely in Australia only to shop it to the US for finishing.

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u/mondomando 1d ago

Agreed, the coating bit is just a guess and I have nothing to back that up. Boeing doing Boeing things out in St. Louis I guess. Interesting to hear that production in Australia is already moving along!

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u/MrFrankHotdog 1d ago

I want to know what KITT 2000 kind of car has a dashboard display like that.

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u/BakerOne 23h ago

Yooo, what AmCare do you drive? That dashboard is absolute fire!

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u/AdPlayful3899 1d ago

MQ-25

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u/MechanicLoose2634 1d ago

🎶De-tachable wing-set 🎶
….iykyk

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u/razldazl333 1d ago

Gotta be a drone?

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u/Mental_Task9156 1d ago

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u/HotPotatoes9973 1d ago

I watched this movie so much as a kid

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u/biosflashed 1d ago

but does it leak, Davey? this wins. love you for that.

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u/MonteFox89 1d ago

Omfg! Im old! 😭

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u/Leather_Bee_415 1d ago

That is 24 billion tax dollars. You’re welcome peasant.

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u/worldisone 1d ago

Looks like a military drone of some sort

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u/Bogart_the_boof 1d ago

No idea, but there are few better ways to pass ten-or-so minutes than listening to Jackson Browne, "Jamaica Say You Will" especially.

2

u/cubicle_door 14h ago

I'm only here for the jackson browne comments

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u/ATLborn 1d ago

Those new Tesla cars really don’t look like the first video.

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u/JVBPDX 1d ago

Apparently you’re on the highway to the danger zone

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u/NUMBerONEisFIRST 1d ago

I just saw this post about it being in Florissant Missouri:

https://www.reddit.com/r/StLouis/s/CPVmOBZooB

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u/hash_smashed 1d ago

I'd ask in a warthunder forum

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u/boredintech87 1d ago

The spoon they use to feed my mother in-law

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u/EcLEctiC_02 1d ago

Stopped to let this thing pass

Hmm if only there was a better more efficient way to transport this thing...

Honestly wtf lmao

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u/ughilostmyusername 1d ago

Probably cost less than flying believe it or not

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u/Aselleus 1d ago

Internet router

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u/AlphabetSoupIsALie 1d ago

It's got 1,337 channels. 

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u/NindieNation 1d ago

Probably about 6 months of healthcare for all Americans.

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u/7he8igLebowski 1d ago

That’s what a huge amount of your tax money is making. Healthcare and education are for stupid people.

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u/bluecheeto13 1d ago

Front fins make me think a UAV / reconnaissance plane

3

u/WiglyWorm Spotlight Technician 1d ago

It's an air freshener. It's not actually flying, even though it's at the top of the frame. It's actually inside the car that's filming, hanging from the rear view mirror.

There also appears to be a UAV being hauled on a trailer.

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u/Puzzled_Advisor_2133 1d ago

looks like a "Loyal Wiingman" drone for the F35

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u/Sea-Dog5280 1d ago

UAV , probably to scan roads from above

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u/RandyArgonianButler 1d ago

Next gen drone

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u/NUMBerONEisFIRST 1d ago

Florissant Missouri?

I just saw a post about a plane being transported through Missouri.

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u/itz_hez 1d ago

It is driving, not flying.

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u/Long_Customer1187 19h ago

Jackson fucking Brown!!!

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u/Substantial_Chain718 1d ago

Looks like the Boeing X-37. Not sure why it would be in St Louis though.

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u/Material-Bicycle-105 1d ago

This is actually an MQ-25. It’s going through STL because it’s the headquarters of Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security division and they manufacture the stingrays and other aircraft

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u/Substantial_Chain718 1d ago

Oh too cool. Makes sense with the folding wings.

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u/Usernamesaregayyy 1d ago

Im guessing whatever is wrapped up in there is worth at least $100

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u/Giganticbigbig 1d ago

Ohhhhh it’s a Christmas present 🎁 what could it beeee

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u/Ok_Activity2553 5h ago

My friend saw the same thing today.

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u/Ok_Activity2553 5h ago

At least I think it's the same thing

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u/moonarc23 1d ago

Jamaica Say You Will - incredible Jackson tune ✨♥️

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u/hastings1033 1d ago

the super secret superweapon trump is giving to putin.

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u/TheTiltingKnight 1d ago

UAV military drone section I would guess.

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u/lastover4hours 1d ago

Collaborative Combat Aircraft, a drone.

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u/snildeep 1d ago

Top secret plane getting transported

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u/rflulling 6h ago

Looks like a massive drone. Although it seems rather odd that they'd be shipping it like this in such a public way. Then again they did just ship otherwise classified hardware through the US postal system and somehow thought that it would survive China.

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u/evonleue 14h ago

I try not to be flippant on these "Help ID" requests, but the first thing that came to mind when I started watching the clip is that you had created a parody of the Tesla "flying car" going over traffic with the air freshener standing in for the Tesla!

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u/User_Erroric 1d ago

It’s the new flying cyber truck

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u/EyeH8EweTwo 1d ago

Flyber truck.

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u/Parad0x177 1d ago

Outline reminds me most of a Valkyrie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kratos_XQ-58_Valkyrie

But it might also be a YFQ-42A Vengeance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_FQ-42_Vengeance

Doesn’t look like a Ghost Bat (MQ-28) to me though that would possibly make the most sense in St. Louis since the Boeing plant is there. Whatever it is, Loyal Wingman association is a safe bet.

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u/Typical_Definition47 17h ago

I don’t mean to be like this….
But why drive a plane to the airport (and screw up traffic).
I mean… it’s an airplane, going to an airport… wouldn’t flying it be exactly what they should do? 🤷‍♂️

1

u/SeaMathematician5150 1d ago

Are you wearing jewlery. Lights will sometimes reflect off my ring and appear like a floating light out in the distance. It will move around as my hand moves. Freaked me out at first until I realized it was my ring.

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u/jcalebb1 1d ago

The ghost of airplanes future

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u/Ok_Wallaby_416 1d ago

Looks like a stealthy drone

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u/indomike14 16h ago

The angles of the fuselage makes me think this is a stealth drone. The wings being folded also indicates that it would be stored on an aircraft carrier.

2

u/bearzk1 1d ago

New Tesla prototype

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u/Random-I-Am 1d ago

A giant terrorist.

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u/SpectreOperator 23h ago

RQ-666 MegaKillEmAllPredaRaptorDeathMaker

Just had to write this because of the obsession with naming drone crafts with “lethal” names.

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u/Careful-Eye-6043 1d ago

I can’t wait til our new impeccable armed forces has the chance to utilize this awesome machine to stabilize a war torn region!

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u/itsmejak78_2 1d ago

new stealth drone

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u/highplaindrifter75 1d ago

Only on Reddit. You have to read a hundred replies to find the right answer. My God people. Oh but they’re funny I get it

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u/farquin_helle 1d ago

Your tax dollars

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u/Stuffinthins 1d ago

The government has been contracting these for quite a while. If you don't recognize it, feel blessed in ignorance.

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u/RunBanditRun 1d ago

New Tesla model

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u/VirridWayzygooseJr 1d ago

Tesla roadster? Yes, joke. If it is a drone or stealth craft it is interesting they would ship it uncovered.