November Dinner Meeting (This Page)

great deal of aircraft development in America has taken place in secrecy. The U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, B-2 Spirit Bomber, and F-117 Stealth Fighter are some now high-profile examples of once hidden efforts. If you believe the recent and rampant rumors, more secret aircraft are currently hiding in the shadows.

The existence of these rumors, at minimum, provokes the public interest and generates lots of questions. For example, what goes on in "Area 51" and what specifically has happened or might now be happening in the secret or "black" world? What new technologies and missions are associated with the rumored planes, where are they built and based, and how many are operational? Is it actually possible to build a visually stealth airplane? Are some of the aircraft unmanned? Does the hypersonic vehicle popularly called "Aurora" really exist? There are obviously many questions, with elusive and interesting findings.

Please join us on November 29, 2000 as Dr. L. Scott Miller summarizes many of the rumors and reviews publicly available evidence that suggests the existence of secret aircraft projects. The viability of the rumors and evidence will be discussed and some additional ideas will be offered. Everyone loves a mystery. Who knows what craft lurks in the shadows, hinting at an exciting world of flight?

Dr. L. Scott Miller is an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and a National Institute for Aviation Research Fellow at Wichita State University (WSU). Dr. Miller received his Ph.D., in aerospace engineering, from Texas A&M University in 1988 and began working at WSU the same year. He has been involved in numerous research projects and, in addition, worked summers at Boeing and NASA Langley Research Center. Active in AIAA, he currently serves as the WSU Student Section faculty advisor and the National Student Conference Chairman. He was the Wichita Section chair during 1998-99. He has been honored as a Bombardier-Learjet Fellow (1995-98), a Dow Outstanding Young Faculty Advisor (1999), and an AIAA Outstanding Section Chairman (1999). Professional interests include education, experimental aerodynamics, airfoil design, rotor aerodynamics, wind energy, and laser velocimetry. In addition, he is a "certified airplane nut."

The November Dinner Meeting will be held on November 29, 2000 at 6:00 PM in the Proud Bird (11022 Aviation Blvd., El Segundo, CA). Please RSVP to aiaalarsvp@hotmail.com or 1-800-683-2422.