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Unusual Vapor Trail Causes Speculation of Top Secret 'Pulse Jet' Tests.
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio - A Beavercreek man's photograph of an unusual aircraft condensation trail has sparked a high-flying debate among scientists and aviation fans over whether the Air Force or NASA is flying an aerospace vehicle with an exotic new propulsion system.
The photo of the vapor trail, taken Nov. 10 by amateur meteorologist Bill Telzerow from his backyard, shows a distinctive "doughnuts-on-a-rope" shape.
The photo has raised questions about whether an experimental propulsion system that uses pulse detonation engine technology is being tested here. The propulsion system could potentially hurtle manned craft at six times the speed of sound (Mach 6).
The photo has been downloaded several thousand times each day since it was posted on the Web a week ago by the Federation of American Scientists, a Washington, D.C.-based group of scientists and engineers who monitor national policies on technology and research.
- Click here to view the photo.
"I don't think (the photo) is proof positive, but I think it's interesting and suggestive," said Steven Aftergood, a senior research analyst at the federation.
Similar vapor trail sightings nationwide from 1988 to 1992 fueled speculation that the Air Force was working on a topsecret successor to the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane.
