Dark Eagles: A History of Top Secret U.S. Aircraft Programs

by Curtis Peebles

An extraordinary history of the United States' top secret military aircraft from WWII to the Gulf War and the missions they flew. Since 1941 the United States has produced a series of "black" airplanes -- planes developed, tested, and operated in deep secrecy. Years, even a decade or more, would pass before their existence was made public. The impact of these "Dark Eagles" has been profound. The first introduced America to the jet age. The next reolutionized the way intelligence was gathered. Another pushed aviation technology to its farthest limits. This is the extraordinary history of the Top Secret U.S. aircraft including the first, XP-59A Airacomet, the famous U-2, the stealthy F-117A, and so many more.

Genres: Aviation, History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

353 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good account of multiple black aircraft programs from the original XP-59 jet plane to the more current (and probably mythical Aurora). The author’s prose is solid if somewhat workmanlike. Anyone interested in the development of America’s super secret airplanes such as the A-12 and the F-117A will find this an interesting read.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting book about the history of "Black" aircraft in the latter half of the 20th Century. Recommended to anyone who an aircraft buff. Just a few days after starting the book I was at the National Air and Space Museum looking right at the first plane the book covers!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting popular history of American secret aircraft programs. Chapters on the the XP-59, U-2, SR-71/A-12, F-117A, American-operated MiGs and, of course, several drone programs. Also, a highly speculative chapter on the Aurora hypersonic aircraft program. Marred by a heavily biased concluding chapter in which the author bemoans the post-Cold War reduction in defense spending and attacks anyone and everyone who might criticize black budget programs.

[Dogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like planes. I do not necessarily like secrets. In this book you will learn interesting tidbits of these now public planes. You also be told some of the stories behind their development and how they were kept secret for so many years.

Governments. Sometimes you just have to sit back and shake your head in bewilderment. I did some pretty serious head shaking while reading this book.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth the read if you like high tech military aviation history.