National Geographic posted a photo of a titanium A-12 spy-plane prototype that was found during a flood of files and photos that were recently declassified about the mysterious Area 51.
National Geographic reports:
Suspended upside down, a titanium A-12 spy-plane prototype is prepped for radar testing at Area 51 in the late 1950s. After a rash of declassifications, details of Cold War workings at the Nevada base, which to this day does not officially exist, are coming to light – including never before released images of an A-12 crash and its cover-up.
Looking closer at the spy plane it’s easy to see more than a few similarities to none other than the Naboo Royal Queen’s Starship from The Phantom Menace.
The Naboo Royal Starship boasts a strikingly beautiful design that embodies the craftsmanship that prevailed in the peaceful years of the Republic. The polished, streamlined J-type 327 Nubian vessel lacks any offensive weaponry, but does feature strong shields and a competent hyperdrive.
What do you think?
Read more about the Area 51 spy plane and more here:
Exclusive Area 51 Pictures: Secret Plane Crash Revealed
looks like an early model SR-71 in that it looks similair but smaller
I guess they never found the hyperdrive to make the journey to Coruscant in the end.
Ok…so we’re looking at the A-12 prototype? And we’re justNOW noticing that there is a similarity to the Nubian?
Any one with even a passing knowledge of the A-12/SR-71 project saw instantly that the Nubian was a Chromed-out Blackbird with the fins chopped.
And that was when the film came out in the theaters.
Yes, the A-12 is the prototype for the SR-71. I saw one and read about it at the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier Museum in New York City.
it IS an SR-71. the A-12 (short for airframe-12), was the development designation for the SR-71. this is just a scale model built out of wood used to test it’s radar reflectivity. it’s mounted upside down because some of the radars are mounted on a towers, and putting the model upside down allows them to use those radars to check the return off the bottom of the aircraft.
really, this isn’t anything new. just go read “Skunk works” by ben rich…
This is very interesting. It also looks similar to an SR-71 Spy plane ( Known more commonly as the Blackbird). Not suprising though, because to make the size diminish to a small size of the plane on radar it needs to be built just right.
hey waitaminute… what is amidala doing over here??
Looks like they based the design on the Star Wars vessel. Hmm. The declassified info on Area 51 is interesting also.
Well when i first saw the ship i transformers 2
i thought it was the starwars vessel, but it turned out just to be ol’ jetfire.
so is this the same ship?
well i think they designed the cruiser after the jetfire ship
Wow that is cool. I love all the similarities between Star Wars and the modern world. It’s cool that George Lucas got Queen Amidala’s starship off the A-12 spy plane used during the cold war. That’s just awesome!
Very cool! All the more good HYPE, all the more good REASON, to re-release HASBRO’s huge NABOO ROYAL STARSHIP next 3-D movie year!!
Never may there be, a great chance to re-release thee most ICONIC of Prequel ships, to grace toy shelves. So yeah!
BRING BACK NABOO’S ROYAL STARSHIP!!!!! BRING BACK NABOO’S ROYAL STARSHIP!!!!! BRING BACK NABOO’S ROYAL STARSHIP!!!!!
whoa, that is totally sweet!:)
Now thats freaky.
Wicked!
No George Lucas based the Naboo ship on the A-12. The A-12 was designed in the late 50’s early 60’s years before Star Wars
The A-12 was the precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird. It was the CIA’s version (called the Oxcart), and was meant to the next evolution of spyplane after the U2. As for the Star Wars connection, I always thought it was blatantly obvious the Queen’s star ship was patterned after the SR-71.
Too much of a coincidence. Has George gone mysteriously missing yet?
Yes Skyhammer, that is an ealry model SR-71. I saw and read about it at the USS Intrepid Aircraft Museum in New York City. It was first called A-12 first. Corban, I’m not sure if you are saying that it looks like they based the design of the A-12 on the Star Wars Vessel but that would be false because the Area 51 picture is from the 1950’s which is before the release of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (Late 1990’s or early 2000’s I believe), which the Star Wars Vessel appeared in. It looks like the Star Wars Vessel Design was based on the A-12.
The A-12 is the SR-71. initially it was to fill an interceptor roll to shoot down russian bombers armed with nukes. With the advent of the ICBM its role was changed to reconissance.
I just love spaceships!!!
Wow……………..