自从性能良好的 SR—71高空侦察机退役后,美军宣称,空中侦察任务已由军事卫星代替。然而西方情报和军事航空界圈子里不时传出,一种被称为“北极光”的高性能侦察机已投入美空军服役。尽管美军一再辟谣,但这一传闻仍不胫而走,甚至有人认为,美军的这一招,正是为新型飞机“亮相”而施放烟幕。将各种传媒和渠道流出的零星材料拼凑起来,已可隐约见到这种神秘飞机的轮廓。远在1989年,一位训练有素的飞机观察家吉白逊就宣称,他在北海油井上空,曾目睹一架黑色三角形飞机呼啸而过,跟传闻中的诨名为“北极光”的飞机十分吻合。从而掀起了一场猜测热。当时的美国防部首席发言人威利姆急忙出面辟谣称:这种飞机绝 Since the retiring SR-71 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft of good performance, the U.S. military has claimed that the mission of aerial reconnaissance has been replaced by military satellites. However, Western intelligence and military aviation circle came from time to time, a known as the “Northern Lights” high-performance reconnaissance aircraft has been put into the US Air Force. Despite repeated rumors by the U.S. military, the rumor spreads like wildfire. Some even think that the US military’s move is just releasing smokescreens for the “appearances” of new aircraft. Piecemeal pieces of sporadic material from various sources and channels can vaguely see the outline of this mysterious plane. As far back as 1989, a well-trained aircraft observer Gibson declared that he had seen a black triangular aircraft whistling over the North Sea well, as did the rumored “Northern Lights” Anastomosis. Thus setting off a speculation fever. At that time, the U.S. Defense Department Chief Spokesman Wilhelm hurriedly came forward to rumor that: