KerbalX

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: ship
• Part Count: 198
• Pure Stock

Have Blue was one of two experimental aircraft entered into a competition to build a low observability airframe or a stealth aircraft as a reaction to improving Soviet radar and missile systems. This was done by using mathematical models to calculate how radar would deflect off of the aircraft and thus, reduce its radar cross section. Other things were done to reduce infrared, acoustic, and visual visibility. The actual shape was doubted by Skunk Works founder Kelly Johnson as to how effective it would be. Physical tests on models did however prove Johnson wrong, with the new shape, nicknamed ‘The Hopeless Diamond’, having a much lower cross sectional area than the D-21 Drone, the then lowest radar cross section made by Lockheed Martin.

The entire aircraft was extraordinarily unsuitable to fly, with all of its angled wing panels and other stealthy features. Therefore, the entire aircraft had to be flown using a fly by wire system to keep the plane flying, actually borrowed from an F-16 to cut costs.

Both airplanes crashed due to technical faults. However, the overall project was a success leading to the basic design and models later giving way to the F-117, the first operational stealth fighter.