Aurora Books The Aurora Aircraft Page recommends the following books to supplement your search. While only one of these books is devoted solely to the Aurora, the rest provide an excellent background into the world of secret aircraft, hypersonics, and peripheral subjects. With its partnership with Amazon.com, the AAP hopes to promote the knowledge of these subjects for the benefit of all of our visitors. Aurora Aurora: The Pentagon's Secret Hypersonic Spyplane Bill Sweetman Sweetman is the North American editor for Jane's Defence Weekly magazine. He wrote many Aurora articles in the early 1990s for the magazine, and compiles his research into this 96-page book. Sweetman is still considered a leading authority on the Aurora and other "black" aircraft programs. This is still the only publicly-released book devoted to the Aurora. Lockheed Histories Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed Ben R. Rich (with Leo Janos) Ben Rich headed Lockheed's famous Advanced Development Company (better known as the Skunk Works) for more than fifteen years in the 1970s and 1980s. This is a rare look into the workings of one of the leading (and most secretive) aircraft companies in the world. Rich dismisses the Aurora rumors by stating it was merely Lockheed's failed entry into the stealth bomber competition, which was won by Northrop's B-2. This also offers a great perspective into Lockheed's successful, and in some cases groundbreaking, business practices. Kelly: More Than My Share of It All Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson (with Maggie Smith and Leo Geary) An excellent look at the career of Kelly Johnson, Lockheed's renowned aircraft designer, innovator and creator of the Skunk Works. Lockheed followers will complain of the dearth of nitty-gritty details. Many of the subjects deserve more coverage than this provides, although it sheds much light on Johnson's technical and business genius. Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works Jay Miller An exhaustively researched, meticulously detailed book on the history of Lockheed's (now Lockheed Martin's) Skunk Works from the early 1940s to the 1990s. Standouts include fascinating details of the SR-71 and U-2, as well as the Have Blue and F-117A stealth programs. There is also some insight revealed about Lockheed's hypersonic research, which may tantalize Aurora followers. However, the book intentionally omits any reference to Aurora or its mystery (at least in its first printing). Outstanding photos of early prototypes, mockups, and production aircraft are sure to please most aircraft fans. SR-71 Blackbird Lockheed SR-71: The Secret Missions Exposed Paul F. Crickmore An engrossing history of the famous SR-71 Blackbird, recounting many Vietnam-era missions and mishaps. Sled Driver: Flying the World's Fastest Jet Brian Shul Shul was one of the SR-71's pilots, and he takes the reader on a personal journey inside the cockpit of the world's fastest and highest-flying aircraft. This truly gives a "you are there" feeling, and the outstanding photography enhances the experience. SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story Richard H. Graham and Rich Graham Like Brian Shul, Richard H. Graham is a retired USAF officer and former SR-71 "sled driver." Graham provides many fascinating details about the aircraft and argues that its mission is not yet over. Lockheed SR-71: The Mach 3 Blackbird Paul F. Crickmore XB-70 Valkyrie XB-70 Valkyrie: The Ride to Valhalla Jeannette Remak, Joseph A. Ventolo A complete history of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie, one of the fastest aircraft ever to fly. The XB-70 was a beautiful technological masterpiece, as was its contemporary, Lockheed's SR-71. The Valkyrie enjoyed a triumphant beginning, but the entire program was canceled following a needless in-air accident which cost the life of a pilot and one of two XB-70 prototypes. This is a bittersweet testimony to a marvel of engineering excellence, which helped pave the way toward hypersonic aircraft of the future. North American XB-70 Valkyrie: A Photo Chronicle John M. Campbell, Garry R. Pape A generous (288-page) photo history of the XB-70 Valkyrie. X-15 At the Edge of Space: The X-15 Flight Program Milton O. Thompson (with forward by Neil Armstrong) This is the definitive work on the X-15 flight program, the first hypersonic flight test program in history. Thompson was one of the X-15's pilots, as was the man who wrote the forward, Neil Armstrong (and you thought he only walked on the Moon!). The aircraft and its pilots truly opened new territories for all future high-speed programs, including the Space Shuttle. Thompson frequently uses an "inside-the-cockpit" approach to bring the reader along for the ride. I personally enjoyed Thompson's description of the dangers of overshooting an X-15 flight: If you aren't careful, you could wind up over the Pacific Ocean, or in other circumstances, over Nevada! It just ain't like getting lost in your car. F-117A Nighthawk Have Blue and the F-117A : Evolution of the 'Stealth Fighter' David C. Aronstein, Albert C. Piccirillo Documents the history and evolution of very-low-observable aircraft. Area 51 Dreamland : Travels Inside the Secret World of Roswell and Area 51 Phil Patton This is Patton's chronicle of his journey to the deserts and lowlands of southern Nevada to explore the legends and lore of UFOs and top secret aircraft projects. The book works best with the history of Area 51, while Roswell is another story. Area 51: The Dreamland Chronicles David Darlington A thorough history of Area 51, the land and its people, featuring entertaining viewpoints of many locals and outsiders. Features one-on-one interviews with several of the main figures in the base's history. Classified Projects Dark Eagles: A History of Top Secret U.S. Aircraft Curtis Peebles Peebles recounts a history of classified aircraft in the U.S. arsenal from Cold War beginnings. This also pieces together a history of the Aurora and its rumors, innuendo and lore. Deep Black: Space Espionage and National Security William E. Burrows Burrows' book spends much of its time reviewing U.S. space photoreconnaissance capabilities, but it also discusses aircraft programs such as the U-2 and SR-71. It is an interesting survey of overflights, intelligence-gathering, and the use of high technology in espionage.