John Stone wrote: > > There is a rumor that DOD is working on something called a "pulse-jet" engine. > There have been all sorts of strange contrails off the CA coast. I have seen some > very odd pics in aviation week of contrails. Not exactly on-topic ... but I bet > someone on this list knows more than I do. > > JRBURCA@aol.com wrote: > > > Terry Lisansky wrote: > > > > << Tuesday afternoon at about 5:50'ish I was looking out toward the > > ocean when I saw what appeared to be a rocket launch. It was at about 40 > > degrees above the horizon and going up. The trail had a pulsed look (it > > was segmented) and was straight, narrow and continuous. It covered about > > 5 degrees of the sky. I'm on the central coast of California (Monterey > > Bay) and was looking roughly southwest. Any ideas?? >> > > > > You may have witnesses a flight of what is called Aurora, a supposed experimental pulse engine jet that may have applications for launching satellites into Earth orbit. Aviation Week and Space Technology had a story a few years ago about this possible project, and I have seen pictures of its contrail, a so-called 'donut on a rope' caused by the pulse engine design. The military has denied the existence of Aurora. Mike -- 41.087N 80.722W 330 meters Mike DiMuzio mdimuzio@cisnet.com