Groom Lake, NV — The enigmatic Area 51 just got a little more mysterious after a classified U.S. Air Force jet, the Boeing 737-200 known as RAT55, was recently spotted performing maneuvers over Nevada’s Groom Lake facility.
Photographer Captures Rare Footage of Classified Jet
From 26 miles away atop Tikaboo Peak, plane-obsessed photographer Michael Rokita recorded fuzzy footage of the RAT55 as it carried out touch-and-go maneuvers and landed on Runway 32, according to the New York Post.
“Moments later, the jet rolled into Hangar 18 as the huge doors parted like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie,” the report stated.
Recognizable by its rotund nose and humpbacked profile, the RAT55 is used as a radar testbed, testing the stealth capabilities of other aircraft midflight — a secretive role believed to have contributed to the development of the RQ-80 drone.
Normally, the RAT55 prowls prohibited airspace near Edwards Air Force Base, turning its transponder off to remain undetected by civilian flight trackers. According to Rokita, the jet’s call sign “Saber 98” confirms its direct link to Area 51’s Hangar 18.
- Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-200 (RAT55)
- Function: Radar testbed for stealth aircraft
- Location: Groom Lake, Nevada (Area 51)
- Call Sign: Saber 98
Spotting RAT55 Sparks Conspiracy Theories
Rokita managed to document the jet despite equipment power failures and harsh desert heat, using a Nikon P1000 camera and a custom binocular-smartphone rig. The RAT55 is rumored to monitor everything from B-2 bombers to stealth prototypes like the B-21 Raider.
“RAT55 hardly ever leaves Nevada, but spotting it rolling into the infamous Hangar 18 just stokes decades of alien and black-budget rumors,” the New York Post wrote.
Area 51’s Longstanding Mystique
Area 51’s mysterious reputation dates back decades, with past incidents fueling speculation. In April, reports detailed Jerry Freeman, a cultural researcher who accidentally wandered into a restricted section of Area 51 in 1996.
Freeman, seeking lost 1849 Gold Rush journals, described his nighttime encounter:
“It looked like a dry lakebed to me, nothing else, but at night it was a different story. I could clearly see what were security lights on the perimeters and I could see lights that opened and closed near the center of the lake,” Freeman told UFO researcher George Knapp.
“I only got a few minutes to watch — but felt the ground rumble beneath me, a sure sign that something top-secret was being tested.”
Confirmed Existence, Persistent Speculation
Although Area 51 remained off-limits and off-the-record for decades, the federal government officially acknowledged its existence in 2013. Nearly 30 years after Freeman’s encounter, conspiracy theories continue to flourish, especially with sightings like the RAT55.
“The RAT55’s presence and secretive operations keep feeding public fascination with aliens and black-budget programs,” according to the New York Post.
With RAT55 sightings now tied to Hangar 18, enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists alike are scrutinizing every new detail, from radar tests to alleged aircraft stealth experiments.
What are your thoughts on the RAT55 jet and Area 51 mysteries? Share your insights in the comments below.
