Air Force Black Ops Flight Test Squadron Special Projects Area 51 Aviation Patch

Description

The squadron's mascot is a wizard. A collection of 6 stars (5+1) on the patch references the unit's operation location: the secret base know as Area 51. The lower-case Greek sigma symbol in the wizard's right hand is the engineering symbol for the unknown value of an object's radar cross section (RCS). The ideal radar signature of a stealth aircraft is zero. While no stealth aircraft has yet achieved this goal, several have come close. On the right side of the patch , the falling globe references the hollow aluminum spheres dropped from the sky to calibrate radar equipment. A sphere of a given size has a known RCS value. Lightning bolts, such as the one emanating from the wizards staff, seem to refer to electronic warfare. The aircraft in the lower right is probably a generic symbol representing flight testing of advanced aircraft. The sword at the bottom of the image refers to a recently declassified Boeing stealth demonstrator known as the "Bird of Prey": the handle on the sword approximates the shape of the aircraft.
This brand new patch is 4" in diameter, made of 100% embroidery and features a plastic backing.
This patch comes from the recently published book
"I Could Tell You Then You Would Have To Be Destroyed By Me."