FOTOIn 16 years of my career, I have never seen anything like this
On Thursday night at Long Beach Airport in California, aviation photographers were surprised by the unexpected appearance of a mysterious black jet. Ricky Schol, a local photographer with 16 years of experience capturing aircraft, described the scene as unprecedented. He initially thought he was seeing the stealth fighter F-117 Nighthawk but soon realized it was a drone developed by Aevum Aerospace called RAVN X. The drone, which lacks a cockpit, was identified as a model reserved by the FAA with registration number N567RX. While it resembles the previously unveiled RAVN X prototype, experts suggest it might be a scale model rather than the operational version.
A mysterious black aircraft emerged at Long Beach Airport in California late Thursday evening, surprising aviation photographers who captured the scene. Photographer Ricky Schol, who has been photographing aircraft for 16 years, described seeing the craft as a moment he will never forget. He noticed a bright light coming from a hangar that had long been closed and returned to investigate. When he stopped and saw the future before his eyes, he was stunned and immediately began taking photographs. Schol initially thought the aircraft resembled the American stealth fighter F-117 Nighthawk. However, upon closer inspection, he realized it lacked a cockpit, leaving him with a strange feeling. After some research, Schol identified the aircraft as the RAVN X, developed by Aevum Aerospace based in Huntsville, Alabama. This aircraft was designed to carry payloads into space. The RAVN X features the FAA registration number N567RX, which Aevum reserved for an address associated with the airport. According to estimates, this appears to be a model, a likely replica of one presented to the public several years ago. The RAVN X model was introduced with great fanfare in 2021. At that time, Aevum's executive director, Jay Skylus, described the RAVN X as a "mother ship" for a two-stage rocket capable of carrying more than 450 kilograms of payload. The RAVN X was envisioned as a two-engine drone weighing around 23 tons, measuring approximately 24 meters in length, with a wingspan of about 18 meters. Its aerodynamic design was clearly intended for high speeds. At the time of its introduction, The War Zone noted that Aevum's ambitious development plan seemed extremely ambitious, if not bizarre. The company planned to begin testing the aircraft to obtain necessary certifications and launch permits, a process Skylius estimated would take 18 months. Following this, Aevum aimed to secure certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an unmanned aircraft serving as the first stage of the system. Subsequent steps included orbital test launches from the Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida, planned for the end of 2021. However, it is unclear whether Aevum achieved any of these goals. Information on the company's website does not provide new details, while the latest information on the RAVN X comes from Gunter's Space Page, which tracks space and rocket launches. According to Gunter's Space Page, Aevum presented a model of the Ravn-X carrier in December 2020, although it was claimed to be a real prototype. Since then, no further activities have been observed. It seems unlikely that any actual hardware has been produced, and all activities appeared to cease by August 2024. The appearance of the RAVN X at Long Beach Airport has drawn additional attention due to its absence from public view in recent years. Schol stated that he saw the aircraft being pulled out of the hangar and placed on the runway. He mentioned that the aircraft moved slightly but not significantly. He did not hear engines or see exhaust emissions. Schol admitted he did not know exactly what was being tested or what the team was trying to achieve during that evening. The RAVN X, once a promising project, has faded from public view, making its reappearance at Long Beach Airport particularly noteworthy.
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On Thursday night at Long Beach Airport in California, aviation photographers were surprised by the unexpected appearance of a mysterious black jet. Ricky Schol, a local photographer with 16 years of experience capturing aircraft, described the scene as unprecedented. He initially thought he was seeing the stealth fighter F-117 Nighthawk but soon realized it was a drone developed by Aevum Aerospace called RAVN X. The drone, which lacks a cockpit, was identified as a model reserved by the FAA with registration number N567RX. While it resembles the previously unveiled RAVN X prototype, experts suggest it might be a scale model rather than the operational version.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a non-political event related to aviation photography and a drone display at an airport. There is no political framing, ideological emphasis, or discussion of governance, policy, or societal issues. The focus remains purely on the technical and observational aspects of the un-
Why factuality (95): The article accurately reports the sighting of the RAVN X aircraft at Long Beach Airport based on the primary source document from The War Zone. It includes direct quotes from Ricky Schol and references to the RAVN X's description, its intended purpose, and the status of the project as outlined in t
Why objectivity (90): The article presents the event neutrally, focusing on the facts and quotes from Ricky Schol. While it uses emotionally charged phrases like 'velika, izrazito elegantna i neobična silueta' (large, extremely elegant and unusual silhouette), it remains largely objective and avoids taking sides or expre
An unusual black jet was spotted at Long Beach Airport in California by photographer Ricky Schol, who initially thought it might be a U.S. stealth aircraft like the F-117 Nighthawk. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a drone model called RAVN X developed by Aevum Aerospace. The RAVN X, designed for cargo launches into space, was first publicly introduced in 2021 but has since become largely absent from public view. Aevum had ambitious plans for testing and certification, aiming to achieve FAA approval for the drone as part of a two-stage rocket system. However, there is no recent information indicating that these goals have been achieved.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual report on a technical development related to aerospace technology, without overtly promoting any political agenda or ideological stance. It focuses on the identification and background of a specific drone model, providing balanced information based on available data. S
Why factuality (90): This article provides accurate information about the RAVN X sighting, including Ricky Schol's experience and the identification of the aircraft. However, it contains some incomplete sentences and lacks full context about the RAVN X's history and current status compared to the primary source. It also
Why objectivity (85): The tone is slightly more subjective than the first article, using phrases like 'misteriozna letjelica' (mysterious aircraft) and 'ostavilo s vrlo čudnim osjećajem' (left me with a very strange feeling), which add emotional weight. It also omits some key details from the primary source, such as the
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