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Area 51: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Did You Know?

  • U-2 planes, which flew over and around Area 51, could fly 20,000 feet higher than commercial planes, confusing many airplane pilots who saw them.
  • Area 51 had to be expanded because the OXCART, one of the planes tested there, took almost 200 miles to turn around because of its high speed.
  • Robert Lazar fabricated a story about working on alien technology at Area 51 in the late 1980s but was later revealed to be a fraud.
  • It all started in July 1947, with the headline on the front page of the Roswell Daily Record announcing, "RAAF Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch in Roswell Region"

Photos and Videos

Tested at Area 51
Map highlighting the location of Area 51 within the state of Nevada, United States, with surrounding states labeled, including California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. A small inset globe in the lower left shows the region's position within North America.
Two F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter jets flying in formation above the rippled white sand dunes of White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.
The U-2 in flight
Aerial view of Area 51 showing multiple rectangular buildings, aircraft on the tarmac, and runways surrounded by desert terrain.
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