Lockheed CL-400 Suntan | Aeronautica | Page 1

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 3:35 AM

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The suntan was a proposed successor to the U-2, using Hydrogen fuel, it was canceled but mockups were created, blueprints and stats are also available

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_CL-400_Suntan

Lockheed CL-400 Suntan

Suntan was the code-name of a prototype reconnaissance aircraft program, with the goal of creating a much faster and higher-altitude successor to the U-2, enabled by the use of liquid hydrogen (LH2) as aircraft fuel. The program was cancelled in 1958.
Starting in 1956, the United States Air Force funded a highly secretive program of research and...

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yes i know that says 'combat radius'

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but it's because the aircraft was also planned to carry weapons

twilit haven Feb 20, 2026, 3:41 AM

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one of the mockup photos looks like an A-12 to me (or at least doesn't match the presented blueprints)

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this one

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 3:41 AM

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uh,,,,,,,,,,

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1 sec-

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of course it's from fucking facebook..

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yeah taht's the wrong one

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the first picture of the mockup IS the cl-400

twilit haven Feb 20, 2026, 3:42 AM

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yeah that one looks right

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just that one from facebook looked off model

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 3:43 AM

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the aircraft ALSO would have aerial refueling capabilities, both as the receiver and tanker

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(although unfortunately, it is boom based)

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lofty stag Feb 20, 2026, 4:09 AM

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What kind of a nickname is suntan

lofty stag Feb 20, 2026, 4:15 AM

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tribal parrot

Also these must be the blueprints you're looking for?

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 4:15 AM

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lofty stag What kind of a nickname is suntan

The altitude it flew at

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 4:16 AM

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lofty stag Also these must be the blueprints you're looking for?

I saw those before but they didn't have much info about it's stats

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The one I put on the post have stats as well

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Along with an f-104 for scale

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So it's even easier to scale it correctly

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https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/1271673155966079028.gif?quality=lossless&name=Happyshark&size=48

lofty stag Feb 20, 2026, 4:16 AM

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Also this thing had planned variants with major differences

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 4:17 AM

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yeah but the only one with any progress was the default cl-400-1

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(the mockup version)

lofty stag Feb 20, 2026, 4:19 AM

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Another mockup photo

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 4:33 AM

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1/3 scale and it's that big wow

visual trail Feb 20, 2026, 5:10 AM

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if the f104 is known for not turning then i dont want to imagine this

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 5:27 AM

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visual trail if the f104 is known for not turning then i dont want to imagine this

it's an ultra-high altitude surveillance aircraft

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it doesn't exactly need super maneuverability

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trolley

visual trail Feb 20, 2026, 5:28 AM

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turning radius of tomfoolery to valoris

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it says in your image cruising speed was mach 2.5

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could it do faster

tribal parrot Feb 20, 2026, 5:32 AM

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likely not much faster

nova ridge Feb 20, 2026, 6:26 AM

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monkey's paw curls

The aircraft gets added, but the fuel decreases even when the engine is off to simulate hydrogen leaks

obtuse pine Feb 20, 2026, 7:14 AM

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big f-104

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might be peak

slim tapir Feb 20, 2026, 12:16 PM

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I too want to get a suntan

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trolley

tranquil lotus Feb 20, 2026, 12:54 PM

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f104 xl

spark tendon Feb 20, 2026, 6:44 PM

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I like this and therefore it needs to be added

raven storm Feb 21, 2026, 5:17 PM

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Why yes I would like to turn my flying death stick into a larger flying death stick

tribal parrot Feb 21, 2026, 7:56 PM

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"Widowmaker" nah this one's taking the whooooooole family

#Lockheed CL-400 Suntan