Comments on: The Mysterious Case of the Vanishing Airport

By: Knight

Knight — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:49:09 +0000

Ok, the patch of the runway you see is still active. The US and the Italians share the runway and many other parts of the base. I think some just wanted to start a conversation about this, which is OK. But like you said, hiding in plain veiw is the real trick. The first photo holds more secrets than all the others. Happy hunting.

By: James Smith, João Pessoa, Brazil

James Smith, João Pessoa, Brazil — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:37:20 +0000

One could have some fun with this, by capturing images and altering them yourself with even more bizarre stuff, then publishing them with the lat/lon and letting the government and conspiracy theorists go crazy.

Not that I would ever do anything to embarrass or inconvenience the government, but I do know a guy who has…

By: Southern Hoosier

Southern Hoosier — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:26:06 +0000

Alex, you are reading way too much into this. As you have shown Google Earth still has the Sigonella runway.
It seems to be more like incompetence on the part of Microsoft Live Maps and Billy Bob Gates. Assuming that Google Earth is correct, which it seems to be. Notice on the Microsoft map there is a road that leads south then makes a sharp turn into the end of the runway. On Google Earth the same road makes a sweeping curve to avoid the end of the runway. Also if you look to the north on Google Earth you will see a large apartment complex. This does not exist on Microsoft; it seems the only thing that Microsoft got right was the roads and the river.

Warning: Don’t use Microcrap as a reliable source for anything.

By: Rahere

Rahere — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:00:29 +0000

So have you ever seen runway markings like those at the bottom edge of Area 51? Conventional taxi paths leading to semi-circular pads…

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:03:03 +0000

I found an example of editing in GE a few years ago but it got replaced with newer data soon after. Luckily, with the add of historical imagery, you can see it again!

Go to the Port of Los Angeles (Long Beach), enable historical imagery, and move the data slider to Dec 31, 2003. Zoom in on the ships in port, and you will notice repeating container patterns. Look around at the cranes, and you will see they are replicated copies.

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:50:56 +0000

’cause Area 51 is a testing ground, it doesn’t matter whether the installation can be seen or not but the subjects it tests have to be hidden. Considering it’s in the middle of nowhere and well protected it’s not really a target

However, an active base, if detailed from above like so, can easily become a target due to identifiable weaknesses and like strength within the base.

It’s fine knowing these places are here but hiding the details are what’s important.

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:43:19 +0000

and Guantanamo Bay!

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:25:21 +0000

Yet Google has Placemark: high-res pictures / Google Earth of the most secret U.S. military base of all, Area 51.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:44:51 +0000

BTW: Yahoo picture seems to be even better:

http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=h&lat=37.407496&lon=14.916214&zoom=17&q1=37.401667%252C14.922222

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:41:44 +0000

If you reduce zoom you can see the airport in low resolution. And if you do so you also will notice that another area is manipulated. Look on the west side of the road SS417 when it goes almost south. On Google you see some training area with bunkers or something like that. MS Live only shows green…