Rumors of a classified hypersonic aircraft known as Aurora have permeated aviation circles since the 1980s, but evidence of this triangular jet remains as sparse as ever. Could it be possible that the United States not only managed to develop and operate a fleet of Mach 5+ aircraft in the 1980s but has continued to keep them a secret to this day? The truth may actually be a bit more complicated than you might think.This is Part 1 of our dive into Aurora. Next week, we’ll return to discuss how the program could have been funded, and why reports of aircraft like Aurora over Area 51 can’t be ignored.