And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Too bad technology made these obsolete. Some things have a certain kind of beauty that is timeless. Like the tail configuration of the F4 attached to a mechanical fire breathing supersonic flying dragon, and that 3000mph 80,000 ft altitude flying spear with two ram jet engines. Beyond iconic.
Wonder if they started to drag race right from that speed in the photo, would the Phantom reach top afterburner speed before the A12 left it for dust? If I remember the F4's could top out over 2000mph.
Looks like a YF-12. The nose chines appear cut back consistent with the Interceptor model. Interesting story; the Navy was interested in some version of the SR, so Lockheed had my father, the youngest "Bright young engineer from MIT" in a beachside apartment in Sa Diego tending a rack of titanium parts in the sun and sea spray. Also had to smear seagull shit on the parts to test for corrosion in a navy setting. The Navy opted out, but my mom and Older sister had a great beach summer.
Still hard to believe today how common squadron insignia included those of real men before it all went downhill.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! Two of my favorite aircraft!
ReplyDeleteGo see one at a military aircraft museum, have seen 2 one in Texas and in Virginia.
ReplyDeleteWhy yes, yes I did.
ReplyDeleteToo bad technology made these obsolete. Some things have a certain kind of beauty that is timeless. Like the tail configuration of the F4 attached to a mechanical fire breathing supersonic flying dragon, and that 3000mph 80,000 ft altitude flying spear with two ram jet engines. Beyond iconic.
ReplyDeleteWith enough thrust, even a brick will HAUL ASS!
DeleteWonder if they started to drag race right from that speed in the photo, would the Phantom reach top afterburner speed before the A12 left it for dust? If I remember the F4's could top out over 2000mph.
ReplyDeleteI can see the ticket now: Displaying Horsepower...$50.00
ReplyDelete...and STILL unequaled for endurance and speed at altitude of a human controlled flying machine by any other country on this rock.
ReplyDeleteNemo
Used to drive by the Bunny Bird every day on the way to work.
ReplyDeleteGood times...
That's the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works logo on the Blackbird.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a YF-12. The nose chines appear cut back consistent with the Interceptor model.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story; the Navy was interested in some version of the SR, so Lockheed had my father, the youngest "Bright young engineer from MIT" in a beachside apartment in Sa Diego tending a rack of titanium parts in the sun and sea spray. Also had to smear seagull shit on the parts to test for corrosion in a navy setting.
The Navy opted out, but my mom and
Older sister had a great beach summer.