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.
It's the "Titanium Goose", the A-12 trainer. Only one was made.
The A-12 was the predecessor of the two-seat SR-71. Only a dozen or so were built, and a few more "YF-12s". The CIA sponsored the A-12's development; the Air Force piggybacked on it for the slower, stretched-out RS-71, later renamed as SR-71 after LBJ identified it as such during a speech. 32 SR-71s were built.
Anonymous @3:25PM is correct, the rear cockpit on a trainer A-12 (and SR-71 trainer) is raised above the forward cockpit.
It is likely an SR-71, or possibly an M-21. The last two A-12s built were stretched to include a second cockpit and strengthened rear fuselage to carry a surveillance drone on its back. The mothership was called M-21, and the drone D-21. The second cockpit carried the Launch Control Officer for the drone.
The chines on the nose are bigger/wider on the SR-71, but can’t see them well enough in this photo.
If it looks fast it goes fast. Really fast.
ReplyDeleteX15?
ReplyDeleteSR 71 Blackbird
ReplyDeleteIt's the "Titanium Goose", the A-12 trainer. Only one was made.
ReplyDeleteThe A-12 was the predecessor of the two-seat SR-71. Only a dozen or so were built, and a few more "YF-12s". The CIA sponsored the A-12's development; the Air Force piggybacked on it for the slower, stretched-out RS-71, later renamed as SR-71 after LBJ identified it as such during a speech. 32 SR-71s were built.
I think the A-12 trainer had a raised rear cockpit. This looks like a standard configuration SR-71, where the rear seat/windows are for the RSO.
DeleteNot the Titanium Goose.
DeleteAnonymous @3:25PM is correct, the rear cockpit on a trainer A-12 (and SR-71 trainer) is raised above the forward cockpit.
It is likely an SR-71, or possibly an M-21. The last two A-12s built were stretched to include a second cockpit and strengthened rear fuselage to carry a surveillance drone on its back. The mothership was called M-21, and the drone D-21. The second cockpit carried the Launch Control Officer for the drone.
The chines on the nose are bigger/wider on the SR-71, but can’t see them well enough in this photo.
Does anyone else think those rivets look too prominent? Round-heads, not flush?
ReplyDeleteAll the details are highlighted so well that I wonder if this is not an actual photo, but an excellent drawing/painting/AI creation.
ReplyDelete