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Text File  |  1993-06-07  |  2KB  |  52 lines
  1. Here is the info on the plaques at the Blackbird Airpark as read from
  2. Paul Stahl's photos he sent me.  Thanks again to Paul for sending them
  3. to me.  Please note that there are a few typos/spelling errors in this
  4. information.  I included them in the spirit of accurate reporting!?
  5.  
  6.                               LOCKHEED
  7.  
  8.                                 A-12
  9.  
  10. The A-12 was the proof-of-concept vehicle for the SR-71/YF-12 family
  11. of "Blackbirds."  It was the 12th in a series of designs for a U-2
  12. replacement from Kelly Johnson's "Skunk Works," hence the designation
  13. "A-12."  Although its operational service is shrouded in mystery, it
  14. is believed the single-seat A-12 was used exclusively in covert
  15. operations by the CIA from 1967 to 1968.
  16.  
  17.                            **************
  18.  
  19. Of the fifteen A-12's produced, this is the prototype aircraft,
  20. #60-6924....the first one built and flown.  Although momentarily
  21. lifting off during a high-speed taxi check on Apr 24, 1962, it's
  22. first real flight was two days later, from the Air Force's classi-
  23. fied Groom Lake flight test facility in Nevada.  Restoration
  24. courtesy of Lockheed Advanced Development Company.
  25.  
  26.  
  27.                            SPECIFICATIONS
  28.  
  29.             Wing Span...........................55.6 ft
  30.             Wing Area.......................1,795 sq ft
  31.             Length (excluding pitot)...........98.75 ft
  32.             Height..............................18.5 ft
  33.             Empty Weight.....................60,000 lbs
  34.             Gross Takeoff Weight............120,000 lbs
  35.             Engine.....2 Pratt & Whitney J-58 Turbojets
  36.               Static Thrust (each)...........32,500 lbs
  37.                 (Note: #6924 made its first flight with
  38.                  two Pratt & Whitney J75's installed.)
  39.             Crew......................................1
  40.             Sensor Payload....................2,500 lbs
  41.  
  42.  
  43.                             PERFORMANCE
  44.  
  45.             Maximun Speed.........Mach 3.35 (2,211 mph)
  46.                                at 85,000 ft (estimated)
  47.             Maximum Range (unrefuelled)........2,500 mi
  48.             Maximum Operational Ceiling.......95,000 ft
  49.  
  50.  
  51.       This aircraft is on loan from the USAF Museum Program
  52.