A-12 - SR-71 Blackbird (Huntsville, Alabama)

USA / Alabama / Huntsville / Huntsville, Alabama
 military, aircraft
A-12A #60-6930
The Lockheed SR-71, unofficially known as the Blackbird and by its crews as the Habu, was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed YF-12A and A-12 aircraft by the Lockheed Skunk Works (also responsible for the U-2). It flew from 1964–1998. The legendary "Kelly" Johnson, in particular, was the man behind many of the design's advanced concepts. The SR-71 was one of the first aircraft to be shaped to have an extremely low radar signature. The aircraft flew so fast and so high that if the pilot detected a surface-to-air missile launch, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate. During its entire operational life no SR-71 was ever shot down.
tags: blackbird stealth jet

Set cross country speed record before being retired. Been sitting here for 20 years.

maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=34.712143~-86.654438&...

United States Space & Rocket Center
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71_Blackbird
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°42'43"N   86°39'16"W

Comments

  • This is the SR 71 b version
  • No, I believe that it is an A-12.
  • Did you know that the Blackbird doesn't fire bullets? It's only because it out runs its own bullets.
  • One of the most beautiful aircraft ever to be designed.
This article was last modified 13 years ago