YF-12A and YF-12C in flight formation at dawn – credits: NASA The Lockheed A-12 family, known as the Blackbirds, were designed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. They were constructed mostly of titanium to withstand aerodynamic heating. Fueled by JP-7, the Blackbirds were capable of cruising at Mach 3.2 and attaining altitudes …
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The Pratt & Whitney J58 was a jet engine that powered the Lockheed A-12, and subsequently the YF-12 and the SR-71 aircraft. This fascinating video in the post explains how the engine technology of SR-71 makes the blackbird the fastest plane ever. It’s been called “black magic”: an engine that …
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In 1967 the NASA intiated an ambitious “coldwall” research project supported by Langley Research Center. In the project, NASA YF-12s flew carrying the so-called ”coldwall” heat transfer pod on a pylon beneath the forward fuselage to Sustained heat produced by cruising at Mach 3 A stainless steel tube equipped with …
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A black project is a term used for a highly classified military or defense project publicly unacknowledged by the government, military personnel, and contractors. Examples of United States military aircraft developed as black projects include the F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, both of which …
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