Lockheed YF 12/SR 71. A Rare Film Of The Developement Of The Blackbird's Interceptor Version

Rare footage about the development of Lockheed/Skunk Works YF-12 and the SR-71 Blackbird (interceptor Version).
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. It was operated by both the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA.
Just do a sr71a blackbird speed check!
The SR-71 was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft during the 1960s by Lockheed's Skunk Works division. American aerospace engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the aircraft's innovative concepts. The shape of the SR-71 was based on that of the A-12, which was one of the first aircraft to be designed with a reduced radar cross-section. At one point, a bomber variant of the aircraft was under consideration, before the program was focused solely on reconnaissance. Mission equipment for the reconnaissance role included signals intelligence sensors, a side-looking airborne radar, and a photo camera; the SR-71 was both longer and heavier than the A-12, allowing it to hold more fuel as well as a two-seat cockpit. The SR-71 designation has been attributed to lobbying efforts by USAF Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay, who preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation over simply RS (Reconnaissance, Strategic). The aircraft was introduced to operational service in January 1966.
During aerial reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes (Mach 3.2 and 85,000 feet, 25,900 meters) to allow it to outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outfly the missile. On average, each SR-71 could fly once per week due to the extended turnaround required after mission recovery. A total of 32 aircraft were built; 12 were lost in accidents with none lost to enemy action. During 1988, the USAF retired the SR-71 largely for political reasons; several were briefly reactivated during the 1990s before their second retirement in 1998. NASA was the final operator of the type, retiring their examples in 1999. Since its retirement, the SR-71's role has been taken up by a combination of reconnaissance satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); a proposed UAV successor, the SR-72 is under development by Lockheed Martin, and scheduled to fly in 2025. The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including "Blackbird" and "Habu". As of 2021 the SR-71 continues to hold the official world record it set in 1976 for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, previously held by the related Lockheed YF-12.
The SR-71 was the world's fastest and highest-flying air-breathing operational manned aircraft throughout its career.
General characteristics:
Crew: 2; Pilot and reconnaissance systems officer (RSO)
Length: 107 ft 5 in (32.74 m)
Wingspan: 55 ft 7 in (16.94 m)
Height: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
Wheel track: 16 ft 8 in (5 m)
Wheelbase: 37 ft 10 in (12 m)
Wing area: 1,800 sq ft (170 m2)
Aspect ratio: 1.7
Empty weight: 67,500 lb (30,617 kg)
Gross weight: 152,000 lb (68,946 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 172,000 lb (78,018 kg)
Fuel capacity: 12,219.2 US gal (10,174.6 imp gal; 46,255 l) in 6 tank groups (9 tanks)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J58 (JT11D-20J or JT11D-20K) afterburning turbojets, 25,000 lbf (110 kN) thrust each
JT11D-20J 32,500 lbf (144.57 kN) wet (fixed inlet guidevanes)
JT11D-20K 34,000 lbf (151.24 kN) wet (2-position inlet guidevanes)
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,910 kn (2,200 mph, 3,540 km/h) at 80,000 ft (24,000 m)
Maximum speed: Mach 3.32[N 5]
Ferry range: 2,824 nmi (3,250 mi, 5,230 km)
Service ceiling: 85,000 ft (26,000 m)
Rate of climb: 11,820 ft/min (60.0 m/s)
Wing loading: 84 lb/sq ft (410 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.44
Avionics
3,500 lb (1,588 kg) of mission equipment
Itek KA-102A 36-48 in (910-1,220 mm) camera
SIGINT and ELINT equipment in the following compartments
A - nose radar
D - right chine bay
E - electronics bay
K - left forward mission bay
L - right forward mission bay
M - left forward mission bay
N - right forward mission bay
P - left aft mission bay
Q - right aft mission bay
R - radio equipment bay
S - left aft mission bay
T - right aft mission bay
More Aviation Icons @ • Airplanes | Icons & St...
0:00 Introduction
1:47 January 25, 1966
5:14 Winter, 1957
9:45 Spring, 1958
12:59 March, 1959
24:05 December 22, 1964
33:55 March 21, 1968
36:18 August 26, 1981
42:55 March 6, 1990
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#blackbird #aircraft #SR71

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[@sski]

Great footage on Lockheed overall. Very sad at the end when he turned out the lights and shut the door. That was one company that should have stuck around strong.

[@phillmellina]

This is just superb content.
Thank you @ Dronescapes-

[@brucefulper4204]

Great presentation and so much new to me info!!! Loved it

[@Dronescapes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brucefye3778]

First time I've ever heard of it carrying missiles. Always thought it was just used for reconnaissance.

[@Jermo7899]

The SR stands for strategic reconnaissance. I think a different version yf12 it’s predecessor was meant to carry air to air missiles

[@dukecraig2402]

​@@Jermo7899
Actually it's name was RS-71, but when LBJ announced it to the world at a press conference he got a little dyslexic and called it the SR-71, since no one wanted to tell the President of the United States that he'd made a mistake or wanted to make him look foolish in front of the whole world everyone had to rewrite all the books and anything else already printed about it and change it to SR-71.

[@Jermo7899]

@@dukecraig2402 thats interesting. I didn’t know that.

[@gr8crash]

​@@Jermo7899popular myth but isn't true though

[@gr8crash]

​@@dukecraig2402that's very popular myth, but it's completely untrue. RS71 wasn't it original name. Also LBJ didn't many the mistake. When it was changed to SR71 on Lemays direction, LBJs press statement was changed. He read the statement correctly, but his stenographer messed up the press release, leading to the creation of the myth.

[@andrezejobuch4527]

Yes, same as buddy. However this the skunkworks we are talking.vnothing would suprise me these days

[@cephelmo4914]

If that thing ever did crash it wouldn’t even break that’s nuts