SR-71A Blackbird
- 縮尺:
- 1:48
- 状態:
- アイディア
The SR-71, the most advanced member of the Blackbird family that included the A-12 and YF-12, was designed by a team of Lockheed personnel led by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, then vice president of Lockheed's Advanced Development Company Projects, commonly known as the "Skunk Works" and now a part of Lockheed Martin Corp.
The Blackbird design originated in secrecy during the late 1950s with the A-12 reconnaissance aircraft that first flew in April 1962 and remained classified until 1976. President Lyndon Johnson publicly announced the existence of the YF-12A interceptor variant on Feb. 29, 1964, more than half a year after its maiden flight. The SR-71 completed its first flight on Dec. 22, 1964. More than a decade after their retirement the Blackbirds remain the world's fastest and highest-flying production aircraft ever built.
Some options:
SR-71A 61-7955: 1968. ‘955’ was used by Lockheed as the primary flight test vehicle for its entire flying career. The ‘Skunk Works’ emblem was proudly worn on the fin until 1985 when the aircraft was retired.
SR-71A 61-17970 ‘Super Skater’: 1968. The aircraft number seems to be carrying an extra digit, probably just a typo. There is a rather smug looking ‘Pink Panther’ smoking while riding a skate board on the tail of ‘970’. ‘Super Skater’ is printed underneath the image.
Sr-71A 61-7975: 1969. Features a cat defined by a red outline on the fins.
SR-71A 61-7974: 1968 ‘974’ along with ‘976’ and ‘978’ were the first three SR-71’s to deploy to Kadena AB in support of the operations in Vietnam. Widely regarded as the Queen of the Blackbird fleet by pilots and maintenance crews, ‘974’ had the unfortunate distinction of being the last Habu lost.