SR-71 Prototype, Area 51 and the CIA (photos!)

[collateral]

I don't normally frequent this forum, so sorry if this is a repost, but I happen to think that the Blackbird is probably the pinacle of human creation; so I was pretty amused to come across this the other day.

If you're ever in NYC I strongly recommend a visit to the Intrepid - I found this on the deck:



That yellow thing is the 'start cart' - two big block v8s in a box with no exhausts to speak of chucking out 400hp a piece...

[HoHoHo]

Been there and it's a good afternoon out

Is Concorde still on the barge next door?

[HoHoHo]

New York by Martin_Bennett, on Flickr

Lots of metal!

[buckline]

I am sure someone will be along to say that it's not an SR-71, hugely impressive sight none the less. Though I prefer the display at Duxford.

The Intrepid is the best 25 bucks I have ever spent in New York.

[HoHoHo]

buckline said:

I am sure someone will be along to say that it's not an SR-71, hugely impressive sight none the less. Though I prefer the display at Duxford.

The Intrepid is the best 25 bucks I have ever spent in New York.

You mean it's an A12 rather than an SR-71A

[collateral]

HoHoHo said:

buckline said:

I am sure someone will be along to say that it's not an SR-71, hugely impressive sight none the less. Though I prefer the display at Duxford.

The Intrepid is the best 25 bucks I have ever spent in New York.

You mean it's an A12 rather than an SR-71A

That's why I put prototype in the title, although as there were so few built the lines seem pretty blurry; number of canopies aside.

I found a proper one at the Evergreen museum in Oregon - one of the three which were un-retired under Clinton



they also had a Starfighter (I touched the leading edge - they aren't kidding about the sharpness!) plus this little thing



There is still a Concorde at the Intrepid, and I think they now gained a shuttle too.

[dr_gn]

collateral said:

HoHoHo said:

buckline said:

I am sure someone will be along to say that it's not an SR-71, hugely impressive sight none the less. Though I prefer the display at Duxford.

The Intrepid is the best 25 bucks I have ever spent in New York.

You mean it's an A12 rather than an SR-71A

That's why I put prototype in the title, although as there were so few built the lines seem pretty blurry; number of canopies aside.

I found a proper one at the Evergreen museum in Oregon - one of the three which were un-retired under Clinton



they also had a Starfighter (I touched the leading edge - they aren't kidding about the sharpness!) plus this little thing



There is still a Concorde at the Intrepid, and I think they now gained a shuttle too.

I drove past that museum on my way to a wedding. Ruined the whole day for me.

[anonymous-user]

The intrepid museum looks great in 3D on apple maps on ipad or iphone. All the aircraft are in 3D and the shuttle is there with half a cover on it.

[collateral]

dr_gn said:

I drove past that museum on my way to a wedding. Ruined the whole day for me.

Damn - a wedding was the reason I was there too! Wine country is gorgeous.

Sadly I didn't get to try out the waterpark...

[Civpilot]

collateral said:

I don't normally frequent this forum, so sorry if this is a repost, but I happen to think that the Blackbird is probably the pinacle of human creation; so I was pretty amused to come across this the other day.

If you're ever in NYC I strongly recommend a visit to the Intrepid - I found this on the deck:



That yellow thing is the 'start cart' - two big block v8s in a box with no exhausts to speak of chucking out 400hp a piece...

As someone else said, have you been to Duxford?

They have an SR-71 there inside the American hanger (along with some other amazing kit) and you can actually walk under it (crouch) and touch it.. The engines have been removed and sit on trolleys under the wings.

Amazing experience.

[Eric Mc]

The A-12 wasn't exactly a prototype either.

[collateral]

Civpilot said:

collateral said:

I don't normally frequent this forum, so sorry if this is a repost, but I happen to think that the Blackbird is probably the pinacle of human creation; so I was pretty amused to come across this the other day.

If you're ever in NYC I strongly recommend a visit to the Intrepid - I found this on the deck:



That yellow thing is the 'start cart' - two big block v8s in a box with no exhausts to speak of chucking out 400hp a piece...

As someone else said, have you been to Duxford?

They have an SR-71 there inside the American hanger (along with some other amazing kit) and you can actually walk under it (crouch) and touch it.. The engines have been removed and sit on trolleys under the wings.

Amazing experience.

I haven't, but it sounds like I might have to

[Dr Jekyll]

HoHoHo said:

You mean it's an A12 rather than an SR-71A

As a matter of interest, is the A12 the largest ever single seater?

[Eric Mc]

Not sure. The Sukhoi 15 is a big beast too -

[pushthebutton]

Loved these pics on Roadrunners:

http://www.roadrunnersinternationale.com/transport...

[dr_gn]

Dr Jekyll said:

HoHoHo said:

You mean it's an A12 rather than an SR-71A

As a matter of interest, is the A12 the largest ever single seater?

Largest in terms of what?

The F-105 is huge, but in terms of span, maybe the U-2?

[Talksteer]

doogz said:

I've read that the F-105 is the largest single engined single seater ever built. The U2 has a larger wingspan, and the A-12 is heavier.

So depends on how you want to quantify it really.

The F105 was the largest at the time the F35 is considerably heavier at 31,800kg MTOW versus 23,800kg.

[Ayahuasca]

Eric Mc said:

Not sure.

Captured for posterity.

[Eric Mc]

Ayahuasca said:

Eric Mc said:

Not sure.

Captured for posterity.

My permanent state.

[Mojocvh]

doogz said:

I've read that the F-105 is the largest single engined single seater ever built. The U2 has a larger wingspan, and the A-12 is heavier.

So depends on how you want to quantify it really.

Hows about the fastest?