Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 3)

[Richie Slow]

Still Mulling said:

Thanks xeny, hidetheelephants.I really need to get the SR-71 books on my Amazon wishlist bought!

Look for books by Rich Graham ( pilot) or Terry Pappas ( pilot), or Paul Crickmore ( British guy but probably knows more than most).

They will all send you signed copies if you ask them nicely.

[Richie Slow]

Eric Mc said:

It is a bit repetitive though.

I prefer the alternative Blackbird variants myself as they are a bit different -

A-11




A-12




YF-12



M-21

I'm seriously impressed that you know about the A11 designation as it's rarely quoted. It's what they was known as when they were at Groom Lake with the Lockheed pilots.

In those days they gave rides to ground crews in the TA12 when they had the chance. The benefits of being so secret that you are almost autonomous!

[xeny]

Richie Slow said:

Look for books by Rich Graham ( pilot) or Terry Pappas ( pilot), or Paul Crickmore ( British guy but probably knows more than most).

They will all send you signed copies if you ask them nicely.

If you're interested in the pre-history of the program, "Rainbow to Gusto" is also an excellent read - talks about the rationale behind the development of the aircraft.

[Eric Mc]

Osprey do a nice monograph an the CIA's A-12 operations -



It's written by the aforementioned Paul Crickmore who is a bit of an expert on both the Blackbird family and the U-2.

The Haynes Manual is quite good too - which was also part written by Paul Crickmore -

[generationx]

Here’s the unique A-12 twin-cockpit trainer at the California Science Institute. Terrible picture as it’s displayed at eye level next to the car park and there was a ranting homeless person approaching nearby…

[Richie Slow]

I forgot to mention that the A11 was a misnomer that was used at Groom Lake as part of a raft of misinformation. They were actually A12's

[Richie Slow]

generationx said:

Here’s the unique A-12 twin-cockpit trainer at the California Science Institute. Terrible picture as it’s displayed at eye level next to the car park and there was a ranting homeless person approaching nearby…

There are lists of everybody that flew in SR71's either as pilot, RSO or as a guest. The TA12 at Groom Lake operated without keeping records of the guest rides so we're still finding more to add to the list.

[DodgyGeezer]

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/whotube-2/b-17-lo...

[Austin Prefect]

Camouflage works really well if it's blurred.

[yellowjack]

Austin Prefect said:

Camouflage works really well if it's blurred.

South African Air Force Rooivalk?

[Austin Prefect]

yellowjack said:

South African Air Force Rooivalk?

I think so.

[Still Mulling]

Where, dang it‽

[Austin Prefect]

Still Mulling said:

Where, dang it?

In the middle of the picture.

[RizzoTheRat]

The second Rooivalk is a lot harder to spot in that photo

[Still Mulling]

Ooh! Ooh! I now see it’s a helicopter!

No wonder I couldn’t see the fighter jet

And a second one‽

[CanAm]

Still Mulling said:

Ooh! Ooh! I now see it’s a helicopter!

No wonder I couldn’t see the fighter jet

And a second one?

RizzoTheRat said:

The second Rooivalk is a lot harder to spot in that photo

User name works out.

[Tony1963]

generationx said:

Here’s the unique A-12 twin-cockpit trainer at the California Science Institute. Terrible picture as it’s displayed at eye level next to the car park and there was a ranting homeless person approaching nearby…

California Science Center

[Still Mulling]

RizzoTheRat said:

The second Rooivalk is a lot harder to spot in that photo

[MartG]

[MartG]