This Day in Aviation History
April 26th, 1962
First flight of the Lockheed A-12.
 
The Lockheed A-12 was a reconnaissance aircraft built for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by Lockheed’s famed Skunk Works, based on the designs of Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. The aircraft was designated A-12, the 12th in a series of internal design efforts with the A referring to “Archangel”, the internal code name of the aircraft. It competed in the CIA’s Oxcart program against the Convair Kingfish proposal in 1959, and won for a variety of reasons.
 
The A-12’s specifications were slightly better than those of the Kingfish, and its projected cost was significantly less. Convair’s design had the smaller radar cross-section, however, and CIA’s representatives initially favored it for that reason. The companies’ respective track records proved decisive. Convair’s work on the B-58 had been plagued with delays and cost overruns, whereas Lockheed had produced the U-2 on time and under budget. In addition, it had experience running a “black” project.
 
The A-12 was produced from 1962 to 1964, and was in operation from 1963 until 1968. It was the precursor to the twin-seat U.S. Air Force YF-12 prototype interceptor, M-21 drone launcher, and the famous SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft….
 
Source:
Wikipedia, Lockheed A-12: http://gstv.us/1z1j45w
 
YouTube, First Flight A 12 Narrated by Lockheed test pilot Lou Schalk: http://gstv.us/1z1j6KH
 
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Photo from: http://gstv.us/1TtyZju
 
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