#d 21

Do you know what that plane is in the top right corner?

usafphantom2: Yes The D-21 drone not a plane.

@Blackgold64 via X

🐱 Maine Coon

📸 Mythic Maine Coons

The only place in the world you can see a A-12,,SR-71 and Lockheed D-21

D-21b – #525

The D-21 was a reconnaissance drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) offshoot of the Blackbird family, designed to overfly enemy territory by being launched from international airspace. Following launch it flew a preprogrammed course, which concluded by D-21’s return into international airspace. Once back in the international airspace, the D-21 would eject a hatch with the camera, film and navigation system for midair recovery and then self-destruct.

The D-21 on display at the Blackbird Airpark is one of the 17 vehicles left after the program was canceled in 1971. Only four operational missions were flown using D-21 drones, all of them over China.

The SR 71

is Construction of the 24th SR-71 airframe, Article 2024, with Air Force serial number 61-7973 began on 14 January 1966 with rollout of the completed airframe nine months later. Lockheed test pilots Bill Weaver and Darryl Greenamyer took it up on its maiden flight on 8 February 1967.

The aircraft was assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California. While much of its operational history is shrouded in secrecy, it is known that Article 2024 was ferried to the 9th SRW’s operating location (OL-8) at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, on 27 September 1969. Over the course of the next 20 months, it was flown on 62 training missions and 45 operational sorties over Southeast Asia. The aircraft was returned to Beale on 8 June 1971.

The airframe was overstressed during an air show demonstration in England in May 1987. Subsequently, the aircraft was retired, making its last flight on 21 July 1987 with a total of 1,729.9 flight hours. It was placed on display at Blackbird Airpark in September 1991.

Timeline and Summary of Significant Events:

1. 1966 – Assembly started on 14 January, with delivery to the USAF nine months later

2. 1967 – Maiden flight on 8 February, by Lockheed test pilots Bill Weaver and Darryl Greenamyer

3. 1967/1968 – Assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California

4. 1969 – Ferried to the 9th SRW’s operating location (OL-8) at Kadena Air Base, in Japan, on 27 September

5. 1969 to1971 – Flew 62 training missions and 45 operational sorties over Southeast Asia

6. 1971 – Returned to Beale AFB on 8 June

7. 1987 – Damaged in May, during the RAF Mildenhall Air Fete, when the pilot tried to initiate a climb at too low a speed just as the afterburners kicked in, bending the aircraft at the manufacturing line.

8. 1987 – On June 21, a flight to Site II in Palmdale was made to estimate cost of repairs and the decision was made to retire the aircraft instead

9. Accumulated 1,729.9 flight hours

10. 1991 – Placed on display at Blackbird Airpark in September

The first A-12, known as Article 121, was trucked to the test site and reassembled following its arrival there on 27 February 1962. It was a designated primary testbed for airworthiness and handling qualities, envelope expansion, airframe/powerplant integration, subsystems, and propulsion. Throughout its service life, Article 121 served as resident test article, bailed to the contractor. For photos and a detailed description of how Article 121 was built and transported in crates, under the cover of night to the test site, click here.

The A-12 had three first flights. On 25 April 1962, during a high-speed taxi run, Lockheed test pilot Louis W. Schalk got Article 121 airborne for

Timeline and Summary of Significant Events:

1. 1960 – Twelve A-12 ordered by CIA on 26 January

2. 1962 – First A-12 (Article 121) built

At first they were going to be launched from the M 21 later that was changed to the B 52 and several of launches were from Beale Air Force Base when I was living there.

I was just looking at Blackbird Park in Palmdale California. My husband was videoing it for me. He is there on business. These pictures are courtesy of my wonderful husband, @Rodney Miller.

Linda Sheffield

Lockheed D21 designed to be launched from the back of A-12. max speed in excess of Mach 3.3 at operational altitude of 90,000’ Development began in October 1962. Originally known by the Lockheed designation Q-12, the drone was intended for reconnaissance deep into enemy airspace.