Talk:Lockheed YF-12

YF-12 and A-12 are two different planes

File:A12Blackbird.JPG

An A-12 trainer in LA

The A-12 (one-seater) is a spy-plane like the SR-71 (two-seater). The YF-12 is an intercepter. Why is the A-12 article redirected to YF-12? They need two separate articles.

The Lockheed YF-12 was a prototype interceptor aircraft that formed the basis for the SR-71 Blackbird.

The first statement of this article is false. The A-12 was the basis of both the YF-12 and the SR-71. The YF-12 was done after A-12 and SR-71. Kowloonese 23:01, 31 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Not quite. The A-12, a CIA spy plane, first flew out of Groom Lake in April 1962 and remained secret until 1982. The YF-12 interceptor first flew at Groom Lake in August 1963. President Johnson announced the existence of the YF-12 in February 1964 (mistakingly calling it the A-11), and from this point on the YF-12 was the "cover" airplane for the A-12. The SR-71 first flew in December 1964 (and was already known to the public) and was also used to cover up for the A-12. When A-12s were seen or crashed, the Air Force would simply say to the public that it was actually a YF-12 or an experimental SR-71.

I would agree that the A-12 was the basis for both planes, and I'd also agree that the A-12, as a substantially different plane with a substantially different mission, should have its own article. --68.43.122.246 20:24, 18 Sep 2004 (UTC)

How to tell them apart

see Talk:A-12_Oxcart#How to tell them apart

Suddenly desclassified?

As of May 7th, 2006 exact specifications regarding the performance capabilities of all Blackbird variants still remains classified. It should be noted that the capabilities presented regarding this aircraft is not accurate and are only speculation.

On March 6th, 1990, traveling from Los Angeles to Washington, DC in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 20 seconds, a Blackbird once again established a new world speed record for turbine-engine powered aircraft. That is estimated to be in excess of Mach 3.0 without afterburners.