Guided tour around the only Blackbird Interceptor in the world - the Lockheed YF-12A

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks for watching everyone! As always, if I've made a mistake then please let me know. I make this videos in the evening after work and sometimes make some silly errors. Otherwise please give the video a 'thumbs up' as it helps promote the video. :)

[@gr8crash]

Was a pretty good video overall. One thing I'd definitely say was about the camera resolution. While it was impressive it was never close to being good enough to make our a person's face, or read license plates etc.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

I was surprised too. That was mentioned at the evergreen museum - in fact if you pause my video when im panning past the written info next to the display, you will be able to see it.

[@gr8crash]

​@PaulStewartAviation I've seen those too at museu, even been to that one a few times. A lot of info goes back to when these aircraft were still classified so a lot of rumors persist. Just like the myth of why they "leak fuel". They often mention that 8" resolution of the cameras which is true, the was per pixel. So you could see something 8" but never be able to see a face or read a plate as those details require A LOT more pixels.

[@Draggynsmate]

An absolute stunner of a video man, thank you. Many miss this one of only three ever made and I am lucky enough to have a blueprint page of this variant.

[@sbkarajan]

@@PaulStewartAviation MIG-25 was faster and armed with missiles. In addition, it did not leak any fuel.

[@fw1421]

I can’t imagine just how strong the missile bay doors have to be to be able to open at the speed the YF-12A operates at without being ripped off.

[@Jim-fe2xz]

In the early 70's I worked in a small automotive engine rebuilding shop. One day a pickup full of Buick heads showed up for valve jobs. The shop that built the start carts was close by and these had been ordered for spares.

[@gabrielbennett5162]

This was my grandfather, Vic Horton's, aircraft when NASA had it in the 1970s! It was used for high speed, high altitude flight tests. Grandpa usually flew as a team with Fitz Fulton, but also made flights in it with Bill Dana, Tom McMurtry and others. He and Fitz made the last flight in it for NASA on Halloween 1979 before it was flown to the museum, stripped of its NASA markings, by Col. James Sullivan and museum director Richard Uppstrom, about 2 weeks later in early November. Sadly, never to fly again. Grandpa actually liked the YF-12A better than the more famous SR-71A, which he also flew. Someday, I'd like to visit the museum and see if they'll let me sit in the rear cockpit where he sat, just to see what it was like.

[@RLD_Media]

You’ve got a cool ass grandpa.

[@daniellewis1789]

Why did he like the YF12 over the SR-71?

[@gabrielbennett5162]

​@@daniellewis1789 it was slightly faster than the SR and a bit more robust. And it was the first Blackbird version he flew.

[@CSltz]

I've had awful good luck with the people at the Air Force Museum. Although I can't speak for them about sitting in the seat. I would imagine that you could get a pretty good up close look. If you contact them.

[@mr.joshuah1412]

Do it, and pick up the phone now. Ask for the director and I'm sure they will accommodate you. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnt6213]

Skunkworks had a skunkworks. That's some good trivia! Thanks!

[@harveywallbanger3123]

And within the secondary skunkworks there is a phone booth with the windows blacked out. Only one guy has the key and nobody knows what he's building in there.

[@shannonchurchill4556]

Had the opportunity to see this shortly after it was first delivered to WP in the early 80's. The museum was much smaller than it is today, with the Valkyire and B-52 sitting outside, along with a couple other planes I don't recall. (maybe a B-36?) The YF-12 was shoved into the back corner of a hangar they called the annex where they put stuff they didn't have room for in the main galleries. The annex was about 1/4 mile from the main building. It was nose first into the corner and you couldn't even get a good look at the thing because there were no lights on, just the light coming through the windows on the hangar door. So nice to see all these planes properly displayed instead of collecting dust in a remote hangar.

[@josephpiskac2781]

Stunning beautiful plane the only presentation I have ever seen on the interceptor.

[@tonerotonero1375]

The graal. With the xb70 in the back, these are 2 marvels. What an impressive machine. I can't imagine the pride and excitement of the people who worked on this beast in the early 60's. The project of a lifetime.

[@stratcat3216]

"No, actual art." Love it!

[@BenGarvesFilms]

Came for the jet, stayed for the Chevy jokes. Absolutely rolling about the fuel leak punch line.

[@ĒI-weēzy]

I just saw this plane last Monday it was crazy. It is still one of my favorite planes

[@therealjonnybratwurst]

Taking my dad there again tomorrow! Great timing!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@skyhigh1278]

Knowledgeable commentary, enjoyable to watch, as an aviation nerd

[@Kpar512]

Great job again, Paul! I noticed the views of the J-58 (and start cart) were taken at the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville, OR, (also home of the "Spruce Goose" Howard Hughes' magnificent flying boat!) which I visited back in '07 while attending the CORSA (Corvair Society of America) Convention in Portland that year. I mentioned that because the CORSA International Convention happens to be in Dayton, OH this year, and I intend to spend a great deal of time at the NMUSAF while there, my first time back since the newest hangar was built. Your presentations are TERRIFIC! As much as I know about these aircraft from my reading on the subject, I ALWAYS learn something new from you!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep some of the extra footage was from McMInnville. That's a great museum there.

[@jonathanking625]

Thank you I saw this aircraft in March and thought it was a standard Blackbird. I did not realise its significance, thank you.

[@bluetitan20]

Really enjoyed this video. I have been fascinated with the SR-71 since I first heard about it, maybe 20 years ago. Its great to see all of the detail changes between the YF-12 and its successor. Even reading some of the comments, about peoples relations and family members who worked on and flew this stunning aircraft. There is some amazing stories out there still to be told, I'm sure.

[@spladam3845]

Instant sub. Putting that small channel introduction in the beginning of the video is great, cuz you know if this channel is for you right there. Great video, thanks.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Welcome aboard!

[@pleyades1711]

I really love your videos since I’ve been in most of the museum you’ve been and watch your walk around and explanations bring me nostalgic memories

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you like them!

[@jaywalkersunite]

Chevy really catching some strays this episode

[@PaulStewartAviation]

As a self-proclaimed Ford Man, I can't help myself. 😂

[@J.C...]

I and many others don't subscribe to the whole "I'm a **insert car brand here** guy" in this day and age. Because everyone* produces great cars these days. Ford has awesome cars. Chevy has awesome cars. And Dodge does too. Enough that we choose to just be "car guys".

[@PaulStewartAviation]

@@J.C... yeah you're right. Most cars are fine these days and if you get a lemon, it's usually just bad luck (and any brand can have them). Back when I was growing up, there was a huge variance between Fords vs GMs vs Germans vs South koreans but now they're mostly the same. The South Korean cars are brilliant these days! I have a German car now (after having many Fords... of course...) and I'm not sure it was worth the extra cost. I'll prob get something South Korean next.

[@goratgo1970]

All good since my '01 S-10 4 door has over 200k with no issues other than common wear, my friends '75 454 4 door over 300k. 🎉

[@codymoe4986]

It's all good...sometimes you just have to walk a blue oval guy to the front of their crap-wagon and remind them that Ford did them a favor by circling the problem... Found On Road Dead Fix Or Repair Daily amongst others...

[@TheRandompaint]

I hope you enjoyed your time in Dayton . That museum is a few minutes from me and absolutely one of my favorites.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

I did!

[@neorotoxin]

Wonderful video. I love these, the SR-71, and the one they have(had maybe) in Seattle that had the drone mounted on top. I love to imagine an alternate history with a series of XB-70's being escorted by F-12's into the battlefield.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep that’s the M-21 in Seattle. I’m working on a video for that too :)

[@neorotoxin]

@@PaulStewartAviation I can say it is entirely amazing to see in person.

[@seangelarden9543]

At night the afterburners on F14S put out a flame like that with the rings in it, being between two of them was awesome

[@angelorasmijn7306]

Again, awesome episode! 😊

[@Travelsbydreamer]

Incredible looking thing - great job as ever mate!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks a lot!

[@debbest8546]

Good tour. I've seen it dozens of times!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@staralliancefan1245]

Another great video Paul as we've come to expect! Thanks!

[@pauldutcher9105]

You showed the XB-70. That was the first non cesna plane i ever saw. So beautiful

[@Steve-xw3nq]

Another brilliant video Paul, really detailed and informative

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you think so!

[@dominicbakken]

I was able to touch this ship on its way to museum @baton Rogue. It was probablly stopping at all the Military and naval show in route to I thought The Smithsonian. Last trip I made with my kids before they became adults. I remember another family group and a girl wasn't having a good time so I (wingman'd) for my oldest and set them up. You can guess how that went. But they all had a good time and a laugh too. Beautiful craft this one

[@johnpaulbacon8320]

Wonderful. With living in Washington State ; A little south of Seattle ; I have been extremely lucky to get to goto the Boeing Museum Of Flight and get to admire the Only surviving M-21 / D-21 made and they also have a recovered Cockpit from a SR-71 that had crashed , not sure SR-71 it was from , but you can sit in the cockpit. I have gone to the museum more times then I could count - never get's " old ". I would love to goto the Smithsonian. I was born at Cannon AFB in Clovis , New Mexico when my dad was stationed there.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yes the Museum of Flight is brilliant. I've filmed a few videos there too :)

[@pedrotome9119]

Hello, and 1000 thank you for this video. I will watch your channel of course. I am an european citizen living in a tiny European country. My father served in this country's airforce on its cargo depot (1958-1964) these dates may not be right. And he taught me lots of things about aircrafts. He still being around but he is not how he was. Alzheimer is destroying him from within. After he left the Air Force he became an engineer. All this to say that despite a few things I knew about these aircrafts, I am overwhelmed with all this... 😮😮 I do not have more words. Sorry for my limited English, and long text. Thank you, thank you so much for showing all this, and teaching us all this wonderfully matter... 😮😮❤❤

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thank you :)

[@tarynsparacio6981]

Another wonderful tour. Thank you!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nickbayer7847]

Another awesome video Paul! Appreciatory 👏👏

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mawnkey]

I got to meet Jim Irwin, one of the YF-12 test pilots (and later an Apollo astronaut), back in the 80s as a kid. He was nearly killed when he was in a crash training another pilot to fly the thing. Very cool guy and his stories of flying the plane are pretty wild to read.

[@gr8crash]

Nobody with that name ever flew the aircraft. Have the last name wrong?

[@mawnkey]

@@gr8crash en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Irwin "Irwin was also a developmental test pilot for the Lockheed YF-12, the Mach 3 fighter-interceptor variant which preceded the SR-71 Blackbird. His first flight of that aircraft was on the day that one of his five children was born." He also wrote about it in his book _To Rule The Night._ Not sure why you can't find it.

[@russetwolf13]

Fun fact: the only other surviving YF-12 partially burned on the ground and had it's whole forward fuselage replaced with an SR-71 test frame. This became the only SR-71C model, A.K.A. "The Bastard", currently on display at Hill Aerospace Museum in Roy, Utah.

[@littlerougue]

The Conny is a beautiful plane glad it made an appearance

[@dale3852]

Amazing stuff. Looks like a great place. Well done mate. 🇬🇧

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks 👍

[@jonbonson75]

The first pic you show of the Delta Dart is from Griffiss AFB Rome, Ny, where I grew up. We'd rude our bikes around Periminter rd, to the Observation point and watch them do their touch n go's, many many days.

[@Vikingdescendent]

Excellent info on the Blackbird!

[@danielmkubacki]

YF-12A is so cool!

[@TheDuckseason]

ty for this added to my Sr-71 playlist.

[@javierrflores]

Great content

[@allancopland1768]

5:45 At the front (of the engine) you have inlet guide vanes with the compressor blades visible behind them.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I lived around Dayton for 40 years and only went to the USAF museum a handful of times. Wish I had gone more. Its free too. I was only a few miles away on woodman dr.

[@tsparky9196]

There are the A-12, D21, and SR-71A on view at the Blackbird Airpark right outside the entrance to the Skunkworks in Palmdale CA.

[@markbuckley4152]

Another great video!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Bad_Karma1968]

As always Paul a great vlog

[@quinto190]

great details - now I have to watch D.A.R.Y.L. again ... 🙂

[@cupidstunt22]

Great stuff as always

[@SaturnCanuck]

Thanks Paul. A-12, YF-12 and then SR-71. But now its time to talk of the infamous Lockheed M/D-21. It's a fascinating (and scary) history, and the sole example 60-6940 is now preserved at the Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington, with drone D-21B - 90-510 - mounted on its dorsal pylon. Oh there's a teaser huh!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep I’ve filmed the M-21 but haven’t edited that video yet :) It’s difficult to film up on the pylons at the MoF

[@SaturnCanuck]

@@PaulStewartAviation I first saw the D-21 at Davis-Monthan and thought, is that a single-engined SF-71? I can't wait to see your video.....

[@Richardnkellerjr]

There was a pre-cursor to the a-12. It flew out of Water Town in 1958 . YF-11. or A-11. How great this country was then !

[@ryanreedgibson]

Yes both the US and even Britian were great before conservative policies destroyed both.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

I'm not sure that you can blame the conservatives entirely. It was a lefties that created the work ethic that resulted in British manufacturing (cars for example) becoming rubbish. Here in Australia it was the leftie government that reduced protections for local car manufacturing (which admittedly did result in the cars getting better) and it was the conservatives that declined to give Ford/GM Holden subsidies to stay open. Unfortunately the extremes of both sides of politics are rubbish.

[@yodasmomisondrugs7959]

@@ryanreedgibsonConservative Policies? I really hope that was a typo. If anything is true at this moment Liberalism is what has completely destroyed the back bone of the West.

[@yodasmomisondrugs7959]

@@PaulStewartAviationHas to be trolling or is a complete mainstream media brainwashed fool. Sorry for the name calling.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

@yodasmomisondrugs7959 Sorry what has this got to do with the media? I've studied politics and like cars. I'm well aware of how and why both the British and Aussie car industry died. I'm also a political moderate and can listen to and understand arguments from different sides of politics. Hopefully that doesn't offend you?

[@koh_ling]

Very interesting, thanks Paul. Love you long time.

[@itwasme2435]

Excellent, thanks sir

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Most welcome

[@heathertruskinger6214]

Wow... really cool

[@johndyson4109]

Kelly Johnson the SWEDE! He was SOMETHING else as an ENGINEER! Remember the FOXBAT went to an Altitude of 123.,523Ft. Also it had the fastest climb rate..

[@freema22]

Later versions of the start carts used Chevy 454 V8s when the Buick Wildcats became scarce.

[@johnwatson3948]

As explained by an SR-71 pilot in another video, it’s a common misconception the “bypass tubes” created the ramjet effect - their purpose was only to solve an engine pressure anomaly caused by the unusual set-up. The ramjet effect was done by high speed air flowing around the entire engine assembly and recombining at the tail end - hence the nacelle that’s much wider than the engine.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks for those comments John and that answers a question I had about some of the diagrams that had air flowing along the outside of the engine. I assumed that was just a representation of those bypass tubes. Thanks!

[@dukecraig2402]

No, there's 2 different bypass systems, one bypasses the engine's all together and has to do with managing the speed of the air entering the compressor, a malfunction of one of them will cause the dreaded unstart (compressor stall) that would bang the pilots head against the canopy on the opposite side of the affected engine, the other bypass system which is the bypass tubes works exactly as he explains in this video and creates a ramjet effect. Watch the interview with the SR71 pilot Richard Grahamm who later went on to command the wing at Beale AFB, he explains the 2 different bypass systems and why there's often confusion over them, there's several other pilots who also explain the 2 different bypass systems but I can't remember their names.

[@rosscambron7556]

I saw this plane at an air show when I was a kid at Mather afb in Sacramento. We were mad that it wasn’t an SR-71 looking back though this is way cooler.

[@paramtrx9558]

Hey Paul, I enjoy your videos, dont't diss stary night tho ok? ha

[@ReallyBillyBoggs]

not the only one lool we have one down here at the air museum at March air base in Moreno valley I got to sit in it when my military school went to do awards once.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

You must have been in a Sr-71 or A-12 :)

[@ReallyBillyBoggs]

@@PaulStewartAviation you know what ...I think its the SR-71 and not the A12 now that I think about it cause from what I can remember it didn't have the needle nose

[@PaulStewartAviation]

yep

[@louisalmeida4894]

What a machine. Wow #America

[@adamdubin1276]

Long nose booms are still used on experimental and prototype aircraft, the X-35 in the Smithsonian's collection has a long boom on its nose, one of the primary reason that you don't see them on production aircraft is because they tend to be damaged or even snapped off quite easily.

[@MrWillNeedham]

They're also used during the prototype stage to verify that the main instruments are reading correctly. How else can you tell if your instruments are being affected by airflow issues unless you've got a second set you can trust?

[@kitwalker520]

Excellent video

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thank you very much!

[@kitwalker520]

I have a photo of 10 A12 sitting on ground Area 51 including the trainer - wonder what ever happened to them - also recall they were in a large hanger somewhere in a photo I no longer have

[@ALANJOHNSON-rq5jq]

@@kitwalker520 That photo was taken in oct or nov 1963 , there are 2 YF-12A at the far end of the row. the A-12s were put into storage in 1968 and outside in 1982'sh. in 1990 they also started to go to museums.

[@ALANJOHNSON-rq5jq]

The A-12 at 7:20 flying with the YF-12A is actually SR-71A #951 on loan to NASA and was called the YF-12C with a false tail code 0937

[@dramklukkel]

Two of the three ventral fins were placed on later models of the SR-71 as well.

[@johnlash6511]

The coolest jet ever..would love to be able to take a flight in 1 ..

[@righty-o3585]

I live just a couple miles from the Skunkworks Plant 42. 🤘

[@GlutenEruption]

The background plane flying chase in the photo at 7:15 isn't actually an A-12, it's a YF-12C (foreground is a YF12A) - which is actually just a normal SR-71A (#61-7951) modified with YF-12A inlets and engines, and given a bogus A-12 tail number (#06937) and the designation "YF-12C" by the USAF to skirt the regulations at the time which said NASA was not legally allowed to operate the SR-71.

[@kh40yr]

The Air Force gobbled up and burned down all the junkyard Buick motors and eventually went to a Big Bock Chevy. Rip Sled Driver Brian Shul, who passed away in May of 2023. Gone almost a year now. The YF-12A truly was The Big Stick, for a short time, it was the assassins switchblade, and it made people wonder out loud,,with that big sonic boom. Lots of A-12 flights over Vietnam, which surprised me. Photograph the whole country in 12.5 minutes or less.

[@CSltz]

I had a model of this in 68. I had learned around that time that that was one way that the Russians would get information about our planes. By reading the sides of the box and instruction sheet. But I’m sure they had better traitors on the inside. Just thought that was interesting.

[@outerrealm]

I think I had the same model. I still have a picture of it alongside my x-15 and XB-70. These were all big models

[@micoma49]

I also had this Revell model back in the mid-to-late 60's.

[@Eismeer_forever]

Всём приятного просмотра

[@confuseatronica]

freaking Tacit Blue in the background looking all like alien tupperware

[@PaulStewartAviation]

It’s a bizarre thing - I have a video on that too

[@albertlincoln1729]

Coolest aircrafts ever

[@michaelmavity8008]

There is another one of these on display at the Blackbird Air Park in Palmdale.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Not a YF-12. This is quite literally the only one.

[@lestercoons3962]

I worked on the weapon that was intended to be used on the YF12A.

[@MaistoHelix]

At the Time, nobody in the World knew about this aircraft and nobody was supposed to know.. This happened freaking 65 Years ago... Imagine how far we are right now if you are into Tech...

[@SomeOrdinaryJanitor]

wow, i never really noticed how much nose of the X-15 resembled a ballpoint pen

[@michaelmills5972]

Knew an SR pilot once, who told me: 1. If he flamed out over East coast, he could dead-stick it to land in CA, and 2. they had flown from NYC to LA in 61 minutes.

[@Lord_Legolas_Greenleaf]

Interesting! "We" have the A-12 trainer 😺

[@gr8crash]

On display at the LA Science Center

[@hipsterjr]

5:50 correction: air had to be slowed to SUB sonic speed to enter the compressor.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

my mistake

[@dukecraig2402]

The tires were not impregnated with aluminum, that's a myth that several pilots dispell in interviews including Frank Murray in his interview that was shot in his home by the San Diego Air and Space Museum staff, he even had a tire in his garage to show the interviewer (although not on camera) that it was actually a coating of an aluminum paint that was sprayed on them, as he states about the one in his garage if you look at some of the A12's and SR71's that are on display that have used tires that haven't been restored you can see that the paint is worn off the tread surface from landing and taking off showing the typical black rubber of a tire.

[@larryenglander8735]

Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham AL has an A12

[@jimtrela7588]

Doesn't the Intrepid Museum in NYC have an A-11 on the flight deck?

[@dmillhoff]

That museum has a frikkin' B-36 (and at least 3 similarly-sized jets) on display indoors. Just how big IS that building? Biggest structure I've been in is Hangar One at Moffett Field.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep it’s huge! They need another building for the vc-25b, though 😂

[@dmillhoff]

@@PaulStewartAviation They could just swap-out that old 747 prototype for it.

[@iwan6841]

Is Grady from the enginering channel youre brother?😂 I love this plane

[@PaulStewartAviation]

No idea :D

[@chrismoody1342]

If I’m not mistaken a YF was in Peterson AFB museum back in the 90’s. Yes or no ?

[@mouser485]

At 2:11 does anyone know what that white aircraft is in the background ? It’s sitting off to the left.

[@SomeOrdinaryJanitor]

ok... real question, when are we getting this bad boy as an event or premium vehicle in war thunder

[@FlemmingSørensen-p5y]

I am sure you made an error - sort of - in this video. When showing the center lower finn, you say the pilot will notice, if he forget to raise/fold the central finn when landing. I am quite sure they made in the same way, as on the MIG - 23/27. The fool proof way to make a "procedure" for folding the finn, is a combination of finn actuation and landing gear, meaning that when the gear goes up, the finn goes down and when landing finn goes up and landing gear goes down

[@PaulStewartAviation]

My attempt at humour :)

[@jttech44]

Truth is, nobody knows how fast the A12/SR71 could actually go. They never took it to the limit because they never needed to. It certainly had the power on paper to go much faster than the official records. No telling if the structure would survive.

[@NBSV1]

The rated speed was its public cruise speed. It could go that fast continuously without rapid damage. Have to figure actual top speed is generally a good bit higher than cruise speed. There’s been reports of them going a fair bit past their rating in emergencies.

[@jttech44]

@@NBSV1 with something that experimental, the ratings become more like guidelines really

[@ryantaylor3073]

Correct. It's not that it couldn't go faster than Mach 3.5 or whatever, it's that they didn't know if it would survive faster than that. They were confident at these speeds that the air frame would hold up

[@wally7856]

@@ryantaylor3073 As you go faster the shock cone narrows. At Mach 3.6 the shock off of the front spike would simultaneously hit the front chines, engine inlets, wing tips and tail. Geometry of the plane wouldn't allow it to go faster even if the airframe could hold up.

[@ssaraccoii]

I’d like to know how the guy who had to tighten all of those Phillips screws as part of maintenance stayed sane. There’s got to be a thousand or more of them.

[@itsmezed]

Did I see the X-29 hanging from the roof in the background? 😲

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep :) check out my two guided tour videos around the whole place and you'll see it there :)

[@blurglide]

This would've made a TERRIBLE intercepter. The pilots would have to be wearing their pressure suits breathing pure oxygen while on alert, the plane would be sitting on the apron leaking fuel with the start carts idling, and it'd have to hit a tanker right after takeoff unless provided with an ENORMOUS runway.

[@EgoFiveFiveSix]

😂 you know flying at 80k+ feet is not a requirement right? 🙄

[@cruisinguy6024]

I’ve always figured modifications would have been made to make it more suitable for interception duties

[@darthnihilus511]

I do all of those things on a regular afternoon in my backyard 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@EgoFiveFiveSix]

not to mention this was a CIA interceptor. it was never going to be a standard USAF interceptor.

[@ALANJOHNSON-rq5jq]

@@EgoFiveFiveSix the YF-12A was a USAF Contract, PROJECT KEDLOCK

[@darthnihilus511]

I have this same exact one in fire engine red, but I added the hot tub and mini bar in the back. It’s also sitting on 22’s

[@johnk8475]

There is one in Mobile Alabama, no?

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Nope, just this one

[@RobertCraft-re5sf]

WOAH WOAH WOAHHHH

[@tigertiger1699]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@NoManClatuer-pd8ck]

Designed and built by guys using slide rulers, produx mechanical calculators, note pads and pencils. Wow.

[@jeffalvich9434]

They did test a machine gun on a Blackbird.... It didnt work well was at speed with shockwaves, etc , the bullets came back to ie the aircraft ran into the bullets.

[@brealistic3542]

Advancef Pulse radar with look down shoot down capabilities and missiles with 100 miles range even hitting small bombers flying at 500 ft successfully and six hits out of seven ! 😲

[@JimmyJamesJ]

11:14 Looks like a Tesla panel gap.