Got some good father and son time this weekend. The wife was out party planning, so I grabbed the boy for an outing. Since he is obsessed with planes and rocket ships, we went to the Southern Museum of Flight. Discovered this (literally) on the side of the road...
I assume it ran when it was parked.
A-12? When is it an A-12 rather than a SR-71?
RossD wrote: A-12? When is it an A-12 rather than a SR-71?
When it's a prototype or training model.
Quick internet research explains that these were the early versions of the SR-71. A upgrade in engine and different assignment seems to be the main difference.
Ahh, the little known development bird.
FWIW, if its a single seater, its an A-12. 
There was a n A-12 on display at the Air National Guard museum here in Minneapolis for a number of years, but then the government took it back and put it on display at the CIA headquarters. When it was first brought to town I attended an engineering society meeting at the museum and we got a close up inspection of the plane so I got to touch it. 
They also had a bunch of stuff that went with it, including a start cart that was powered by two souped up Buick engines. They even had a couple barrels of the special paint used on the fuselage.
Coincidentally, I'm reading the history of the SR-71 right now. I'm right in the middle of the A-12 section 
Curtis (of Midget racing fame) is the builder of those starter units.
Awesome! I am sure your son loved it. When I was a young teen I couldn't get enough when it came to fighter aircraft.
Not quite. The A-12 was a full blown CIA espionage program started under Eisenhower. The CIA used it in the same way it was with the U-2: deniability. The program was fully operational, but Gen.LeMay got wind of it and wanted it transferred to the Air Force. The CIA resisted, and intersevice rivalry killed the Archangel by having vital support and logistics withheld by the Air Force. Once the SR-71 came online, there was little reason to continue with the A-12.
Despite this, the A-12 flew, unofficially, higher and faster than the SR, due to a lower weight.
Keith, which book? I've read most of them.
THE book. Crickmore.
My reading list seems to ricochet back and forth between that era of aeronautics (X-15, Apollo, SR-71) and racing (Wyer, Horsman, Donohue).
Ah, Secret Missions. The A-12 Declassified is a good read, as is Rich Graham's 2 books, and Ben Rich's Skunkworks. Even that Area 51 book that came out a few years ago is good, aside from the last chapter.
I'll check them out.
You'll like Dark Eagles, too.
there was an SR-71 on display in Mobile, Al at the battleship exhibit. You could walk right under it. Awesome plane.
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