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New Air Force Lockheed spyplane
Jun. 20th, 2007 02:35 pmCuriouser and curiouser.
The Air Force Times has published an article that notes the USAF is contracting Lockheed Martin Aero to build the follow on to the legendary SR-71 Blackbird. The article refers (jokingly?) to it as the SR-72, but it brings up several interesting points.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/06/airforce_sr72_070617/
1) The USAF never ever retires an aircraft withou having a successor either operational or in final development. The Blackbird was "retired" 10 years ago according to the aricle and the USAF....or Was the SR-71 retired?
2) There was over 50 SR-71 type airframes produced. Some of these were the A-12 (CIA operated), YF-12's (USAF prototype fighter converted to recon) and of course the actual SR-71A & B models. NASA acquired several SR-71's and was the last offical operator of the Sled up to 2004. Of the operational aircraft, none were lost in combat and 3 were lost in testing. By most estimates 30 SR-71 type aircraft are in museums. That leaves 3 to 8 aircraft unaccounted for. Wonder what they've been doing for the past 10 years?
3) The SR-71 was widely rumored to have been replaced by Project Aurora, which was said to be a Mach 4 to 5 class follow on produced by Lockheed Martin also. The aircraft was said to have operated from 1987 thru 1992 when a special program was cancelled by then Secretary of Defense Dick Chenney. It was cancelled due to the abilities of stealthy, long loitering drones such as Global Hawk. This report is in question because sightings of the Aurora contrail ("donuts on a rope") was reportedly seen world wide as late as 2001.
In any case, it appears that much has happened in the "Black World" to allow the publication of this kind of public article in an Air Force news source..
The Air Force Times has published an article that notes the USAF is contracting Lockheed Martin Aero to build the follow on to the legendary SR-71 Blackbird. The article refers (jokingly?) to it as the SR-72, but it brings up several interesting points.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/06/airforce_sr72_070617/
1) The USAF never ever retires an aircraft withou having a successor either operational or in final development. The Blackbird was "retired" 10 years ago according to the aricle and the USAF....or Was the SR-71 retired?
2) There was over 50 SR-71 type airframes produced. Some of these were the A-12 (CIA operated), YF-12's (USAF prototype fighter converted to recon) and of course the actual SR-71A & B models. NASA acquired several SR-71's and was the last offical operator of the Sled up to 2004. Of the operational aircraft, none were lost in combat and 3 were lost in testing. By most estimates 30 SR-71 type aircraft are in museums. That leaves 3 to 8 aircraft unaccounted for. Wonder what they've been doing for the past 10 years?
3) The SR-71 was widely rumored to have been replaced by Project Aurora, which was said to be a Mach 4 to 5 class follow on produced by Lockheed Martin also. The aircraft was said to have operated from 1987 thru 1992 when a special program was cancelled by then Secretary of Defense Dick Chenney. It was cancelled due to the abilities of stealthy, long loitering drones such as Global Hawk. This report is in question because sightings of the Aurora contrail ("donuts on a rope") was reportedly seen world wide as late as 2001.
In any case, it appears that much has happened in the "Black World" to allow the publication of this kind of public article in an Air Force news source..
