The Lockheed YF-12 is an American experimental interceptor aircraft developed from the airframe of Lockheed's secret A-12 reconnaissance aircraft, flown for the first time in 1963 and evaluated by the United States Air Force as a very long range, very high speed interceptor capable of flying faster than three times the speed of sound to counter potential high-speed bomber threats. Built with a large onboard fire-control radar and armed with long-range air-to-air missiles carried in an internal weapons bay, unlike the closely related A-12 and later SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft it was derived from, the YF-12 set several official world speed and altitude records during its test program but was never ordered into production, with the Air Force instead relying on other interceptor and missile systems. Several YF-12 records for a piloted, air-breathing aircraft stood for years afterward.
Facts
SignificanceThe world's largest, heaviest and fastest crewed interceptor, setting speed and altitude world records later surpassed by the closely related SR-71 Blackbird. 1 Manufacturer or Builder In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Lockheed YF-12
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The Lockheed YF-12 is an American Mach 3+ capable, high-altitude interceptor prototype, developed and manufactured by American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation.
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Its maiden flight was on 7 August 1963.
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The world's largest, heaviest and fastest crewed interceptor, it set speed and altitude world records of over 2,000 miles per hour (3,200 km/h) and over 80,000 feet (24,000 m), which were later surpassed by the closely related SR-71 Blackbird.
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